on 23 February, 2010
Tracking dogs have been used by police agencies to locate criminals or the lost person throughout the centuries. Nowadays, civilian search dog handlers involved in search and rescue train dogs to be used to track the lost person, while many individuals interested in competition work with their dogs tracking human scent to locate a article left at the end.
Tracking dogs are trained to follow residual human scent (a scent that is composed of dead skin cells or rafts that are constantly being replaced by our bodies along with external and internal influences that make us all individuals). Human scent is deposited near and around foot impressions left by a person simply walking through an area. The dogs, while following the scent-laden trail, are trained to alert the handler to any items that may have been accidentally dropped by the lost person or in competition trials, purposely placed.
Tracking a human scent is very environmentally challenging. Scent can be moved about in the environment by way of air currents. With scent being bacteria laden, it needs moisture and warmth to be constantly regenerating itself making it available to the dog's sense of smell.
While we as humans cannot see human scent, through training with our dogs, we trust they are following scent that we asked them to locate. Tracking dogs have to discriminate amongst the many scents that the environments holds in order to locate and follow the one we want.
Tracking is both fun and frustrating like much of dog training. But if you enjoy working with your dog, like a true team against the environmental elements and the many distractions it holds, then tracking is for you.
Mary-Ann Warren
Precision Search Dog®
Phone 780-939-2675
Photo credit to Precision Search Dog® unless otherwise noted.
© Copyright 2010 by Precision Search Dog®