Dog Tracking Training: A Comprehensive Guide

A well-trained dog can learn to follow a scent trail, but it's crucial to introduce them to tracking gradually. Begin by hiding treats or toys with a strong scent and encouraging your dog to find them.

With time and practice, your dog will develop their tracking skills and learn to follow a scent trail with ease. This will help you build a strong bond with your dog and create a fun, engaging activity for both of you.

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In Phase 1 training, the tracking dog is placed in a rescue dog harness with a 20- to 30-foot lead.

The goal is to help the dog understand that when the gear goes on, it's time to work. A scent article, such as a training bag, is used to create a scent pad by having the search subject wipe their feet on the ground.

The scent article and scent pad are then shown to the dog, who is given the trained command to gain the scent. The search subject hides in an easily detectable location to set the scene for the tracking dog.

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The dog is then rewarded with treats or their favorite toy, along with enthusiastic praise, for finding the search subject. This exercise should be practiced regularly, using fewer and fewer treats each time.

Change up the terrain by practicing in parks, fields, yards, or lightly wooded locations. Avoid heavy vegetation and locations with concrete during this phase.

Phase 2 training is a crucial step in developing your dog's tracking skills. In this phase, you'll continue to use scent articles, scent pads, and treats to guide your dog's search.

The length of the search is increased, making it more challenging for your dog to follow the scent. This phase is a great opportunity to add more variety to the locations and terrain, keeping the search in a straight line.

During Phase 2, you'll still use a few treats every 5 to 10 steps to reward your dog for following the scent. This will help your dog learn to track without relying too heavily on treats.

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As you progress through this phase, it's essential to change up the terrain to keep your dog engaged. Practice in parks, fields, yards, or lightly wooded locations to provide your dog with a variety of scents and environments.

Avoid areas with heavy vegetation and concrete, as they can be challenging for your dog to navigate. Instead, focus on areas with open spaces and minimal distractions.

Phase 3 Training is where the fun really begins. You'll start adding curves to the search path, making it more challenging for your dog.

As your dog gets better, increase the distance of the search path, exposing them to varied terrain. This is where leather dog booties come in handy if you'll be tracking over rough terrain.

Practice these exercises regularly to keep your dog's skills sharp, just like you would practice a new skill yourself.

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In Phase 3, you'll start to add curves to the search path, eventually ceasing the use of track treats. As your tracking dog gets better and better, start increasing the distance.

You'll want to continually expose your dog to varied terrain, which may include rough ground. Use leather dog booties if you'll be going over rough terrain.

It's essential to practice these exercises on a regular basis to keep your tracking dog's skills sharp.

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Wounded deer can travel up to 1.5 miles before dying, making tracking a crucial part of the recovery process.

In Phase 3 Training, students learn how to identify the signs of a wounded deer, such as blood trails and disturbed vegetation.

A wounded deer's blood trail can be difficult to spot, especially in dense cover, but it's essential to follow the trail to ensure a quick recovery.

The color of the blood can indicate the severity of the wound, with bright red blood indicating a fresh wound and darker blood indicating an older wound.

A wounded deer's tracks can be lighter and more irregular than a healthy deer's tracks, making them easier to identify.

Additional reading: Blood Trailing Dog Training

Before starting dog tracking training, it's essential to prepare your dog and yourself. A well-prepared dog is more likely to focus and respond to commands during training.

Start by ensuring your dog has basic obedience skills, such as sitting, staying, and walking on a leash. This foundation will help them understand and respond to more complex commands.

Choose a quiet and distraction-free area for training to minimize distractions and keep your dog focused. This will also help you assess their ability to track without external influences.

Use positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats and praise, to encourage good behavior and build trust with your dog. This will create a positive association with training and make the process more enjoyable.

Establish a consistent training schedule to ensure your dog receives regular practice and reinforcement. Aim for short, frequent sessions to keep them engaged and prevent boredom.

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The key to successful dog tracking training lies in following these essential steps.

Start by introducing your dog to the tracking scent, using a high-value reward to associate the smell with positive reinforcement.

Begin with short training sessions, around 10-15 minutes, to keep your dog focused and engaged.

Use a variety of scents and terrain to simulate real-world tracking scenarios, making it more challenging and interesting for your dog.

Practice walking with your dog, allowing them to follow the scent and build their confidence in tracking.

Gradually increase the distance and difficulty of the tracks, always rewarding your dog for their efforts.

Remember to stay calm and patient, as your dog will pick up on your emotions and respond accordingly.

Use a consistent and clear recall command to bring your dog back to you when they're on a track, helping them to focus on you.

To get started with dog tracking training, you need to know the basic commands. The "Sit" command is a great place to begin, as it's a fundamental behavior that can be built upon.

The "Sit" command is achieved by holding a treat above your dog's head and moving it backwards towards their tail. This encourages them to follow the treat with their nose, resulting in their bottom lowering into a sitting position.

The "Stay" command is an extension of the "Sit" command, where you're teaching your dog to remain in a sitting position even when you're not holding a treat. Start by having your dog sit, then take a few steps back and say "Stay." If they get up, go back to the beginning and try again.

It's essential to be consistent when giving commands, as dogs thrive on routine. Use the same tone of voice and body language each time you give a command to avoid confusing your dog.

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To create an effective trail for your dog to track, start by stepping on a piece of hot dog or other high-value treats to get the scent on your shoe thoroughly.

This will give your dog a clear scent to follow, making it easier for them to track you.

Limit your training sessions to around 15 minutes each, as longer sessions can lead to overlapping trails that will confuse your dog.

By keeping sessions short, you'll be able to create a clear and distinct scent trail for your dog to follow.

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To become proficient in dog tracking, you need to understand the different types of tracking, such as blood tracking and air scent tracking.

Blood tracking involves following a scent trail left by a wounded animal, which can be a challenging task due to the limited amount of scent available.

A good tracker must be able to read the signs of a blood trail, including the direction of the blood flow and the amount of blood present.

Air scent tracking, on the other hand, involves following a scent trail left by an animal's movement through an area, which can be a more straightforward task.

A tracker's ability to read air scent is crucial, as it allows them to follow a trail that may be hours or even days old.

Tracking in dense vegetation can be particularly challenging, as the scent may be masked by other smells and the trail may be difficult to follow.

To overcome this challenge, trackers use a variety of techniques, including using their nose to pinpoint the scent and following the direction of the wind.

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This course is designed for handlers who want to get organized and started with tracking. Lucy Newton, the instructor, has extensive experience in training dogs for search and rescue missions.

The class covers essential topics such as equipment preferences, scent theory, and tracking schedules.

Lucy's approach emphasizes developing an independent tracking dog, allowing the track to do the teaching.

The course uses targets with food to introduce the dog to tracking, then swaps them out for food-less articles to teach the dog to track between targets or articles.

This method helps the dog learn quickly and efficiently.

Lucy's expertise comes from her background as a search & rescue dog trainer, handler, and instructor, with experience on numerous missing person cases.

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