Variable Dog Tracking Method

The Variable Surface Tracking (VST) is a title available through the AKC that tracking dogs may be able to earn. The trained tracking dog must have the Tracking Dog (TD) or Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) title before competing for the Variable Surface Tracking title. The VST requires a dog to track over various surfaces (concrete, dirt, grass, etc) and find different articles. The VST is an advanced title and if your dog has not trained or tested for its Tracking Dog (TD) title, it should be ready to do so before training for its VST.

  1. Requirements for the VST Test

    • The VST test is a difficult test to master as it requires the dog to track a person 600 to 800 yards with five to seven turns, of which three have to be at 90 degree angles. The dog must track the person over at least three different surfaces, of which two must be devoid of vegetation such as gravel, dirt, asphalt, mulch and concrete. The dog must find four articles with the tracklayer's scent, made of plastic, leather, cloth and metal. What's more, the track is "aged" three to five hours, meaning that the dog and handler must wait at least three hours before attempting to follow the track.

    Surface Training for the VST

    • When training for the VST, start practicing the tracking over surfaces without vegetation, but concrete and asphalt is often too difficult to start with--try training on dirt, mulch or even gravel, as these surfaces will hold scent better. Your dog will have an easier time finding articles on these surfaces and these "hard" surfaces will help bridge the gap between vegetation and urban tracking.

    Article Training for the VST

    • In some cases, it may be better to teach your dog to focus on the importance of articles. Rather than track with four articles, use multiple articles impregnated with the tracklayer's scent. Spread these articles every few feet along the track so the dog has a chance to recognize that finding articles is important. Be sure to reward your dog each time it finds an article and marks that he found one, even if your dog is using its eyes and not its nose.
      Once your dog is confident finding the articles, reduce the number of articles by 10 percent and try again over another track. With each success, keep reducing the number of articles.

    Adding Age and Distance

    • When you start training for the VST, practice on a short and straight track. Only when your dog completes the track successfully should you add distance or age to the track. Never increase both at the same time--only increase one component in the level of difficulty.

    Add Turns Slowly

    • When starting out, do not include any turns. Only when your dog is successful in tracking on the new surface should you add a turn. Make it simple and be sure to have only one turn at first, until your dog can reliably track on the new surface with one turn. Add only one turn at a time and don't add another turn until your dog is confident and successful with the turns on the current track.