Beginning Dog Tracking

Here are examples on how to begin training in the canine sport of tracking. In dog tracking, the dog follows a scent trail to find an article such as a glove. Any dog can learn to follow a scent trail and compete in tracking; it does not matter the breed. Dogs must be at least six months of age to enter an AKC tracking test however. The dog is tested on her ability to follow a track and "indicate" that she has found the article along the track.
AKC tracking titles include:
Tracking Dog (TD) a 440 to 500 yard long track with 3-5 turns aged 30 mins to 2 hours.
Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) an 800 to 1,000 yard track with 5-7 turns aged 3 to 5 hours and including diversionary "cross tracks" that the dog should not follow.
Variable Surface Tracking (VST) a 600-800 yard track with 4-8 turns aged 3 to 5 hours and including articles one each of leather, cloth, plastic, and metal. The terrain is comprised of three different surfaces and includes a change of direction on one without vegetation such as concrete.
Champion Tracker (CT) is a title awarded to dogs who have passed all three tracking tests.