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!