Track Laying &  Map Making - Think Ahead | Learning to Read Your Dog | Maps

Track Laying Rules in a Nutshell . . .

Following are tracklaying rules for variable surface tracking.

  1. The first article must be leather or fabric
  2. Try to start in an area where the direction of the track is an option
  3. Twenty yards of vegetation to the start
  4. At least 30 yards for each leg (more is better)
  5. Acute turns to be avoided, but are not illegal
  6. At least one 90 degree turn on a non-vegetated surface in an open area
  7. At least one article on a non-vegetated surface
  8. Articles at least 20 yards from a turn
  9. Turns at least 20 yards from an article
10. MAKE A MAP!
11. If something unusual happens, note on your map, and notify the judges
12. Note all changes of surface on your map and mark distances.

Following is a sample map for practice in variable surface tracking.

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Track Laying and Map Making, Part 1
Think Ahead . . .

1. Know where you are going before you start

2. Think about how you are going to get out before you go in

3. Choose a landmark you can see from where you are at

4. Be prepared!

1. Have an idea of what you want the track to look like. Think about your turns and which way you will go. Remember you must have both right and left turns (no box tracks) and that at least one must be on a non-vegetated surface if you are working on VST. Look at your assigned area and perhaps walk the perimeter before starting your track. Take note of dead ends!

Develop a sense of space. How far does 100 yards look from where you are standing? Fifty yards? Seventy-five yards? Be able to guess the yards to a given landmark. Practice guessing distance, then walk it off to see how close you are.

2. Remember you cannot cross your own track! Be sure that the track ends in an area you haven't been through. If you make a mistake, be sure to let the handler of the dog know that there is a problem. Use mistakes to learn. Ask yourself what the dog does when it is confronted with a track that crosses itself. Remember the area you used and try to come up with a solution for the next time. We all make mistakes and correct them. No one learns by being perfect.

Keep an eye out for where you have been. It's easy to get so involved in the plotting of a track that you forget that the building you are coming around is the same one you passed on the way in. Try to make an accurate map with correct proportions (use graph paper) so that you will see a problem on paper before you commit to the track.

3. Possibly the worst mistake people make in laying track is to start walking in a chosen direction, then arrive at a point you think is a good landmark for a turn (or article), just to discover that when you are following the dog you have no idea where that turn or article is from your position behind the dog.

Example: From the start flag you look out and see a green building with a brown door. You decide that you will walk toward it and guess it's about 150 yards away. You want a 100 yard leg, so you look a little closer in and find a small bush you guess is about 100 yards. Having determined to go with this leg, you walk out, counting your steps, toward the brown door. When you get even with the bush, you stop, mark off you map with the exact yardage, and look for your next leg. Your guess turns out to be off by 50 yards. So what! Write it down as what you actually measured and keep on going. Then, when you are following the dog, you will see if the dog misses the turn without having to be in that exact spot.

4. Come equipped with paper (preferably graph paper), pencil (they work better in the rain), clipboard or other surface to write on, and a calculator (if you are not good adding and keeping track of yardage). Also, remember to bring articles (start a collection of metal, plastic, fabric, and leather, 2" x 5" up to 5" x 5") and a flag. Remember to leave a start article. (For dogs without a TD, you might try starting without an article every other time.) Know the rules (or see the TD/TDX/VST comparison chart for an overview of the basics).

Have fun and TRUST YOUR DOG!

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Track Laying and Map Making, Part 2
Learning to Read Your Dog . . .

Remember that only your dog knows where the track goes. your nose probably won't get you too far. However, our dogs are always learning, so they will make mistakes. Hopefully, your tracklayer also knows where the track goes, and will clue you in if your dog makes a mistake. But you still must follow you dog!

The most frequent tracklayer error in tracking is trying to second guess the tracklayer. Most times you are much better off letting you dog take you for a walk. Your tracklayer will tell you if the dog has made a mistake, at which point you bring the dog back to where he is on the track and go from there, again, following your dog.

The most frequent tracklayer error is correcting the handler too soon. If you are going to tell them which way the track goes constantly, you might as well draw a line on the ground and tell the handler to follow.

Learning to read your dog is a combination of watching the dog make mistakes to find out what he does to indicate he is lost, and watching the dog when he is correct to see his behavior when he is on the track. tracklayers may help best by gently clueing the handler without giving away the track. For instance, say "you're coming up to a turn" instead of "there's a left turn at the tree". Telling the handler the location and direction of turns does nothing to build a handler's confidence in his dog. Some handlers have a hard time seeing a dog's clues, yet they are obvious to the tracklayer following. Discuss with the handler what you have observed so the handler can look for it. For example you might advise the handler that the dogs tail always wags in a circle when he is working a turn.

