Welcome to the World of the Saint Bernard in Tracking
The American Kennel Club's definition of Tracking: "AKC tracking events are the competition form of canine search & rescue. These Tracking events provide training for dogs and their handlers to meet some human needs for tracking and finding lost humans or other animals, as well as, demonstrating the extremely high level of scent capability that dogs possess.
There are three levels of competition. The Tracking Dog (TD) test is the entry level test with a short, but challenging track ending with a glove for the dog to find 30 minutes to 2 hours after the track was laid.
The Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) test, which is substantially more difficult, requires the dog to follow scent over extensive terrain and through many obstacles, such as woods and plowed fields, while discriminating between tracks of other humans, while indicating 4 different articles left on the track 3-5 hours before.
The Variable Surface Tracking (VST) test is the newest tracking test and is directed towards urban search & rescue efforts. The test requires dogs to follow aged scent over several surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, bricks, vegetation, etc., while indicating plastic, metal, leather and fabric articles left on the track 3-5 hours before. A dog acquiring all three tracking titles earns the coveted Champion Tracker title."
Tracking Links
How to get started in Tracking
The different AKC & SBCA titles and their abbreviations
AKC Tracking Regulations
Where to find harnesses
Archive Database Tracking Records from 1936 (first year) to date
Ask a tracking trainer a question
Ask a tracking judge a question
Upcoming Saint Bernard Performance Events
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