Provisional Tracking Judging Application

PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. To assist applicants and prevent you from applying prematurely, please review the minimum requirements for the test level you are applying for. Failure to meet any requirement will result in rejection of the application. If the application is incomplete you will be notified and will need to resubmit an updated application. You will receive an email copy of your application to retain for your records.

All applicants will be required to pass written and verbal tests. Part I - consists of an open book test and is included within this application. Your answers should be concise and informative. The answers to these questions must be included with this application. You must earn a passing score to proceed.

Part II Test and Interview will be scheduled by the Companion Events Department. The written test is a multiple-choice question test based on the Tracking Regulations.

Exemptions from some requirements may be made for applicants in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico.

Following passing of test and interview, applications are referred to the Judges Approval Committee for final determination. Following review, applicants will receive written notification of the Committee’s action.

If you have any questions please email tracking@akc.org or call (919) 816-3575.

I am applying for approval to judge the following tracking level:*

TD/TDU Applicants:

1. Personally owned, trained and handled two (2) dogs that have been awarded an AKC® Tracking Dog title (TD) or AKC® Tracking Dog Urban title (TDU).

2. Been active in the sport a minimum of six (6) consecutive years.

3. Observed tracking judges in planning and plotting TD or TDU tracks by:

a. Serving as a tracklayer for a minimum of ten (10) TD or TDU tracks at AKC member or licensed tracking tests. Must submit completed charts of at least two (2) tracks which you served as a tracklayer.

b. Apprentice judge under two (2) different sets of judges. The apprentice assignments must be at two (2) different TD or TDU tests with three or more dogs entered and judged. The judge may not be a member of the apprentice’s household or immediate family.

Note: Track laying and apprenticeship requirements must be done at separate events and may not be combined.

4. Provide a current passport photo (head shot) with this application.

TDX Applicants:

1. Personally owned, trained, and handled a dog that has been awarded an AKC® Tracking Dog Excellent title (TDX) and title at least one other dog to a Tracking Dog (TD) or Tracking Dog Urban (TDU) title.

2. Been active in the sport a minimum of six (6) consecutive years.

3. Observed tracking judges in planning and plotting TDX tracks by:

a. Serving as a tracklayer for a minimum of six (6) TDX tracks at AKC member or licensed tracking tests. Must submit completed charts of at least two (2) tracks which you served as a tracklayer.

b. Apprentice judge under two (2) different sets of judges. The apprentice assignments must be at two (2) different TDX tests with three or more dogs entered and judged. The judge may not be a member of the apprentice’s household or immediate family.

Note: Track laying and apprenticeship requirements must be done at separate events and may not be combined.

4. Provide a current passport photo (head shot) with this application.

VST Applicants:

1. You must be an approved TDX judge or an approved regular status TD/TDU judge who has owned, trained, and handled a dog that has been awarded a VST title

3. Observed tracking judges in planning and plotting VST tracks by:

a. Serving as a tracklayer for a minimum of four (4) VST tracks at AKC member or licensed tracking tests. Must submit completed charts of at least two (2) tracks which you served as a tracklayer.

b. Apprentice judge under two (2) different sets of judges. The apprentice assignments must be at two (2) different VST tests with three or more dogs entered and judged. The judge may not be a member of the apprentice’s household or immediate family.

Note: Track laying and apprenticeship requirements must be done at separate events and may not be combined.

4. Provide a current passport photo (head shot) with this application.

Name

First NameLast Name

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Email

example@example.com

Phone Number

Please enter a valid phone number.

(If approved, the contact information provided will be listed in the judges' directory unless otherwise noted.)

Are you currently an AKC Delegate?*

If yes, please list the complete name of the club for which you serve as delegate:

Business, Profession or Occupation:*

Describe position:*

Business Name (or self-employed)*

Business Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Are you in any way connected with a dog-related occupation? *

If yes, please describe in detail your duties and activities:

If your occupation or the occupation of a person with whom you reside falls under Part I of the Occupational Eligibility Addendum, you must submit a letter(s) with your application giving your (both) assurance(s) that if approved to judge you (both) will no longer be engaged in this occupation 30 days following the Committee's approval of your application and for the duration of your judging involvement.

Have you ever been suspended from the privileges of the American Kennel Club? *

If yes, state the date and circumstances:

Do you or anyone in your household or family train dogs owned by others for competition in tracking tests or obedience trials?*

If yes, give details:

If yes, are you or they compensated in any way?

Are you or have you ever been a professional handler?*

If yes, state the date and circumstances:

List below dogs owned by you, which you have personally trained and handled at TD, TDU, TDX and/or VST tests:*

	Dog's AKC Number	AKC Registered Name	Breed	Highest Tracking Title Earned	Year
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

List below tracking classes that you have attended:

	Location	Training Level	Dates Active
1.
2.
3
4.

List below the names of clubs that are approved to hold tracking events that you have been a member of:

	Complete Club Name (no initials)	Date	Position Held
1.
2.
3.
4.

