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An article to give you an idea of what tracking is all about. |
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Introduction to Tracking
Overview The purpose of tracking is for the dog to follow a human scent trail and find the "missing person” at the end. Tracking is an activity that cannot really be taught to a dog by a human. All dogs that have the ability to smell can track, some are better at it than others but if push came to shove and they were left in the wild they would all be able to use their sense of smell to locate food. People have a limited understanding of how scent works, whereas dogs (with their much more sensitive scenting apparatus) understand and work it brilliantly. It is important that it is understood that the best a handler can hope for, is to hone the dog’s natural scenting ability in the desired direction. The dog must use its initiative to achieve in tracking and the handler must remember in tracking the dog is never wrong, it might just need to recheck the direction of the trail until it is sure. The tracking handler’s motto is "Trust your dog", if there is any doubt you MUST believe that the dog is doing the right thing: - don't forget you can't track, you don't understand the circumstances the dog is working under.
Trials Tracking trials are held from approx May through until September each year in Victoria, due to the heat and snake bite danger in summer. The first test is called a Tracking Qualification Test, then you move onto Test I, Test 2 (once Test 2 is passed your dog will gained it’s first tracking title, which is known as a Tracking Dog Title and your dog will have the letters TD after it’s name. Then you and your dog move onto Test 3, Test 4 and Test 5 once these have been completed successfully your dog will have gained its Tracking Dog Excellent Title (TDX). Test 6 is the next and last test that you and your dog will undertake in tracking and once this level has been passed, your dog will have attained the ultimate in tracking, it will be a Tracking Champion.
The first test, (TQT) is 300 metres in length and will contain one ninety degree turn. The time delay between when the test is laid by the tracklayer and the dog commencing to track is between 10 and 30 minutes. An article (usually a sock) with the tracklayer’s scent on it is left at the start flag so the dog knows which scent it is to follow. Test 5 is laid over a distance of I200 metres, or 1.2kilometres, it has a least 5 angle turns one of which will be acute. The time delay on this test is between 60 and 180 minutes prior to the dog & handler working the track. It has an article at the start flag and 3 more over the course of the track. Two articles must be indicated by the dog and the tracklayer found for the dog to obtain a pass. Test 6 is also laid over a distance of 1200 metres but instead of the article being left at the start flag it is handed to the handler in a sealed bag in the vicinity of the where the judge gave their instructions to the tracklayer. This is what is called a ‘blind start”. There is no flag stating where the tracklayer commenced laying the track, the dog must use its scenting ability to find the track left when the tracklayer left the area.
Trials generally cost between $20 and $35 dollars to enter and due to the amount of land required are generally held outside the Melbourne metropolitan area. Gippsland, Ballarat, Inverleigh, Broadford and the Mornington Peninsula are regularly used areas. Check-in times are usually around 6.30am and trials are often held over two or three days to ensure as many entrants as possible actually get a track. You may request a particular day, but note that the trial secretary is not obliged to juggle the entries and it is almost impossible to accommodate all such requests. Be prepared to accept any of the days and you'll be a popular competitor! |
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Kerryn and David Cunningham 9705 0193 |
