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Training a Dog for Tracking

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Tracking events are a competition form of canine search and rescue. This is an intense active outdoor activity that can provide an older dog with a sport that has a lower impact. Most dogs readily learn this sport and enjoy it. It is a vigorous sport that involves walking through weeds, brush and through ditches. The dog and human will need to be in good health. If either isn't feeling good, they won't enjoy the exertion and your dog may be downright unwilling. The dog concentrates so strongly on the scent trail that it's following that it can be quite exhausting for them.

A dog is "tracking" when he follows a scent trail that has been left by a human being (or other animal) that has passed along a route. While some breeds find tracking easier, all breeds of dogs, including mixed dogs can track. Dogs possess an extremely high level of scent capability. Their sense of smell is so keen that we are not able to conceptualize what it's like. Tracking is one of the many ways that dogs are able to help humans. Police dogs are used to find lost persons and track suspects. Pets can learn to find items, or as a game play "hide and seek with their owners.

This is an official dog sport and many dog owners are involved in tracking with their dogs as a hobby or for titles. There are official courses and judges that overlook the laying of them. There are tracking Tests that allow dogs to demonstrate their ability to follow human scent. The dog only needs to complete one track successfully to earn each title. The first title that a dog can earn is called a Tracking Dog (TD). The dog earns a TD by following a track that's 440 to 500 yards long with three to five changes of direction that has been "laid" by a human. The goal is to use the scented track to locate an article left at the end of the trail. The trainer follows the dog on a long leash and is allowed to encourage -but not touch- the dog during the test.

Please see the list of Shelters and Training Centers for further reference