AKC Tracking Judges

On test day, it is the responsibility of the judges to ensure that the equipment used in the field meets the current AKC Tracking Regulations requirements.

Collar: If a collar is worn by the dog while tracking, the collar must be properly fitted (buckle or slip). No special training collars, such as electronic collars or prong collars, will be permitted. Required licenses or rabies tags may be attached to the collar.

Harness: The dog must wear a harness while tracking. The harness will be constructed of pliable material with minimal restriction of the dog’s movement. An inconspicuous marking is permitted on the harness to identify the dog in case of loss.

Line: A tracking line must be attached to the top of the harness and not be deliberately run through the underside of the dog, controlling or restricting the dog’s movement. The line must be between 20 and 40 feet in length.

The following optional equipment is allowed. They must be put on the dog before the start of the track and in the presence of both judges.

Coat: Protective or cool coats may be worn by the dog either under or over the harness. If worn over the harness, there must be an opening on the coat that allows the line to be connected to the harness at the top.

Footwear: Booties may be worn to provide protection to the dog’s feet.

Eyewear: Goggles may be worn to provide protection to the dog’s eyes.

The only items permitted on the tracking field are those items considered by the judges to be essential to conducting the test. Judges will not allow any motivational items such as food or toys. Any type of recording devices that film video, capture pictures and/or locations are not to be carried by the handler or attached to the dog. Spectators may video or photograph the dog in the field as long as they remain in the gallery area(s) designated by the judges.

If you have any questions, please email tracking@akc.org.
Happy Tracking!

The best way to avoid misunderstandings between judge and club is by effective communication from both parties before the test. After contacting a judge with an invitation to judge an event, the test giving club should prepare a contract letter detailing all judging arrangements, acceptable judge’s expenses and judging fees. Judges should review the contract and add any additional expenses or requirements before returning the signed contract to the club. If there are changes to the original contract, a club official should initial the changes, sign the contract and return a copy of the final contract to the judge. The club should keep accurate written records of any verbal or written contracts with judges (follow up all discussions with email communication). If the club’s leadership changes, these records will help the new leadership to ensure that judge’s contracts are honored.

The contract should include:
• Name of the club, address and telephone/cell phone number(s) of the club and the contact person.
• Date and complete address for the location of the event.
• List the finalized judging assignments that the club will submit on their AKC test application.
• Name and contact information for the co-judge(s) for each assignment.
• Expenses and Fees. When referring to expenses, be as specific as possible, e.g., number of nights in a hotel, level of airline fare, meal allowances and ground transportation mileage. Judges should include any additional expenses (judging fees, house/pet sitting, airport parking, transportation to the hotel, etc.) and all personal requirements.
• Notification of accommodation and hospitality arrangements. Include details such as the name of the hotel/motel, directions to the hotel/motel, directions to the event site, the hotel’s dining features, hotel telephone numbers and hotel emergency number. If this information is not available at the time the contract is prepared, the club should send this information to judges at least 60 days prior to the event.
• A date by which the judge must return the written confirmation of acceptance of the assignment.

It is up to the judge to check for assignment conflicts before accepting the club’s invitation. The judge should reply to the club promptly and in writing to accept or decline the assignment. Before returning the signed contract, the judge should provide anticipated expenses and fees. Judges are responsible for abiding by the contract conditions.

Happy Tracking!

One of the most heartbreaking calls for tracking judges is to fail a team when the dog misses an article. The judges must know exactly where the article was to be placed and be watching the dog carefully when he approaches the drop area so that they can make the correct ruling in the field.

The first thing that judges must determine is whether the article is at the drop point or missing. If the article is where it should be and the team has continued down the track without picking it up, the judges have no choice other than to fail the team.

If, after a quick search and conferring with the tracklayer, the article is determined to be missing then the judges must make a ruling according to the regulations for each test level. Since the missing article regulations for TDU/VST and TD/TDX are different, judges must know the following:

TD/TDX: If, in the judges’ opinion, the dog actively searched the area where an article was dropped but did not find the article, and the judges cannot find the article, the dog will be given credit for finding the article. If the dog does not actively search the area and the judges cannot find the article, the dog will be tested on another track that meets the requirements of the Regulations.

TDU/VST: The judges will give the dog credit for the article if an article is not found and cannot be located by the judges or the tracklayer, provided that the dog worked continuously and intently along the actual track.

Happy Tracking!

Judges and tracking test committee members have an important responsibility when it comes to communicating with exhibitors. Tracking test participants should be well informed before the event, warmly welcomed at the test, and encouraged by their judges.

The AKC Tracking Regulations guidelines for judges’ state: “Judges are expected to be friendly and courteous to all. Without exhibitors, there would be no tests. For every experienced exhibitor there are many newcomers. The future of this sport is in the hands of the novice.”

Exhibitors are always going to have a few nervous moments when they are faced with having their tracking performance evaluated in a test environment. So much goes into preparation and training before the event, that it is understandable that the handler may feel stressed. We cannot know all the stressors, but we can do our best to alleviate some of the anxiety.

Judges should strive to be friendly and approachable. Take a few minutes at the test track draw meeting to introduce yourself and your co-judge. Thank the club and exhibitors for their participation and let them know that you are rooting for them. Explain the details of traveling to the tracking field… which car to follow, who will oversee the gallery and special parking restrictions. Ask if there are any questions, then give them time to use the facilities.

When you arrive at the tracking area, judges should let the exhibitor know where they can walk their dog and if the track is ready now or how long they will have to wait. Just before the team is directed to the start flag, take a minute to ask the handler if they have any questions and wish them good luck. Do not unduly hurry the team and be sure to give them plenty of space between your position and the start flag.

Once the dog has started the track, communication with the handler would be limited to granting permission to restart (TD/TDU only), to warn of a potentially dangerous situation or if the team has been failed. Judges should not acknowledge whether items found are official test articles until the celebration at the final article.

If the exhibitor requests information regarding individual dog’s performance, the conversation should be delayed until after the judge has completed the assignment and turned in the judge’s book. However, a judge should never continue a conversation with an angry or aggressive person. This is a wonderful time to point out all the things the team did well, and to encourage them for their next try at the title.

Happy Tracking!

The Tracking Judge’s Guidelines state “The tracking fraternity is known for its friendliness, hospitality and encouragement of all participants.” This legacy lives on thanks to the efforts of club volunteers and tracking judges. Together, we endeavor to make tracking tests pleasurable for dogs, handlers and sponsoring clubs while upholding high standards for titling.

Encouraging participation in our sport is so very important. Thank you all for your role, whether it be to lay a track for a friend, teach a class, volunteer for a test, support a potential new tracking judge or put in the many hours of work as a judge for an event. The tracking community embodies the best of camaraderie.

Accommodating the special needs of tracking exhibitors is one way that we can support continued participation in our sport. Although we are not able to give an “easier” track to an exhibitor with physical limitations, we can help by modifying the draw so that they would run a track that has easier access to the start of the track. A track that has a nearby parking lot would be a better choice than a track that has a substantial walk-in to the field.

Exhibitors with wheelchairs, sight impairments, or other physical limitations may be assisted on the track by a helper designated by that exhibitor. The helper would walk behind the judges and provide momentary assistance to the handler without guiding the dog in any way. After assisting the handler, the helper would return to a position on the track behind the judges.

Additionally, an exhibitor may need to take a short rest during a test track. The handler can momentarily catch their breath, resting the dog and themselves. The handler must be made aware that no “restart” or guiding of the dog is allowed but can “rescent” and release the dog to go back to tracking.

Happy Tracking to All!