Scent sports
The dog moves with its nose glued to the ground and retraces a person's route exactly, step by step. It is the most methodical of the scent disciplines - and the one most often confused with mantrailing.
About the discipline
In tracking, the dog does not follow the person's scent but the disturbance left by their footsteps: crushed earth, bruised grass, broken vegetation. That is why it works with its nose down and follows the track step by step.
A training track is laid across the ground, left to mature for a time and only then worked. Small articles are placed along the route, which the dog must indicate with a position.
The difference from mantrailing is fundamental: there the dog seeks the individual scent of a specific person and may work off to the side, where the wind has carried it. Here it follows the physical track, exactly where the foot fell.
How it works in practice
Frequently asked questions
In tracking the dog follows the disturbance left by footsteps, nose down, exactly on the route. In mantrailing it follows the individual scent of a specific person and may work off to the side, where the wind carried it. Tracking follows the track; mantrailing follows the human.
Fresh tracks of a few minutes are used at first. With training, advanced teams work tracks several hours old, which are considerably harder.
No. Every dog has a nose incomparably better than ours. Method, patience and consistency of training matter far more than breed.
The rule figures on this page come from FCI - International Utility Dog Regulations (IGP), 2025. Rules change and federations differ - always check the rulebook of the competition you are entering.
From the same category
Identifying a target odour in different environments.
Searching for and indicating predetermined odours.
Finding small articles carrying human scent.
Locating a protected rat in a course built of straw bales.
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.