I was explaining the benefits of tracking to a client with a high-energy dog when she stopped me mid-sentence and asked, "Isn't that for, like, search and rescue and police dogs and stuff?" "Well, yes," I replied, "but we just do it for fun because dogs love using their noses and it is a great way to transform a distracted, high-energy dog into a more motivated, manageable dog."
Tracking is a skill that all dogs can participate in. You don't have to have aspirations of finding bad guys or lost children to enjoy this activity with your dog. You don't need a bloodhound, German shepherd or any other breed of dog that is typically used for tracking in a professional capacity. You can have any breed, or mix of breed, as long as it has a nose. And you can simply be someone who loves doing fun things with your dog outside, in all types of weather, and can be inspired by a dog's gift of smell.
Just like any canine activity - such as agility, flyball or rally obedience - there are those who compete and gain accreditation for their participation or, in the case of tracking, are awarded titles such as TD (Tracking Dog) or TDX (Tracking Dog of Excellence) through the Canadian Kennel Club. Competing at this level takes a great deal of dedication and practice, but for people like me who have no desire to compete or earn any titles, tracking is simply for fun - with a capital "F."
Teaching tracking is one of the perks of my job. It is 100 per cent pure positive training and a real hoot! I love showing a dog how to track for the first time because at the end of the session they stare at their owner with a look that says, "You knew how to do this totally cool thing and you haven't shown me until now?!" They seem bewildered, offended and filled with joy all at the same time. And the added bonus is that you just placed yourself at the top of the canine podium in your dog's eyes. After you teach your dog how to track, you do indeed rock! A dog is taught to track by using its natural instinct to follow a scent, plus food rewards. There is no need to coax, lure or manipulate a dog in any way because dogs willingly want to do this. Food rewards are very often overlooked after the second or third track because the dog is so excited about following a scent it could care less about the food along the way. Seriously.
In my current tracking class I have a chocolate Lab (a breed not typically known for turning their nose up at food) who bulldozes his way through his track without lifting his nose from the ground and steps on the treats as he passes over them to get to the end. The reward for the dog is doing the track and he loves it.
From a handler's perspective, tracking is far more than holding onto the leash and being dragged through the forest. Handlers learn to read a dog's body language while it is tracking and can tell if it is on or off the scent by the way it moves. The handler also learns how to silently communicate a reward to the dog through the use of the tracking line. It is actually quite a complicated procedure for the handler to learn this skill, but it is innate for the dog.
All dogs gain a sense of peace of mind after a track. Because they are so incredibly nasally focused, using their noses in this capacity means using their brain to its full potential. At the end of a tracking class, most dogs are too tired to play. They often trot along sniffing for another dog's track and follow it, just for the heck of it. Then on the car ride home and for the remainder of the day they are dog tired.
If you are thinking of doing something fun with your dog that's off the beaten path, consider a tracking class. Your dog will love you even more for doing it.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her through her website k9kinship.com.