Watch other dogs run their tracks. Many times it is far easier to see track indications in a dog when you are not following with lead in hand. For some reason handlers tend to worry so much about whether their dog is doing OK, they forget to watch for indications. You can even try having someone else run your dog so you can watch.

Tracklayers need to give clear directions when they need to help a handler. When you are standing behind the dog, calling out that the track goes "that way", the handler has no idea where "that way" is. Stating that the dog is about twenty paces past a turn is much more clear, and enables a handler to judge the mistake in relation to his current position.

Avoid correcting the dog/handler too soon. Let the dog be clearly off tracking before jumping in with directions. Wind, terrain, buildings, etc. all have varying effects on the scent. It's quite possible that a dog who is not exactly on track, or who passes up a turn, may be able to correct himself and get back on the track. It is important that the handler learns to read the dog in these various situations. Only correct the dog when he has clearly taken a wrong turn, missed an article, or is so far past the turn that he is unlikely to get back. This doesn't mean that you let the dog get 100 yards away, but 30 yards is an acceptable margin for error, especially in wind.

Try to consider all aspects of the track you've laid when making corrections. Are two legs really close together and the wind strong enough that the dog is trying to cut off part of the track? If the dog's body language indicates that he is really tracking, this may be the case.

How old is the track? More recently laid tracks will have more blown off scent around the track than an older track on which the air scent has had time to dissipate. Dogs may use different signals on different age tracks. Help the handler watch for this.

Tracks around buildings can suck up scent next to them or cast it farther away. Just because you put the track exactly ten feet from the building is no reason for the dog to be in your footsteps. As you and the handler learn to read the dog, you will be able to tell if the dog is on a scent or has lost it. Let the dog work out the problems, give it the freedom to make mistakes and you will learn much more about what your dog is saying about the scent that it is following.

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Track Laying and Map Making, Part 3
Maps . . .

The following information will help you lay track for a test. It can also be used as a guide for making your own maps during practice sessions.

Object: to be able to follow a dog through a track without judges or flags, using only your map.
Equipment: graph paper, clipboard, pencils (with erasers), plastic cover for rain. Optional: calculator.

Ask the judge where the general area for the track is. Determine where to start on paper.
The scale should be 1/4"=10 yards. (This is one square of graph paper.) Draw a field copy when laying track. Redraw it to proportion later so that you can accurately rewalk the track.

1. Mark the start flag and landmarks. (NOTE the route to the start.)

2. Be sure you understand and mark each landmark. If judges say they are walking toward a big tree, be sure you are both looking at the same big tree! Identify landmarks on your map by name and picture or symbol.

3. Mark horizon landmarks at the edge of the page. Mark landmarks approximately where they appear in relation to the track.

4. Describe the landmark well enough that there is no doubt! ("Small brick building with steps" as opposed to "building").

a. Trees and bushes - note distinctive features so that you can find that tree again!

Size - small, tall, medium
Color - green, red, brown, etc.
Shape - round, skinny, oval, spreading, etc.
Flowers - color, profusion
Bark - white, dark, light
Branches - left, right, leaning, multi, sparse, etc.
Type - oak, maple, willow, pine, cedar, etc.
Location - relation to others: "tallest lacy tree in treeline"

b. Buildings

Size - one story, two story, etc.
Features - porches, steps, window types, etc.
Color - brick, wood, green, yellow, etc.
Location - third house from the corner, closest to the road, etc.

c. Other landmarks

Utility, light, radio tower, antennae, and flag poles
Fences, treelines, ravines, rocks, street signs, other signs

5. Walk straight. The easiest way is to line up two landmarks and keep them lined up as you walk. Mark all line-ups on your map.

6. If you can't see your turn or article marker from your last leg, use an intermediate landmark and note it on your map.

7. Make sure to note the correct direction of turns on your map and indicate if they are not 90 degree turns. Note landmarks in relation to turns.

8. Count your steps! Count steps on each leg,and each surface. Break your count at articles, even though they are on the same leg and may be on the same surface. You may additionally mark the judges official count for yardage, but your count is more important for you to be able to find the track.

9. When laying track for a test - REVIEW! Re-walk your track. Note additional landmarks, be sure of your step counts. If you have questions, ask the judge for clarification!

10. Last but not least, know your way off the track! Your judges at a test may want you to go a particular way to avoid interference with another track. Make a note of it on your map. Remember, regulations state that you must proceed 30 yards after the last article in a straight line before turning off the track.

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