American Spaniel Club Inc. - Home of the Cocker Spaniel

Due to their background as hunting dogs, expected to find game through their sense of smell, Cockers are naturals at the sport of tracking. In tracking, a dog must follow the path walked by the tracklayer anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 hours before, depending on the level of the track. There are 3 titles offered by AKC, in increasing order of difficulty.

• Tracking Dog – TD
• Tracking Dog Excellent – TDX
• Variable Surface Tracking – VST

The length of the tracks, type of cover, obstacles and age are different for each level and a dog, which earns all 3 titles, has the right to have CT (Champion Tracker) placed before its name.

A Beginner's Guide to Tracking is available on the AKC website.

Recommended Reading:

Tracking Dog, Theory & Methods. (2nd edition). Glen R. Johnson.
Published by Arner Publications, Rome, NY, c1977. ISBN 0-914124-04-8

This book is the standard for anyone interested in training dogs to track. Included in the book is the Tracking Trainers Handbook, a great reference for working in the field. Glen R. Johnson brought his many years of experience and innovation to write was has become the "bible" of trackers everywhere. His experience ranged from military dog work, to detection of toxic pipeline leaks using dogs.


Tracking From the Ground Up. Sandy Ganz & Susan Boyd.
Published by Show-Me Publications, St. Louis, MO, c1992.

The all-inclusive tracking program from the most elementary T.D. lessons through Sandy and Sue's highly acclaimed T.D.X. methods. Based on the authors' 40 years of combined experience as handlers and instructors. This book, a first of its kind, includes step-by-step instruction in track laying, puppy training, alternative training methods, and test preparation. The proven 8-week tracking program is easy to read and practical. Motivational techniques, problem solving, and proper handling, are stressed from the first day of tracking through single-flag starts, multiple articles, cross-tracks, and obstacles.


Practical Tracking for Practically Anyone. Julie Hogan & Donna Thompson,
Published by George Morgan, Charlotte, NC, c1995.

This how-to manual for trackers includes certification, what to expect at a test, scent theory, variable surface tracking, and sources of equipment. Not much on VST, but gives an idea of what it's about. "What to expect at the test" is great. Avoid those "first test" jitters.

(Shirley Hunsaker contributed Material for this page.)