Tracking
What is tracking?
Tracking engages our dog’s natural ability to follow a scent trail left behind by a person or animal.
A tracking dog has to work in unison with their handler to follow a scent trail through different terrains, environments, and weather conditions.
Most tracking dogs are found in dog sports or voluntary roles, but you may have seen operational tracking dogs working in a range of roles.
- Police tracking dogs seeking fugitives
- Pack hounds on drag or trail hunting
- Working Trials
- IGP/IPO Trials
- Mantrailing
- Lost Dog Tracking
Scent and Track UK offers training, workshops, and courses for anyone who wants to explore tracking with their dog. Our workshops include introductory training on the different types of tracking & trailing, more in-depth training in a variety of tracking challenges, and on specific training skills such as Line Handling and Article Indication. We are also the home of a structured tracking pathway in TrackStars, which offers a chance to earn titles, certificates, and badges for you and your dog!
TrackStars
TrackStars is our tracking training pathway, aimed at dogs and handlers looking for a fun and rewarding activity they can enjoy together.
Learn to work with your dog and harness their natural tracking and trailing ability by working together to follow specifically laid scent tracks and find lost items on the route. You and your dog will work as a team, whilst enriching your dog’s life by being part of one of their favourite pastimes. All teams have the opportunity to earn certificates and collect achievement badges through workshops, regular training groups, and assessment sessions.
TrackStars started in early 2023, and is a progressive scheme aiming to promote teamwork between dog and handler, and encourage people to have fun whilst earning titles and badges with their dog. As such, the levels are designed to develop skills and build confidence as a team with each advancement.
TrackStars Titles & Awards
Titles can be earned by achieving 3x Qualifying assessments at certain track distances and criteria, including one which must be completed in person with one of our instructors, either in one-to-one training or at training groups, or at one of our Workshops or Scent and Track UK Camp.
Extra awards for achievements such as Urban Tracking, All Terrain Tracking, All Weather tracker, Water tracker and various distance tracks can be earned through training days, assessments, and video submissions.
- TS1: 3x tracks of 250m
- TS2: 3x tracks of 500m
- TS3: 2x tracks of 700m, 1x double blind track of 350m
Sports Tracking
As well as TrackStars, we also offer option to train dog sports tracking. This kind of training develops the more technical and precise “footstep tracking” which is prefered in dog sports such as Working Trials and IGP. Footstep tracking requires accuracy, attention to detail, and a serious amount of precision from both dog and handler!
Sports Tracking gives you and your dog an opportunity to try a more challenging variation of tracking training, or is a perfect option for those looking to compete in dog sports with a tracking aspect. If you already compete in dog sports such as Working Trials or IGP, and are looking to improve your scores in the tracking phase, we have workshops and one-to-one training options designed to develop your skills. Find out more below or book here!
Tracking Courses, Events & Workshops
