This certification is designed to determine if the tracking dog can locate an unknown subject in an unfamiliar area and is intended to closely simulate working situations. During this portion of the test, the tracking canine team must test in three (3) mandatory tracks:
1. Hard Surface
2. Vegetative
3. Combination
Decoys:
1. The decoy will be unknown to the dog when possible.
2. If possible, the certification should be set up in the area or location relevant to a working environment.
3. The testing area will be out of view of the handler.
4. The decoy should choose a direction with a path an individual would choose to avoid being followed.
5. The decoy will receive instructions from the Master Trainer / Certifying Official for the method and direction of travel.
6. Decoy will be hidden in a safe manor, in a place of concealment, as to which the canine can or cannot make contact.
Track:
1. The handler and dog will be secluded from view of the decoy, while the decoy is setting up the test problem.
2. When the certification begins the Master Trainer / Certifying Official will inform the handler of the approximate area to begin.
3. The handler may or may not be told in which direction the decoy fled but will be told the area to search.
4. The track may be subject to cross contamination due to the natural environment.
5. It is recommended the search should be laid in the type of environment the canine team works in, if possible.
6. The age of the track will be a minimum of 20 minutes prior to beginning the test.
7. Out of the three (3) mandatory tracks, there will be a minimum of one (1) article placed along a track.
Hard Surface Track:
1. Hard surface track will consist of canine tracking down a hard surface such as, street, roadway, sidewalk, railway tracks, sand, and/or culvert.
2. The length of the search shall be determined by the Master Trainer / Certifying Official and shall have a minimum of one (1) turn, with the direction to be determined by the Master Trainer / Certifying Official.
Vegetative Track:
1. Vegetative track may consist of canine tracking through grass, wooded area, swamp, or bayou.
2. The length of the search shall be determined by the Master Trainer / Certifying Official and shall have a minimum of one (1) turn, with the direction to be determined by the Master Trainer / Certifying Official.
Combination Track:
1. The length of the search shall be determined by the Master Trainer / Certifying Official and have at least two (2) types of surfaces which are covered in the hard surface or vegetative track.
2. Track shall have a minimum of two (2) turns, with the direction to be determined by the Master Trainer / Certifying Official.
