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EVOLUTION OF THE RULES

History of the Tracking Rules

compiled by Sami Jones

Following are the rules prior to the major changes published in the Sept/Oct 1994 Schutzhund USA.

Strikeouts are shown where a requirement was removed from the rules; italics indicate additions to the rules.

Phase A — Tracking

Schutzhund 2

Maximum point score is 100 points.

Command: Find It (Such)

Overall Picture

Tracking a 400 to 500 600¹ paces long track laid by a stranger at least thirty minutes old with two objects on a 10 meter long tracking leash or tracking without the leash.

The strange track has two 90 degree right angle turns. The judge, by taking into consideration the existing terrain, will determine the course of the track. The start must be properly marked with a sign or marker which is to be pressed into the ground at the left hand side of the starting point. The track layer, after remaining at the starting point for some time, will proceed in the direction as indicated by the judge and places the first article on the middle of the second leg of the track without interrupting pace or changing stride. The second article is to be deposited at the end of the track. The tracklayer will now proceed a few paces straight ahead and move away from the track. The handler has the option of tracking his/her dog freely or with a 10 meter leash. Both methods will be scored identically.

The following methods are permitted for tracking:

Collars (Not on the live ring): Once the line is hooked to the collar, it may go over the dog's back, beside the dog, or between the front and rear legs back to the handler. It is also permitted that the line pass between the front legs and then to the right or left side back to the handler.³

Harnesses: The following types are allowed. Chest harnesses and Boettcher harnesses (a harness with a strap around the body of the dog, connected with a single strip to the collar). The harness must have a place to attach the line and it must be placed there. No additional straps, etc. may be used.³

Free Tracking: As described in the trial rules.³

Performance Rules and Regulations

The laying of the tracks shall be overseen by the judge.³

If the track is greater than 50 minutes old, the judge may agree to provide a new track, provided additional suitable fields are available.⁴

Articles:

During the course of the track different articles must be used. The articles should not differ greatly in colour from the ground cover and should not be larger than a wallet. Suitable materials include: leather, vinyl, textile and wood. (For all levels of SchH and IPO.)⁷

Track Laying

The tracklayer cannot reside in the same household as the handler. (For all levels of SchH and IPO.)⁷

The track layer must show the objects to the judge prior to the laying of the track. Only practical, well-scented articles that the track layer has had for 30 minutes in his pocket,¹ objects which carry the scent of the track layer, are not greater than the size of a wallet and do not differ in color from the terrain are to be used. So called search packages are not to be used during the trial, however ¹ Wallets, eyeglasses cases, etc. can be used. During the laying of the track, the dog and handler must be out of sight. The scent of the track must not be disturbed when an object is placed, that is, the track layer must not scuff or stop. The object must not be placed next to the track but must be placed onto the track.

The tracks are to be laid in a normal walking manner.⁷

During the laying of the tracks it is important that there be no difference in the laying of the track, especially at the SchH III (IPO III) level. The track layers should move in a natural manner and not make heavy steps at the turns or articles or make unnatural movements. The scent pad at the start should be stepped off, not scuffed.³

The judge oversees the laying of the tracks, the briefing of the tracklayers and directs how the tracks are laid.⁷

A flag is to be placed at the scent pad — to the left thereof — and must remain in place until the completion of the tracking exercise.⁷

The corners are to be 90 degrees and are to be laid at a natural pace, so as to assure that the dog tracks into the next leg in a continuing manner. There should be no pausing while laying the track. Kicking in of the turns is not permitted.⁷

The handler then proceeds to the dog and prepares the dog for the tracking exercise. The handler will report to the judge when called upon and advises the judge whether the dog will pick up or point out the objects. To both pick up and point out the article is faulty. The reporting in will be done with the dog ready for tracking. During the reporting, the length of the tracking line should be checked. A too short line must be replaced.³

Dog must sit during report in and out. Handler may tell the dog to sit if necessary — no points taken off.⁶

When directed by the judge, the dog is led quietly and slowly to the starting point and placed on the start of the track. Prior to the start of the track and during the entire tracking phase, all force or pressure is to be avoided. At the start of the track the dog must be given sufficient time to absorb the scent. All tendencies of the dog to start the tack in an impetuous manner are to be avoided.

The evaluation of the scent taking is not dependent upon time. Rather the judge must wait and determine the success of the scent taking by the orientation and intensity as the dog begins the first leg.³

It is allowed for the handler to remove the starting marker of the track before beginning the tracking work. It is not faulty if the dog smells the starting marker.³ Starting stake should remain in place until the track is complete.⁶

The dog must quietly pick up the scent with a deep nose. As soon as the dog begins to track, the handler must stop and let the length of the 10 meter leash glide through his/her hands. The handler now follows the dog and maintains the 10 meter distance even though the dog may track without a leash.

A loose line is acceptable, and it may drag on the ground; however, the handler must remain at ten paces behind the dog.⁶ The tracking line can hang loose, however a severe shortening of the distance to the dog is not permitted. It is not faulty if the leash touches the ground. The judge is not permitted to advise the handler to drop the tracking line. If the handler holds the dog back from continuing tracking, then he/she is to follow the instruction of the judge to follow the dog. The track will be terminated if the dog is more than a tracking line off of the track. The handler must follow the instruction of the judge to follow the dog, otherwise the track will be terminated if not heeded.⁷

Speed or slowness are not criteria for scoring the track. However, it is important that a regular tempo is used for the work over the entire track. Unenthusiastic or impetuous tracking with a high or half high nose can have points deducted as described in the trial rules.³

The tracklayer should follow behind the handler at a distance of about 20 meters.⁴

