There are two main types of tracking tasks: wilderness search and urban search.
Urban tracking is usually more difficult for the dogs because the tracks have every kind of odors, including other people scent, pets scent and other scents. In addition, odors don't last long on artificial surfaces like pavement. And, as if it wasn't difficult enough, there could be lots of distractions while the dog is tracking: several people walking around, other pets nearby, etc.
On the other hand, wilderness search seems to be more amicable to dogs because tracks tend to have less people's scent and natural surfaces retains odors for longer time. In addition, natural surfaces could provide dogs with a potential second source of information: the contact or disturbance odor.
Since these dogs discriminate odors, they need two things to begin tracking:
- A starting point, also known as the Point Last Seen (PLS)
- An uncontaminated odor sample
The Point Last Seen (PLS) could be the last place where the lost person was actually seen or a place where that person was known to be. For instance, tracking can start in the place where the car of a person is, whether the person was seen there or not.
The uncontaminated odor sample is an article with the person's scent. Pillow covers and pajamas are great odor samples, but clothes and other articles could be useful. The most important thing is to keep the sample uncontaminated, so it must be handled with pincers and carried in Ziploc or brown paper bags (common waste bags are treated with chemicals to alter odors, so they are not useful for this task).
Usually, tracking dogs work on-leash (a 30-feet leash attached to a harness). However, on-leash work is not mandatory and some tracking dogs work off-leash.
Bloodhound is the preferred breed for tracking, though any dog can be trained to do this activity.
-- Tracking vs. trailing
Tracking and trailing dogs are not the same thing. The formers search with their nose to the ground while the latter combines that strategy with air scenting.
Nevertheless, both tracking and trailing dogs follow the path of a particular person (they discriminate scents). Thus, tracking and trailing dogs are used for the same purpose.
-- Scenting squashed insects
Contact odor is the odor (and perhaps some visual information) generated by environmental disturbance occurred while a person walks. For instance, scent of broken branches or squashed insects.
Although tracking dogs can't follow a path just by the contact odor, some experts suggest it could be a secondary source of information (maybe also visual information) under certain circumstances.
Often in extreme heroic or tragic situations you see & hear about a scent tracking dog in the newspaper or on the local TV news. Have you ever watched in awe and thought to yourself, my dog can do that! While it is true that a trained scent tracking dog can be any breed or mix of dog that has the desire to work. The dog must have an excellent scenting ability and be large and strong enough to handle a very physical job. They must have lots of stamina, a sound temperament, and be able to work well with other dogs and people. Sporting dogs like the Labrador Retriever or the Golden Retriever often make an excellent scent tracking dog. Working and Herding breeds like German Shepherds, Bloodhounds, Newfoundlands, Dobermans and Rottweilers are highly motivated "workers", and also make a good scent tracking dog. The truth is not all canines are created equal.
The good news is that one trained scent tracking dog is as effective as ten trained human searchers. Their value is indisputable and a well trained scent tracking dog is worth the world to family and loved ones of those who are missing. These dogs are highly trained to find missing people and save lives. These truly heroic dogs rely on their powerful scenting ability and physical endurance in their work on search and rescue missions. They are specially trained to locate lost or missing persons in a specific area. Search and Rescue dogs (as they are commonly referred to) track human scent - microscopic particles that are carried by the wind for considerable distances. Every person has a unique scent, like fingerprints, and a scent tracking dog is able to discriminate and sniff out an individual person in a highly populated area. All they need is a sample of that person's particular scent. The scent tracking dog works day or night, rain or shine. They are especially effective where human sight is most limited - in the dark, in dense woods, in heavy brush, in disaster debris, and under water.
A scent tracking dog can be trained for a variety of specific situations: Wilderness Search: These dogs search out a missing person who has gone lost in the woods. They are given a scent sample of the missing person, and assigned a specific area to cover. Water Search: The Water Search dog works to find drowning victims, sniffing out human scent which rises to the surface. Newfoundlands and Labradors, both excellent swimmers, often specialize in Water Search. Urban Search: These dogs are trained to follow an individual human scent within highly populated areas, blocking out the distractions of the city. Disaster Search: Disaster Search dogs work in emergency situations like earthquakes, floods, explosions, fires, train wrecks, plane crashes, tornadoes and other disasters. This is a dangerous and difficult job - physically and emotionally. It is distressing for the dog, and its handler, to find victims who have died. The handler must be aware to keep the dog's spirits up in these horrific and chaotic circumstances. Lifesaving Group: This group of dogs are specially trained to save lives in water and snow, and are most often St. Bernards and Newfoundlands. These breeds are large enough (100 - 150 pounds) to pull and lead humans to safety, or to lie down next to victims and keep them warm while help is on the way.
Before you sign up your canine for specialized training you need to realize that at least one year of training twice a week is needed before a dog can be evaluated and deemed "mission-ready". Rigorous training exercises prepare the scent tracking dog for future missions where they may have to search for people amidst chaotic conditions, such as after a flood or earthquake. Above all, these dogs are trained to stay focused while trailing a scent in stressful situations.
Both Rodrigo Trigosso & David Chase are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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