Teach Your Dog How To Track - The Latest Dog Tracking Methods For IPO, ANKC, SAR, POLICE

A New Perspective On K 9 Tracking Training

For some time, I have been observing many tracking trainers and the results they achieve. From these careful observations and from discussions with many, I have discovered that the root of the confusion that most dogs seem to have is that they are unsure of what is expected of them or are simply “too afraid to track”.

Consequently, I have long questioned the wisdom of conventional methodology and ultimately developed insights into tracking training that will give trainers and new handlers a strategy to get their dogs closer to that elusive 100-point track or simply a more precise track.

This precision tracking system was designed with careful consideration for the fact that we humans are limited in our roles as trainers. We do not have the capability to perform tracking ourselves and we do not fully know how a dog’s nose works.

Training a dog for scent work, be it tracking, or substance detection, is unlike training a dog for any other type of work. I believe that most of us assume that scent work would be natural for most dogs, and that the training should, in fact, be simple. Although we may assume that tracking is natural for dogs, the reality is that without a skilled handler a successful outcome is seldom possible hence why

the handler is equally important in scent work. The handlers task is to observe and read the dogs behaviour and have an organised method of assisting the dog in recovering lost scent. The principles of precise tracking require a team effort from both the dog and the handler.

All books, videos, articles, and seminars about dog tracking are written, produced, and taught by people. Often, our human perspective is the biggest flaw in tracking. We want to actively show the dogs, guide them, help them, coax them, or force them to do what we want them to do.

However, how can we when we are not the experts?

Moreover, no one seems to agree as to how a dog is actually using its nose let alone have a methodical approach to training a dog to track.

A dog’s nose is a biological marvel, and what dogs can do with it is nothing short of miraculous. We humans react to this just as we do with any other miracle: With a sense of wonder and amazement. However understanding it is just beyond our capabilities at this point in time.

As humans, we have to accept our position in tracking: We are, to a large degree, only spectators in relation to their olfactory ability. It is a very difficult position to accept, but this is just the way it is. This makes tracking and, in fact, all scent work, considerably different from any other discipline for working dogs.

When training dogs for scent work, we have to somewhat reverse the roles of the handler and the dog. While it is always a human handler who takes the lead role in traditional training, we have to allow the dog to take the lead in all scent work. It is not just that a dog has a greater sense of smell than humans do but he also has one very exceptional skill, which is the ability to discriminate scent.

A dog knows how to smell and distinguishes scent from an early age, so we are not teaching the dog something foreign. Instead, we are training the dog to place value in reliably distinguishing certain scents from others and to do it with confidence, concentration, and precision.

Track reliability is proportional to the dogs ability to follow a human scent picture and use ground disturbance as a back up to following a track from beginning to end and not be distracted by another human or animal scent.

Both the handler and the dog must be taught how to react to the multiple situations that can occur on a track. To put a dog on a track simply for the sake of tracking is a time wasting exercise and a potentially damaging experience for your dog. Every single track must have a purpose and its layout must be designed in a specific way that maximises and enhances the animal’s learning.

I am very much of the opinion that compulsion would be a complete hindrance to your dog if it were used during the early stages of learning tracking. It should only be used much later in tracking if you are clearly certain that the dog is in fact not complying with your requests.

Dogs trained with compulsion in the learning phase soon learn to point their nose to the ground so they are safe from any stress. These dogs are unreliable tracking dogs at the very best. You can be sure of one thing! A correction applied based on your assumption that your dog is tracking incorrectly, could have a lasting and emotionally detrimental effect. The key to successful tracking training is to find ways of ever increasing your dog’s desire to track and be track sure.

Kris Kotsopoulos

www.precisiontrackingdogs.com

www.detectordogs.com.au

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kris Kotsopoulos has been involved in Breeding and Training Dogs since 1981. He has worked with first-time dog owners to the most demanding Law Enforcement Canines and World Championship Competitors. Kris and his wife Tonia are breeders of Dobermanns and German Shepherds under the kennel name “Von Forell”. His dogs and training philosophies have been inherited into many training systems by competitors and Law Enforcement Agencies Worldwide.

Kris’s Workshop are designed to give you a clear directive of how dogs learn, what drives them, how to improve learning due to purposeful directives to shape behavior for an Dynamic, Focused and Harmonious performance. This is an opportunity to learn the latest cutting edge training systems to deliver a spirited animals on cue.

Having devoted the last 32 years of his life to the research (since - 1981), development and education of the working dog, paired with extensive work in the area of animal welfare, Kris has now expanded his professional horizons by sharing his knowledge with the community as a consultant for a range of government agencies, breed clubs and animal welfare groups.

Over the past three decades, Kris has traveled the globe in order to learn from the world’s best International trainers, breeders and animal behaviorists  As a result of his enthusiasm and dedication for greater knowledge, Kris has acquired an in-depth understanding of raising, developing and training dogs for a variety of purposes.

Through the skills and successes he has achieved, Kris has gained a sound understanding of what motivates animals to behave the way they do, and just as importantly, how to apply this knowledge to achieve specialised goals. Kris currently shares this knowledge by operating both National and International training programs, seminars and workshops, each individually tailored to meet the needs of the general community, other trainers and government agencies globally.

Kris has implemented a variety of learning systems ranging from basic family obedience, to the most demanding competition, police, prison and professional security animals. He is truly committed to breaking down barriers that exist for dogs and dog welfare in our community and believes that consultation with Breed Clubs, Animal Management Officers and Animal welfare groups will help extend this commitment of learning outcomes and his ultimate goal.

“Purposeful, meaningful relationships between handlers and their dogs to create Extraordinary Dogs and Extraordinary Handlers.”

Kris’s commitment to the dog world is further highlighted via his three companies:

Von Forell Kennels
An international provider of working dogs Dobermann & German Shepherds, Training Equipment, Premium Dry Dog Food and cutting edge training technologies. The company’s primary focus is the breeding of highly driven animals that are genetically orientated to be working service dogs. www.vonforell.com

Detector Dogs Australia

A specialized consulting service that focuses on providing explosive and narcotic detection dogs specifically trained to meet the individual needs of government, business, private enterprises and the education sector. Detector Dogs Australia has been appointed to provide Explosive Detection services for the Port of Melbourne since 2008. www.detectordogs.com.au

K9 Security Service

A specialised security and consulting service that focuses on providing security dogs trained to meet the specific needs of government, business, private enterprise and educational sector assets. www.k9security.com.au

How To Achieve Precision Tracking With Your Dog

Kris is the author of this internationally acclaimed manual for teaching dogs the specialised skills of Competitive Tracking, Police Canine Development, and Search and Rescue. www.precisiontrackingdogs.com

Kris is also a Co-founder of the National Dogs Trainers Federation - a representative and educational organisation for the dog training industry, which has now become the national representative body in Australia for dog trainers from all fields. The NDTF offers Australia’s only Government accredited, nationally recognized  dog trainer certification course, and by using Kris’s strong links and networks with other animal organisations, both nationally and internationally, Kris is able to assist with the development of formal policies, contribute to ongoing research in the area of canine training and behavior  and further build on the necessary educational programs required to assert positive influence and bring about permanent change.Kris’s experience, preparedness to work hard and to stay goal focused, combined with his team spirit, makes him the ideal member of your team.

If you would like to contact Kris please email him directly on info@vonforell.com

www.precisiontrackingdogs.com

www.detectordogs.com.au

www.vonforell.com
www.k9security.com.au