Immediately after the dog has found an object it must be either picked up or convincingly pointed out without being influenced by the handler. During the pickup indication the dog may stop and stand, sit or return to the handler. Forward motion with the object or picking up while lying down is faulty. The point out indication can be accomplished either by lying down, sitting or a standing stay. The indication can occur with laying down, sitting or standing and the indication can be different at different articles. The dog should remain quiet until the restart and is to begin out of the indicating position. The restart occurs with the line held short.³

The handler drops the leash and proceeds immediately to the dog. By lifting the object high into the air, the handler indicates to the judge that the object has been found. The handler must show the articles to the judge before touching or restarting the dog.⁴ It is permissible for the handler to step toward the dog who has picked up the object, however it is faulty if the dog continues with the object. [Deleted to eliminate a redundancy.]¹ The tracking leash may hang loosely when being held by the handler. The handler and dog continue on the track. The objects are presented to the presiding judge after the completion of the track.

Retrieving of Articles — Dogs that retrieve the article to the handler may start tracking at the handler or return to the place of the article before resuming the tracking. The handler must remain in place until the line is fully taken out by the dog. Both styles will be judged the same.⁴

The indication of the articles should occur in a direct line with the track scent. Slight crookedness in the down indication of the article is not faulty. Sideways down indications at the article or strong turning toward the handler is faulty. Articles indicated with strong handler help are considered as not found. This is the case where a dog does not indicate the article and through influence with the line or with a command prevents the dog from continuing tracking.³

The indication of the articles has to be definitive, in the direction of the track and directly at the article. A slightly slanted position at the article is not faulty, however, lying sideways or strong turning in the direction of the handler is faulty. Articles that require strong help to locate are to be considered as non-indicated. If the dog picks up the article or if the handler retrieves it, the handler may not stand in front of the dog. If the dog picks up, it may stand, sit or come back to the handler. If the dog returns to the handler with the object, the handler may not move towards the dog. The dog has to remain clam until he retracks and will begin tracking from the respective position of the indication. The restart after the indication of the article will be accomplished with the handler near the dog.⁷

Tangled tracking line — If a dog becomes tangled in the tracking line, the handler must ask permission to clear the line. The handler may restart the dog without penalty. If the handler does not ask permission to clear the line and/or if during the restart provides handler help to the dog, up to 8 points can be deducted.⁴

If the dog leaves the track, the handler is to follow. When the dog is held back, the judge is instructed to discontinue the tracking exercise. On the other hand, the judge cannot demand the handler drop the line.³

The command "Such" can occasionally be repeated on the track. Influence with other commands such as "Pfui" or "go ahead" are not allowed and points will be deducted. Occasional praise is not faulty.³

After the fourth attempt to start the track, the tracking will be terminated. A new re-start after the dog begins the track is not permitted. A restart is when the handler has his dog at heel position and either by use of the collar or shortened leash attempts to restart the dog into the track. As long as the handler hods the tracking line on the end and lets the dog track freely, it is not to be considered a restart if the dog passes by the handler. If the dog comes back during working out the track and independently picks up the track, this is not to be considered a restart.⁷

In the rare situation when all the articles on a track cannot be found, there are three possible courses of action:

1. Handler takes the score as given;
2. Strike the entry from the trial reporting sheets;
3. Give another track.

Circumstances must dictate whether another track is allowed.

If the dog should be strongly distracted by wild animals (must be visible, not just by scent) the handler may command the dog to down and calm the dog. On direction from the judge, the dog must be restarted. If it will not track, then it fails the track.⁶

A mouth slightly open or occasionally open during tracking is not necessarily a fault. Look for intensity of effort. Weather, ground cover, temperature, length of track, etc. can have an effect upon the dog. Weigh all factors before making a determination.⁶

Scoring:

A faulty start, quartering, excessive circling on the corners, continued praise, faulty picking up and pointing out of the objects and dropping of the objects will be penalized up to 4 points.

Repeated starts or pronounced quartering, tracking with a consistently high nose, impetuous tracking, urinating or defecating or hunting for mice, etc. will be penalized up to 8 points.

Four points are to be deducted for each faulty article indication.

Ten points will be deducted for each article which is not indicated by the dog. Articles pointed out only through strong influence by the handler shall be scored as not indicated.

Should the dog indicate articles which were not laid out by the track layer, four points will be deducted.

The overshooting of the corners may not be considered faulty if due to the prevailing wind conditions and directions the scent is carried beyond the corners.¹

(Scoring shown is only one example. It is up to the individual judge as to how he scores the track.)

References

¹New Schutzhund rules, as printed in the SV Zeitung, Januar 1991, and published in the Schutzhund USA, March/April 1991.

³New Schutzhund rules, as printed in the März 1991 SV Zeitung, effective January 1, 1991, as agreed upon at a meeting of the Training Committee on February 2-3, 1991, and printed in the Schutzhund USA, May/June, 1991.

⁴"Resolutions from the Judges", by G. Shumaker, Schutzhund USA, September/October, 1991, p. 58. A summary of the resolutions made at the first Judges' Seminar held on July 12-14, 1991 in Bowling Green, KY.

⁵"Results of the 1992 Judges' Seminar", Schutzhund USA, Nov/Dec 1992, p. 48. A summary of the resolutions made at the second Judges' Seminar held on July 24-26, 1992 in Bowling Green, KY.

⁶"Notes from SV Judges' Meeging", by G. Shumaker, Schutzhund USA, May/June, 1993, p. 47. A summary of the SV judges' meeting held on January 16, 1993 in Erlensee, Germany.

⁷"Effective Immediately: New VDH Rules for USA Events", Schutzhund USA, Vol. 19, No. 5, Sept/Oct 1994, p 105.