Tracking Dog Training-Teaching Your Dog to Track

Usually it is police departments and hunters who are usually associated with tracking dogs, but these days teaching tracking to their dogs has become more and more popular for lots of other dog owners too. Schutzhund dog clubs and some kennel clubs hold tracking competitions for club members. It isn't difficult to train your own dog tracking right at home. Among other things, you can train your dog to track your kids, in case you want to find them in a hurry. Given some training, dogs can utilize their incredible sense of smell to find whatever you teach them to.

To get started with training tracking to your dog, just use the following three steps.

For getting started, you want to identify your dog's favorite play toy. It doesn't matter what kind of toy, as long as he really loves it. We want to teach your dog word association. Just put the toy somewhere your dog can see it in the room you are training him in. If his favorite plaything is a ball, for example, repeat the word ball frequently as you play with your dog. The dog will soon understand what the word ball means through your frequent repetitions.In a short time, your dog will know to look for his favorite toy every time you call for it by name. As soon as he locates the toy, give him a bunch of praise and a reward. Keep repeating this word association game with your dog until he sows he really has learned the lesson well.

The following step of the tracking training is to put the ball into another room. You should say ball (for example), and he should start looking around for the ball. Because the ball is now in a different room he won't be able to see it, but he should start sniffing around for it. Your dog should be able to follow his nose as he searches for his toy.You should follow him and be there to give him a bunch of praise as soon as he does find the toy. Just keep repeating this step until your dog is expert at quickly locating his toy. By giving him lots of praise and rewards you will increase his motivation to find the ball quickly. Hide the toy in different locations until you see that your dog has the ability to find the toy easily no matter where you have hidden it.

Since your dog is now an expert at finding his toy, he is ready to move on up to the next level of tracking training. To get started, wash all the old scents off of his favorite ball or toy. After the ball is clean, you should wrap your son or daughters used t-shirt or socks-something imprinted with their particular scent-this will let that particular smell get onto the ball. Let the ball acquire the odor of the clothing, and then play the ball game with your pet. Now, your dog learns to find his favorite ball by following the new scent-your child's.

You are now ready for the next step of the tracking dog training. This part is fun. Rather than hide his ball, have your son or daughter hide in a different room. Give your dog the command to find his toy-he will now be looking for your child's scent. You want to be right there the moment he finds your child to give him praise and a reward. Be sure to make a fun game of the searching and your pet will show you how eager he is to search and find what you want him to. Keep up the training by having your child hide further and further away, so your dog gets better at tracking over distance.

Before long, you will be able send your dog after your child to bring them home for dinner or when it is time to do their homework. Give the tracking training a try out with your dog-you'll find it is a fun game to play with your dog. If you find that you and your dog really enjoy the tracking, there are Kennel Clubs, and Schutzhund Clubs that hold tracking competitions.