How to Earn the AKC Champion Tracker (CT)
Tracking tests a dog's nose: following a person's path across a field or a city to find the articles they dropped. Each title is one passed test, and the Champion Tracker holds them all.
Track Your Progress
Track Your ProgressFree, in the Dog Sports Title Tracker. Nothing to sign up for.
What the CT takes
- A Tracking Dog (TD) or Tracking Dog Urban (TDU) title
- A Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) title
- A Variable Surface Tracker (VST) title
Step by step
- Get your dog certified by a tracking judge to enter its first test.
- Pass the TD (field) or TDU (urban) test.
- Pass the longer, older TDX track.
- Pass the VST across mixed surfaces for the CT.
The titles around it
TD - Tracking Dog
Needs 1 pass.
TDU - Tracking Dog Urban
Needs 1 pass.
TDX - Tracking Dog Excellent
Needs 1 pass.
VST - Variable Surface Tracker
Needs 1 pass.
CT - Champion Tracker (this page)
Needs 3 tracking titles held (TD or TDU, TDX and VST).
Requirements from the current AKC regulations. AKC records a title once it processes the results; check your dog's AKC record. Every AKC title, A to Z.
Common questions
How many passes does a tracking title take?
One. Each tracking title is earned by passing one test.
What is the hardest tracking test?
Many handlers find the Variable Surface Tracker hardest: the track crosses pavement, gravel and grass in a built-up area.
Is a CT a championship?
Yes. The Champion Tracker is AKC tracking's championship title, earned by holding all three tracking titles.