| The American Pit Bull Terrier has so much awful | | | | purebred American Staffordshire Terriers can |
| news surrounding the breed regarding dog attacks | | | | partake, or rescued pit bulls that can acquire an |
| and fatalities caused by them that nothing else ever | | | | Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) deemed by the AKC, |
| gets talked about regarding this terrier. Today, I am | | | | meaning unregistered dogs of registrable breeds...but |
| going to talk about the Pit Bull's ability to track, for | | | | the pits will compete as Am Staffs. |
| which they are especially adept due to their | | | | Schutzhund clubs also offer tracking training and |
| athleticism, endurance, strength, intelligence and | | | | tests. |
| determination. Compared to other dog breeds, these | | | | These tests are not actually timed, but are pass or |
| traits were originally bred specifically for the purpose | | | | fail. It is more important that the dog completes the |
| of bull-baiting and fighting. However, all of these | | | | task with a calm, cool and collected attitude. |
| special traits are equally essential when tracking. | | | | There are many levels of difficulty available to test |
| Tracking is not the same thing as Search & | | | | on varying from the scent aging 30 min to 4-5 hrs. |
| Rescue (SAR). When performing search and rescue, | | | | Variable surface tracks have been introduced into the |
| the dog tries to pick up a person's scent on the | | | | testing that are very challenging for the dogs as well. |
| wind, whereas tracking or trailing dogs use the | | | | The tracks could range in distance anywhere from a |
| combination of the scent on the wind and the | | | | couple hundred meters up to 1 mile or a few |
| footstep scent. | | | | kilometers. |
| The AKC offers tracking tests, however only | | | | |