Scent Work

Dogs have a sense of smell that’s between 10,000 and 100,000 times more acute than ours! The sport of Scent Work celebrates the joy of sniffing, and asks a dog to sniff to their heart’s content; turning your dog’s favorite activity into a rewarding game. It is a terrific sport for all kinds of dogs, and is a wonderful way to build confidence in a shy dog.

In so many dog sports the handler is in control but this isn’t true in Scent Work. Neither the dog nor handler knows where the target odor is hidden. The handler has to rely on the dog, and follow the dog’s nose to success. In Scent Work, it is the canine who is the star of the show.

Get Started in AKC Scent Work >>

Tracking

Tracking tests are for those owners who enjoy noncompetitive outdoor sports for their dogs. The tests are designed to demonstrate the willingness of the dog to work which English Springer Spaniels owners will find that their dogs will find it to be more like play than work.

There are three levels of achievement in tracking. The Tracking Dog Test (TD), the Tracking Dog Excellent Test (TDX) and the Variable Surface Tracking Test (VST). When a dog passes the TD, TDX and the VST they are awarded a Champion Tracker Title (CT)

The levels of tracking include the following:

  • The TD tests the dogs basic ability to follow human scent and indicate a “find” of a piece of clothing that contains the track layer scent.
  • The TDZ is a more advanced tes, challenging the dog to find an older scent, cross over obstacles and changes of ground cover, as well as locating four articles of the track layers clothing over a long trail. The track is also “contaminated” with other human scents.
  • The VST tests the dog’s ability to apply all of his advanced skills over a variety of urban surfaces. It is the ultimate challenge to a dog’s ability to discriminate the correct scent to follow in spite of many challenges of time, surface, object type, and distance.

Tracking is a vigorous, noncompetitive, outdoor sport and, with training, most English Springer Spaniels can easily pass their TD Test. With sufficient additional training and practices, English Springer Spaniels can advance on to the higher levels.

Trained English Springer Spaniels have also been successfully used for Search and Rescue efforts and by law enforcement to search for weapons and explosives.

The World of Tracking

With a keen sense of smell, dogs are often used to find lost people and animals, drugs, avalanche and disaster victims, and even to detect cancer. AKC Tracking is a canine sport that demonstrates a dog’s natural ability to recognize and follow a scent and is a foundation of canine search and rescue work. Unlike obedience and agility trials, where dogs respond to the owner’s commands, in tracking a dog is completely in charge. The tracking community is known for its camaraderie and they all share in the excitement of a “pass” and the disappointment of a “fail.”

Tips for the First-Time Exhibitor

  • Register your dog with the AKC.
  • Keep your dog current on all vaccinations and inoculations.
  • Become familiar with the AKC Tracking regulations
  • Attend a tracking test in your area to become familiar with the test procedure. Bring foul weather gear and dress warmly as tracking tests are held in all types of weather. Join and become active in a local club!
  • Ask questions of those attending a test and experienced exhibitors. This is how you learn
  • Contact a local Kennel Club and find a tracking class in your area

Information About Tracking Tests:
The AKC offers a variety of resources to assist those interested in tracking, whether you are new to the sport or wish to hold a tracking test. Visit the AKC Tracking page, contact AKC Customer Service at 919-233-9767 or Orderdesk@akc.org to inquire about the following resources: “Getting Started in Obedience in Obedience, Agility, Tracing and CGC – Informative brochure, which outlines the basics of getting started in AKC Companion Events.”