What do IFH and IGP-FH stand for?
IFH = Internationale Fährtenhund-Prüfung, the FCI international tracking dog trial in three levels. IGP-FH is the top level: two IFH 3 tracks on two consecutive days.
FCI-IGP trial
IFH 1-3 and IGP-FH: the FCI tracking dog trials
The IFH trials (Internationale Fährtenhund-Prüfung) are tracking only: no obedience, no protection. Three levels with ever longer and older tracks, from 800 paces and 90 minutes to 1,800 paces and 3 hours, with acute corners and cross tracks, and above them IGP-FH, two IFH 3 tracks on two days. It is the FCI trial closest to the scent work we do.
What are the IFH trials?
IFH tests one thing, in depth: the dog's ability to follow an old, long human track with changes of direction and articles to indicate, on natural ground. At IFH 1 the handler lays the track; from IFH 2 a stranger lays it, and 30 minutes before the work another person lays a cross track that the dog must check without following.
IGP-FH is the summit: two IFH 3 tracks, one per day, on different fields and laid by different tracklayers; it is passed only if both are at least satisfactory. It is the only FCI tracking trial in which the handler may ask the judge for a short break for the dog, counted within the working time.
Who can enter and from what age
- IFH 1: 18 months and a passed BH;
- IFH 2: 19 months and a passed IFH 1;
- IFH 3: 20 months and a passed IFH 2;
- IGP-FH: 20 months and a passed IFH 3;
- any dog identifiable by microchip or tattoo, regardless of breed or size.
Track parameters per level
| IFH 1 | IFH 2 | IFH 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line | 10 m | 10 m | 10 m |
| Tracklayer | the handler | a stranger | a stranger |
| Length | 800 paces | 1,200 paces | 1,800 paces |
| Legs | 5 | 7 | 8, one of them a semicircle of ~30 m radius |
| Corners | 4 of ~90° | 6: 5 of ~90° and the last acute (30-60°) | 7, of which 2 acute (30-60°) |
| Articles | 3 own, 3 × 7 points | 4 strange: 3 × 5 + 1 × 6 points | 7 strange, 7 × 3 points |
| Track age | 90 min | 120 min | 180 min |
| Working time | max. 30 min | max. 30 min | max. 45 min |
| Cross track | - | yes, 30 min before the work | yes, 30 min before the work |
Source: FCI-IGP 2025, "FCI-IGP Tracking dog examinations - General provisions". Articles measure 10 × 2-3 × 0.5-1 cm; corners are at least 50 paces apart; the first article comes after at least 100 paces. The cross track is laid no closer than 40 paces to a corner and does not cross the first or last leg.
Scoring
Each track carries 100 points: the track work plus the indicated articles (21 points at IFH 1 and IFH 3, 21 at IFH 2 as 3 × 5 + 6). Passing requires at least 70 points. At IGP-FH the two tracks are added; on equal totals the better single track decides.
The work is terminated if the dog fails to start three times, leaves the track by more than one line length, follows the cross track for more than one line length, runs out of time or chases game and does not resume. Article indication: lying, sitting, standing or picking up, with the article between or directly in front of the paws.
| Rating | Share of points | Out of 100 | Out of 300 (IGP 1-3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 96-100% | 96-100 | 286-300 |
| Very good | 90-95% | 90-95 | 270-285 |
| Good | 80-89% | 80-89 | 240-269 |
| Satisfactory | 70-79% | 70-79 | 210-239 |
| Insufficient | below 70% | 0-69 | 0-209 |
What the trial day looks like
- temperament evaluation and microchip check;
- tracks are laid to the sketch of the judge or tracking coordinator, on different ground for each participant; the running order is drawn after the tracks are laid;
- at IFH 2 and 3 the handler and dog do not watch the track being laid; the cross tracklayer starts at least 10 m from the track;
- the handler may ask for a short break (IFH 3 and IGP-FH) to clean the dog's nose and eyes and give water, shown to the judge before the start;
- at IGP-FH the second track is worked the next day, on other ground, laid by another person.
How this relates to mantrailing
Of all the FCI-IGP trials, IFH is the closest to what we do in the field: long line, aged track, decisions at corners, articles. The fundamental difference remains: in IFH the dog follows the route step by step, in mantrailing it follows the person by their individual scent, whatever route leads to them. For teams that want an FCI scent title without protection, IFH is the natural choice; for dogs that search for people, our path runs through the IRO test.
Official regulations
The figures on this page come from the documents below; on trial day the text of the regulations is what counts.
- FCI - International Utility Dog Regulations 2025 (PDF)
- A.Ch.R. - FCI-IGP 1-3 regulations, Romanian translation (PDF)
Related pages
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
How old and how long is the track?
90 minutes and 800 paces at IFH 1, 120 minutes and 1,200 paces at IFH 2, 180 minutes and 1,800 paces at IFH 3.
What is a cross track?
A track laid by another person 30 minutes before the work, crossing the main track (at IFH 2 and 3). The dog may check it, but if it follows it for more than one line length the work is terminated.
How many points are needed to pass?
At least 70 out of 100 per track; at IGP-FH both tracks must be at least satisfactory.
Is IFH the same as mantrailing?
No. In IFH the dog follows the route step by step; in mantrailing it follows a person by their scent, regardless of the route. Long-line technique and reading the dog carry over.
Start with the BH.
Every FCI-IGP trial starts from the companion dog test. We prepare teams for it and guide them onwards.