How to Train Dogs to Track

Tracking is by far one of the most intense dog sports around the world. A tracking dog is a highly-trained, highly-motivated partner that can sniff out even the faintest of scent trails days or weeks after someone has passed through an area. Tracking takes a good deal of persistence, determination and precision, although training a tracking dog can be simple if done properly.

Things You'll Need

• Tracking harness Long lead Crate Treats Marker flags

Instructions

1. Start your tracking program when your puppy is eight to ten weeks old. Puppies are extremely impressionable to scents and training at this age, so proper tracking imprinting is essential.

2. Find a large, open space free of debris to begin your tracking. A large park or empty field works well. Be sure that there are no hazardous objects or roaming animals to disrupt your training.

3. Place your puppy in his kennel on the field so you can lay a scent pad. A scent pad is normally a square of space at the tracking area that you have walked carefully in to widely distribute your scent. Mark off an area approximately 3-by-3 feet by walking firmly over the entire area. Do not wander in and out of the area to avoid confusing your dog with trailing scents.

4. Carry your puppy to the scent pad and set him down, giving him the command you've chosen to track. Toss a few of his favorite treats around the scent pad, encouraging him to pick them up while again giving the command to track. Sniffing around for the treats over the scent pad will not only encourage the pup to put his head down and sniff, but will also reward him for doing so.

5. Fit your dog with her tracking harness. A tracking harness will help distribute the weight of an enthusiastic puller and give you the ability to help control the dog's movement. Attach a long 30-foot tracking lead, keeping it coiled to avoid tangling yourself or the dog while working.

6. Take your puppy back to his kennel and lay a short track. Beginning at the scent pad, lay a straight, even track by shuffling your feet along the ground for 10 to 15 feet. Lay a treat every few inches along the track to give your puppy a reward for sniffing as you did on the scent pad. You can place a few flags along the length of your track to give yourself a visual reminder if necessary.

7. Return your puppy to the scent pad and again give him the command to track, this time encouraging him to follow the track and get the treats. Praise him thoroughly once he reaches the end and picks up all the treats.

8. Repeat this process, extending the tracks and reducing the number of treats until your puppy is tracking properly with just the track command. Add in a turn or two once your dog is tracking an extended straight line with no faults. Track the dog slowly around the turns to avoid run offs or mistakes while working.

Tips & Warnings

• Take your training slowly. Tracking is a very methodical, slow process and training must progress one step at a time with no faults before moving onto a more difficult skill.

• Never try and physically force your dog to track. Harsh training methods can actually discourage your dog from wanting to track and will make training extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Resources

• Tracking Resources