Certification

Tracking Certification Questions Answered

You've been training hard with your dog and you think you are ready to enter an AKC tracking test. If you have not done so already, now would be a very good time to read the AKC Tracking Regulations! As you read through the requirements for the first level Tracking Dog (TD) or Tracking Dog Urban (TDU) tests, you see that in order to enter an AKC tracking test, your dog needs to be "certified." What does this mean? How do you go about getting your dog certified?

Tracking tests have limits on entries. Tests need a sizeable amount of land, and require a great deal of time and effort to set up. To ensure that land and manpower resources are not exceeded, AKC requires clubs to limit the number of dogs entering any tracking test. Often there are more dogs entering than there are spaces available. Certification helps ensure that dogs entering TD or TDU tests are in fact ready to test and capable of passing the test.

This is what the AKC Tracking Regulations state regarding certification:

Certification. A written statement must accompany each entry for a licensed or member tracking test for any dog that has not previously passed an AKC TD or TDU test. This statement must be dated within two years of the date the test is to be held, signed by either person approved to judge tracking tests, or by a person/evaluator who has handled a dog to a TDX or VST title within the last ten (10) years,and must certify that the dog has satisfactorily performed a certification test.
    The certification test will be of a complexity equivalent to the TD or TDU test and will take place under conditions similar to such a test. A dog that does not satisfactorily complete the certification test in its entirety will not be certified.
    A dog that fails a tracking test may not be re-certified by one of the judges based on its performance at that test, regardless of how close the dog came to passing.
   It is permissible for a dog to be entered under the certifying judge.
   Judges who wish to enter a TD test are subject to the same requirements as other entrants. Judges/evaluators will not provide certification to any dogs they own wholly or in part.
   The certification statement signed by a provisional or approved tracking judge, or an evaluator, should be worded similarly to the following:

   “I have observed the tracking performance of (registered name, AKC registration number, breed) on a track of equivalent complexity and under conditions similar to a regulation AKC TD and/or TDU track. I hereby certify that the dog performed the certification test in its entirety and is ready to participate in an AKC licensed or member TD and/or TDU tracking test.”
        1. Date of certification test;
        2. Original signature of judge or evaluator;
        3. Judge’s typed or printed name;
        4. Judge’s number.
        5. Evaluator’s address, email and phone number

The judge/evaluator will provide four (4) certification statements based on the dog’s completion of one certification test. Should the dog fail at four (4) successive licensed or member tracking tests within the twenty-four (24)-month period, the dog must be recertified in order to be eligible to enter additional licensed or member club tracking tests.
   The statements certifying the dog’s ability to follow a track must be originals. They cannot be used again, and they must be retained by the test-giving club with the entry forms.
    In unusual circumstances, the AKC, through its Companion Events department, may issue tracking certifications based on statements provided by the handler concerning the dog’s tracking ability.

Here's how certification works for you and your dog:

Before attempting certification, be certain you have read the AKC Tracking Regulations and that your dog is trained and prepared to track the required track age, distance, number of turns, type of terrain and surface. This means track length of 440 to 500 yards for TD or 400-500 yds for TDU, 3 to 5 turns, track age of at least 45 minutes. TDU tracks will include at least 10 to 30 % of the track length on non-vegetated surfaces. Handlers must follow at least 20 feet behind the dog for TD, and at least 10 feet behind for TDU. The Tracking Regulations define additional requirements and guidelines for handlers -- make sure you have read and understand the rules!

Just as in a real test, a certification track will have flags at the start and 30 yards down the first leg, but there will be no other flags or indications of where the track goes. Before attempting certification, your dog should, in training, be successfully completing full TD/TDU tracks. Ideally they have tracked more than one track layer. Ideally, you and your dog have successfully completed full "blind" TD/TDU tracks. "Blind" meaning you as the handler did not know where the track was. Your chances of success are improved if your dog has tracked at different locations, worked on different types of terrain, vegetation; and if doing TDU, has successfully tracked a variety of different non-vegetative surfaces.

When you think you and your dog are ready, you contact an AKC tracking judge or qualified evaluator. To help you find a judge or evaluator, STA maintains a listing of members who are judges or qualified evaluators willing to do certifications (click on the blue button above). Contact one who lives in your area and ask about doing a certification track. Be sure to specify if you are doing TD or TDU. Always offer to pay your evaluator a fee for their time and effort.

The judge/evaluator will arrange to meet with you and your dog, usually at a location of their chosing. They will lay a track much like one you might encounter in a real TD or TDU test.

You and your dog will run the track, acccording to all the rules of the AKC Tracking Regulations. If you are able to successfully complete the track, without aid, then you pass and your dog is "certified." (Note that certification is not the same as earning a TD or TDU title -- to title, your dog must pass a track at an actual test.)

Whether your dog passes or fails, be mindful that your evaluator has given up some hours of their time to help you. Be polite, courteous, and Thank them!!! Pass or fail, good sportsmanship is of paramount importance in any dog sport!

If your dog has passed, the judge/evaluator will give you four (4) certificates. The judge/evaluator will need information such as your dog's AKC name and number for the certificate forms, so it is a good idea to bring along a photocopy of the AKC registration to make sure all this information is correct on the certificates. Certificates are good for two (2) years, after which time if your dog has not successfully passed a TD or TDU test, you will need to re-certify. If you complete in 4 tracking tests, using all your certificates, and do not successfully pass, you will need to re-certify even if it is less than 2 years. Certificates earned on either a TD or TDU track are valid for entry into both TD and TDU tests; ie. you may certify on a TD track and use that certificate to enter a TDU test, or visa versa.

When you enter a TD or TDU test, you must include one of your certificates with your entry form. If entries exceed the limit and you do not get into the test, your certifcate will be returned to you.

Once your dog earns their TD or TDU title, they are eligible to enter advanced level TDX and VST tests and certification is not required for those tests.

Good Luck and Happy Tracking!

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