How to train your dog to track
Teaching your dog to track someone else is great fun. It'll excite him mentally and use up his physical energy, and it is fascinating to observe your dog learn. Not all dogs will be natural tracker dogs however most will enjoy the awareness. Dogs that scent a lot and sniff around on the ground will be naturally good tracker dogs.
If you are planning to train your dog to track the following steps will show you the basics.
- You will need an aid, harness and long line or extended leash. In addition to these you will need an adequate reward for your dog. A toy or food item is fine.
- Tracking relies on teaching your dog to follow a ground scent. When an individual walks along he leaves a distinct scent of crushed vegetation, sweat and footwear. Your job is to teach your dog to follow this scent in order to find a person.
- To begin with hold your dog while the aid shows the dog his reward and scuffs his feet excessively to a nearby point. This may be out of sight a couple of meters away and in the same direction as any wind. The assistant being downwind will spur the dog to use the ground scent rather than any available air scent. Air scent recognition is commonly used for search and rescue dog training.
- Now hold your leashed dog until he sniffs the ground at the point where the assistant scuffed the trail then permit the dog to progress to the assistant and his reward
- To prompt your dog to follow the ground scent you can wait till he drops his head to the scuff marks before allowing him to move toward the direction of the aid.
- Follow him by hanging onto the leash or line and letting him to guide you. Inspire with your voice. The dog can pull keenly which explains why a harness is important.
- On arrival at the aid your dog must receive a zealous greeting and his reward right away.
This very early and basic stage can be practiced and developed to teach the dog to track further and for longer amounts of time. Difficulty can be continuously increased by less foot scuffing. The whole experience should be positive, pressure free and fun for your dog.
If you are planning to train your dog to track the following steps will show you the basics.
- You will need an aid, harness and long line or extended leash. In addition to these you will need an adequate reward for your dog. A toy or food item is fine.
- Tracking relies on teaching your dog to follow a ground scent. When an individual walks along he leaves a distinct scent of crushed vegetation, sweat and footwear. Your job is to teach your dog to follow this scent in order to find a person.
- To begin with hold your dog while the aid shows the dog his reward and scuffs his feet excessively to a nearby point. This may be out of sight a couple of meters away and in the same direction as any wind. The assistant being downwind will spur the dog to use the ground scent rather than any available air scent. Air scent recognition is commonly used for search and rescue dog training.
- Now hold your leashed dog until he sniffs the ground at the point where the assistant scuffed the trail then permit the dog to progress to the assistant and his reward
- To prompt your dog to follow the ground scent you can wait till he drops his head to the scuff marks before allowing him to move toward the direction of the aid.
- Follow him by hanging onto the leash or line and letting him to guide you. Inspire with your voice. The dog can pull keenly which explains why a harness is important.
- On arrival at the aid your dog must receive a zealous greeting and his reward right away.
This very early and basic stage can be practiced and developed to teach the dog to track further and for longer amounts of time. Difficulty can be continuously increased by less foot scuffing. The whole experience should be positive, pressure free and fun for your dog.
About the Author:
Visit The Dog Trick Academy to learn more about search and rescue dog training and other reward based interaction strategies to meet the needs of your dog. Please continue to find out more about dog training as it's essential for your dog's contentment.
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