List your tracklaying experience for the tracking level in which you applying to judge:*

If you are applying for TD/TDU level, list the licensed or member tracking tests where you have served as a tracklayer for 10 TD and/or TDU tracks:

	Complete Club Name (no initials)	Date	Track Type	Number of tracks laid at this test
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

If you are applying for the TDX level, list the licensed or member tracking tests where you have served as a tracklayer for 6 TDX tracks:

	Complete Club Name (no initials)	Date	Track Type	Number of tracks laid at this test
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

If you are applying for the VST level, list the licensed or member tracking tests where you have served as a tracklayer for at least 4 VST tracks:

	Complete Club Name (no initials)	Date	Track Type	Number of tracks laid at this test
1.
2.
3.
4.

Upload scanned copies of two maps, that you drew as a tracklayer, for the level in which you are applying:*

List the apprenticeships that you have completed for the test level in which you are applying to judge:

	Complete Club Name (no initials)	Date	Track Type	Number of Tracks	Names of Judges
1.
2.
3.

Upload Apprentice forms and charts from your apprentice assignments:

Have you judged any matches or been an emergency substitute judge for any sanctioned tests at the level in which you are applying to judge?*

List the matches or events where you served as substitute judge:

	Complete Club Name (no initials)	Date	Tract Type	Number of Tracks	Name of Co-Judge	Match or Sanctioned Test?
1.
2.
3.

List some of the tracking tests over the last five years where you have observed the judging of dogs at the test level for which you are applying:*

	Complete Club Name (no initials)	Date	Track Type
1.
2.
3.
4.

List required AKC Judges' Education classes/webinars you have completed in last three years.*

	Date Completed	Comments/Specifics
AKC Stewards of Children

Which of the following have you read in general preparation for the judging level that is being applied for:*

Tracking RegulationsDealing with MisconductOther

Other books and materials that you have read in preparation to judge at tracking tests:

	Title	Author
1.
2.
3.
4.

List any AKC seminars that you have attended in the last 5 years:

	Complete Club Name (no initials)	City/State	Date
1.
2.

Please provide any information not requested in the application that you believe supplements your background or experience that you feel might qualify you to judge tracking at the level in which you applying.

CERTIFICATION

I HEREBY submit my application to the Companion Events Approval Committee of the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB for its consideration and make the following certifications:

I certify that I am occupationally eligible to judge under AKC Rules Applying to Dog Shows and will adhere to the restricitions, if applicable, outlined in the Occupational Eligibility Addendum clarifying Chapter 7, Section 1.

I certify that I am familiar with the American Kennel Club's Rules, Regulations, Policies, and Tracking Regulations, and agree to abide by them.

I certify that if granted provisional or regular judging status. I fully understand that my judging eligibility is conditional and, therefore, reviewable by the AKC Board of Directors at any time subsequent to the date the status was initially granted.

I certify that upon review, AKC's Board of Directors may relieve me of continued judging eligibiity.

I certify that I fully understand and stipulate that the committee's authorization to judge on a provisional basis does not guarantee or imply eventual approval as a regular judge.

I certify that i understand and acknowledge that if I am charged with cruelty, inhumane treatment of animals, or similar offense involving inhumane or cruel treatment of dogs, or charged with any crime involving moral turpitude, especially as it concerns dog-related activities, the AKC may temporarily place my judging privileges on referral while the charges are pending. Further, after receiving notification of the referral. I am prevented from judging or from accepting assignments to judge. When the charges are resolved and AKC's inquiry into the matter determines that no action will be taken by the AKC to cause a suspension of my judging privileges, the temporary judging referral will be removed.

I certify that I am a member in good standing with the American Kennel Club, 21 years of age or older, and that all information submitted in this application is truthful and accurate.

I certify that this electronic typed signature, sent via email, shall serve as my official signature. Signature:*

Date

Upload current photo (head shot) here:*

Not Finished and want to save your application to come back to.

Please follow these steps.

Hit the Save button.
Select Skip Create Account
Enter your email address and hint Send
You will then receive an email, at the email address you provide, with the link to go back to your application.
DO NOT select Sign up with Email. This will ask you to create an account and you will not be able to access your application again.

1. In DETAIL, explain your understanding of scent, what it is, how it is affected by various factors and how it applies to the test level in which you are applying for.*

2. In detail describe what you, as a judge, would take into consideration when plotting each track at a test for the level in which you are applying for. List the specifics in the order of importance.*

2a. What would you discuss prior to plotting?*

2b. What would you discuss during plotting?*

2c. What would you discuss on the day of the test, prior to the draw?*

2d. What would you discuss during the test?*

3a. Draw a track map, at the level in which your are applying, as it would appear in your Judge's Book and mark it for a dog that passed. Please scan your map and upload it below:*

3b. Describe the details of your track map (3a). State each of the specific details that you included to meet the requirements of the Tracking Regulations.*

Tracking Judge Application

Tracking Judging Applicant Test - Part 1