Hungarian Vizslas excel in this activity, by simply utilising their natural abilities – the exceptional good nose, that has been compared to some of the best tracking abilities across all breeds.

 

The surface of dogs olfactory mucous (varies per breed) is 10 to 100 times more spread out than of humans. Using dogs for tracking has been widely used over centuries, mainly by the police and rescue. In Australia, a few Hungarian Vizslas are part of a State wide Rescue Team and are on call providing a valuable service to the community.

TRACKING

It comes naturally, probably you have noticed that whenever your Vizsla goes outside, his nose is to the ground and he's obviously following the trail left behind by another animal crossing your yard, moving from one scent to another. Tracking is using this natural ability and refining it. We alter the way of using their nose, - instead of tracking animal scent, we train them to follow the trail of human scent. Its easy to do by making them believe it is more rewarding and fun. This vigorous outdoor activity is great for dogs and owners alike. There are specialised Tracking Clubs where you can learn the requirements and you can practice by your self or with a helper. You need your own equipment, which consists of a minimum 10 meters long lead, a suitable harness for your dog, marking pegs and scent articles. List of Clubs and Rules for the Conduct of Tracking Trials available from each State's Canine Association

Tracking Trials

Some Obedience, Breed and Tracking Clubs run various levels of Tracking Trials where you can achieve titles for your registered Vizsla. You must also be a financial member of your State's Canine Association. Trials are held at weekends in cooler months of the year. Minimum age for trailing is 6 months. You need to qualify to compete in a Tracking Trial. Your Vizslas must have gained one pass in an Obedience Trial Novice Class as well as having passed the Preliminary Tracking qualification test. You either Pass or Fail a Tracking Test. To Pass the Test, your dog must locate or indicate the required number of articles on the track as well as find the tracklayer. Once your dog has Passed a Test, you go to the next level. There are no time limit or time penalties to Tracking Tests. The attainable titles are as follows:- T.D. – Tracking Dog, T.D.X. – Tracking Dog Excellence, T.C.H. – Tracking Champion. Once a new title achieved, it replaces the previous one.

Preliminary Tracking Qualification Test

This Test may be conducted in conjunction with an Official Tracking Trial or it may be conducted on a different day. The test itself requires the dog to track a known tracklayer for about 300 metres, with one approximately 90 degree direction change. The track must be between 10 and 30 minutes old and to obtain a pass the judge must consider the dog to be tracking and the dog must find the tracklayer.

Tracking Dog (T.D.)

Test 1. The track is laid by a person known to the dog and nominated by the handler and is about 800 metres long. The track must be between 30 and 90 minutes old and have at least two angled turns and two articles of which at least one must be found or indicated by the dog. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the trail.

 

Test 2. The track is about 800 metres long and is laid by a person unknown to the dog, a person who has not laid a track for the dog in the past twelve months. The track must be between 30 and 90 minutes old and have at least two angled turns and two articles of which at least one must be found or indicated by the dog. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the trail.

Tracking Dog Excellent (T.D.X.)

Test 3: The track is about 1000 metres long and is laid by a person unknown to the dog, a person who has not laid a track for the dog in the past twelve months. The track must be between 60 and 120 minutes old and have at least four angled turns and two articles of which at least one must be found or indicated by the dog. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the trail.

 

Test 4: This test is similar to Test 3, with the exception that the track must be crossed once by a known person to create a diversion track approximately 30 minutes after the original track was laid.

 

Test 5: The track is about 1200 metres long and is laid by a person unknown to the dog, a person who has not laid a track for the dog in the past twelve months The track must be between 60 and 180 minutes old and have at least five angled turns and three articles of which at least two must be found or indicated by the dog. Two diversion tracks are made by one known person and one unknown person across the original track approximately 30 minutes after the original track was laid. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the trail.

Tracking Champion (T.C.H.)

Test 6: The track is about 1200 metres long and laid by a person unknown to the dog, a person who has not laid a track for the dog in the past twelve months. The track must be between 60 and 180 minutes old and have at least six angled turns, two of which must be acute and three articles of which at least two must be found or indicated by the dog. This Test has a blind start in a twenty meter area. Two diversion tracks are made by an unknown person or persons across the original track approximately 30 minutes after the original track was laid it. The tracklayer must be found at the end of the trail

 

TIPS FOR STARTING

Weather conditions that affect scent:

"Good" conditions: mild dull weather, high humidity, ground warmer than the air, light rain can enhance scent

"Bad" conditions: hot sun, strong winds, heavy rain, air warmer than the ground

Track Components:

Track layer, Start, Scent, Direction, End

Track Laying:

The person who has laid the track should not go with the handler when the dog is tracking as it may confuse the dog. It is important to pick out a point on the landscape and walk towards it in a straight line, or use pegs. These identifications should be written down so that when you return you can inform the handler which points you walked to. It is helpful to make a map every time when you are laying a track. As all of us , sometimes forget exactly where we have walked! When a dog is being trained to track the objective is to win come what may and at the end of the track he has his "reward".

Understanding your dog on a track:

When tracking, it is very important for the handler to interpret his dog correctly, by closely watching as it goes down the track. Is he keeping its nose right down when it tracks? When it goes off the track, does it lift its head as though to indicate "where has it gone"? Does it carry its tail in a certain way when it is on the track? Handlers must learn to trust their dog on a track, wherever they lead you, you should not think for your dog.

Line Handling:

While tracking, the handler must also learn how to handle the tracking line. Tension should be kept on the line when the dog is tracking and should not be allowed to fall below the dog's back. The handler's hands should be kept at waist level or higher, especially when the dog comes to a turn and has to hunt around to pick up the turn. You should keep the line up and slide it through your hands. Your dog must not get tangled up in the line as he could think it's a correction and shut down on you. The tracking line is used not only to keep in physical contact with the dog, but is a communication link between the dog and handler. You will find, if used correctly, the line will make you sensitive to the dog's movements and that good line handling will have an affect on how good a tracker the dog will be.