What is Tracking?

Tracking is a form of olfactory/nosework that teaches you and your dog to follow a particular track comprised of “ground scent”, and may involve locating and indicating on articles which they encounter on the track.

Whether your dog is experienced in other scent disciplines or completely new to scentwork, Tracking is a fantastic activity for teaching your dog to follow their nose whilst we coach you as a handler to get the very best out of your canine companion.

Tracking traces its roots back to police/detective work, and many operational dogs in the Police and Armed Forces are adept at tracking, which enables them to locate a missing person, criminal fleeing a scene, or recover evidence dropped along the way. Tracking dogs can also be used in other ways, for example, in conservation work to follow and identify vulnerable species, or to help apprehend human poachers.

For dogs that are highly motivated to work, and those that like to use their nose, Tracking offers a way to teach precision whilst enhancing your dog’s natural abilities – dogs instinctively know how to follow a scent, and we teach them to harness that power productively.

When can I start?

As an accredited UK Sniffer Dogs instructor, we offer regular workshops which provide an excellent introduction to tracking. New teams begin at Bronze Level, with Series 1 followed by Series 2, which then allows access to our national Bronze Level Trials.

Once you’ve completed your Bronze Level, we offer regular progression classes to allow you to eventually progress onto Silver and Gold levels, and compete in national Trials of various levels.

We’re fortunate to have a venue with ample space for Tracking, and this includes the use of indoor facilities for theory, hot drinks and refreshments, and secure parking for attendees.

Your instructor Laura has been teaching in multiple scent disciplines since 2021, and has accreditation for teaching Mantrailing and Scent Detection, as well as Tracking. You can rest assured that you are in safe and knowledgeable hands.

During our Tracking classes, dogs are worked on an individual basis, which means we are able to accommodate nervous and reactive dogs with no problems.

When, where and how much?

Our Tracking classes take place on Saturday mornings. Bronze Series 1 and 2 are £70 each, and while our regular Progression classes for clients who’ve attended at least Series 1, are £20 per team.

We’re hosted by the Adventure Neighground, a private livery yard in Accrington who are doing groundbreaking work in teaching scentwork to horses. Facilities include on-site-parking, a cabin for theory work, brew-making facilities, WC and several acres of land to conduct Tracking. Some of the venue is accessible, though wheelchair/mobility scooter users may find it difficult to access the field and paddock in adverse/muddy weather conditions.

Dogs are expected to wait in their vehicles when not being worked. If your dog doesn’t like being left, you are welcome to wait with your dog in the car, otherwise observe the teams during their activities. Depending on ground conditions, we’re often able to park directly in one of the Tracking fields, which means your vehicle is usually within view or otherwise secure.

Do I have to attend every week?

No, our classes are pay-as-you-go, so you can book whenever you’re able to attend. The exceptions are the Bronze Series 1 and 2, which have dedicated dates that you must attend.

Generally speaking, the more regularly you attend classes, the faster your dog will pick up Tracking, but this does of course depend on how much work you do with your dog in your own time, and on your individual dog’s learning style as well.