Tracking is a sport that any dog can learn. The teaching of tracking is itself very instructive. At novice levels, the dog is started at the beginning of the track, and the dog is encouraged to sniff around to identify the scent to be followed. Because the direction is established, the dog should be able to (with training) pick out the correct trail to follow. The dog does not actually follow the "footsteps" of the person, but the scent which may drift away from the actual track. This can be lots of fun.

According to the AKC, "the purpose of a tracking test is to demonstrate the dog's ability to recognize and follow human scent, a skill that is useful in the service of mankind. Tracking, by nature, is a vigorous, noncompetitive outdoor sport. Tracking tests demonstrate the willingness and enjoyment of the dog in its work, and should always represent the best in sportsmanship and camaraderie by the people involved."

Pictured here is the first Golden Retriever Champion Tracker Can Ch. Westbury Golden Pine Escapade CDX, TDX "Holly" with her owner and trainer, Kathy McIntyre of Los Gatos, California. This seven-year-old gal made history on April 6, 1997. She was the first of her breed to pass the challenging Variable Surface Tracking (VST) test. She thus became the first Golden Retriever to earn the title "Champion Tracker." This honor is for those who have passed the VSR who are also TDX holders.

The track that Holly worked was 665 yards long, and had six corners. First she found a cloth at the starting flag, then a plastic article (a jar lid), then the third article (metal), and finally the fourth piece (a leather scrap). There was much concentrated effort, with this continuous process taking a total time of 1 hour and 20 minutes.

This supreme effort followed two years of intensive training. And, the special pride in this achievement is the fact that Holly has been completely amateur-owner handled and trained. Kathy is a full-time high school teacher in Santa Cruz, California and has three other Goldens besides Holly who are also in training. Learn more by checking out Tracking Books & Media and the following Craig Green articles.

Below Linda and her Golden Retriever Connor show us how they earned their Tracking Dog (TD) title.