Tracking Dog Urban (TDU) – Potential new AKC Tracking title

Purpose: This type of entry level tracking test has three basic objectives:

  1. To provide an avenue to encourage newcomers or people restricted to urban area life styles into the sport of tracking.
  2. To provide clubs with an alternative style of test to compensate for the loss of viable tracking fields in those areas.
  3. To test the dog’s ability to follow a track laid by a person under a variety of conditions in an urban environment.

TDU Track Requirements. The following are the suggested minimum requirements for a TDU track:

  1. The track must be at least 440 yards and not more than 500 yards in length.
  2. Tracks will have a minimum of two (2) different surfaces, vegetated and non-vegetated. At least 10% but not more than 20% will be plotted crossing non-vegetated surfaces. Tracks may cross paved sidewalks, lightly traveled roads, baseball diamonds, parking lots and other non-vegetated surfaces. A track may cross areas devoid of vegetation as many times as necessary to fulfill the non-vegetated track requirements. Various pedestrian, animal or vehicle traffic will be considered a normal occurrence.
  3. The scent on the track must be not less than thirty (30) minutes or more than two (2) hours old.
  4. The start and first turn must be plotted on a vegetated surface.
  5. The TDU test articles will consist of three (3) personal, dissimilar cloth or leather articles and will be the size of a glove or wallet. The start article must be made of cloth. The second article will be dropped at least 30 yards from a turn and at a place approximately ½ the total length of the track as designated by the judges. The third article will be a glove or wallet and will be dropped at the end of the track.
  6. The first turn must be at least 30 yards from the second flag.
  7. The length of each of the legs thereafter must be at least 50 yards.
  8. A total of three (3) to five (5) turns must be used and will include both left and right 90-degree angle turns. At least two (2) of the turns must be 90-degree turns, and preferably more than two (2) such turns. No acute angle turns are to be used.
  9. At least two (2) of the 90-degree turns will be well out in the open.
  10. No turns will be plotted on non-vegetated surfaces.
  11. A track will not cross a body of water that would be considered an obstacle in TDX. No cross-tracks will be used. There shall be no physical obstacles, barriers, or obstructions for the handler or dog to negotiate.
  12. Tracks may be laid in the vicinity of buildings and other structures such as fences, breezeways, ramps, stairs, bridges, shelters, roofed parking garages, courtyards, and buildings with two or more openings. Tracks will be as equal in complexity as possible in this regard.

Additional Information: When adopted as a titling event, the following would apply:

Dogs entering the test will be required to pass a TDU certification track unless the dog already has an AKC tracking title. Exhibitors may earn the TD and TDU titles, but only one of these titles will be required for a dog to enter a TDX or VST test.

The Tracking Dog Urban Test would be an optional titling tracking event; clubs would not be required to offer this test.

The purpose of this document is to solicit information and suggestions from members of the tracking community.

While the American Kennel Club does not have any provisions in AKC policies, rules or regulations for clubs to offer this event to the general public. Clubs may hold a TDU event as a special attraction in conjunction with another event or as a non-regular class defined by the club at a sanctioned tracking match. To assist in our development of this new tracking title, we would appreciate any feedback, positive or negative, along with any suggestions or other comments you may have.

Please use the below e-mail address for any responses on the proposed TDU Test and title. trackadv@akc.org