When a dog and handler are being evaluated by the judges at a tracking test, it is important that the dog shows willingness and enjoyment in his work. Along with completing the track successfully, the dog must work continuously and be under control.
The AKC Tracking Regulations (Chapter 2, Section 2) states that a dog may be excused by the judges if the handler cannot control the dog. While the judges could often make the decision to fail the dog for “not working,” there are situations where “out of control” is a more informative and precise reason for failure.
Here are examples of a dog that is out of control:
● The dog grabs the start article and starts down the track with the article in his mouth. The handler calls but the dog will not return to the handler and/or will not give up the article.
● During judging, the tracking line gets tangled around a bush. The handler unclips the line to untangle it. The dog takes off and runs around the field refusing to return to the handler.
● The dog flushes a rabbit while on his track. The handler restrains the dog at the end of the line. The dog pulls and barks in the direction of the bunny trail. The handler is unable to get the dog back to tracking.
● The line slips out of the handler’s grasp and the dog continues to track the last three legs. The handler calls but the dog refuses to return or wait for the handler.
● A dog is overexcited or frustrated on the track. The dog repeatedly leaps at the handler, barking and nipping.
By identifying the team’s reason for failure as “out of control,” the handler gets the most accurate information regarding the specific training problem that needs to be addressed before they are ready to exhibit at a future tracking test. Hopefully, they can work through the issue and be successful on their next try.
Happy Tracking!