The Basics of Dog Tracking

According to the American Kennel Club, a dog's sense of smell can be up to 100,000 times more powerful than a human's. Humans have used dog noses for centuries to find and locate various objects. The dog breed with the best nose is considered to be the bloodhound. But all dogs -- purebred or mongrel -- can participate in the sport of tracking. The sport arose from training sessions for police dogs and search and rescue dogs.

  1. Goal

    • The goal of a dog tracking tournament is to have a dog-handler team complete the trail quicker than the other team.

    Equipment

    • Dogs need to have a chest harness because a neck collar can choke a tracking dog. The lead needs to be at least 30 feet long in order to let the dog explore. No equipment is required for the person.

    The Trail

    • Scent is laid down on a test area by a person walking the path, changing direction at least 3 times and then dropping a piece of clothing. This trail is laid 1/2 hour to 2 hours before the tracking competition begins.

    Dog Breeds

    • In North America, tracking events are run by various clubs. Purebred dogs perform in AKC-sanctioned events, while mongrels perform in American Mixed Breeds Obedience Registry (AMBOR) sanctioned events.

    History

    • According to the AKC, the sport of tracking began in America in 1937. The first national championship (invitational only) was held in 2003.