Teaching Your Dog To Track...The Most Efficient Way Possible By Selecting The Right Dog

March 30, 2011 - PRLog -- Selection Of A Tracking Dog

The selection of a tracking dog is one of the most important aspect of successful tracking.
The degree of success you achieve in tracking is not only related to the effectiveness of the training method you adopt but is very much reliant upon the quality of dog you select.

A good tracking dog must posses a very strong urge to chase, play with and carry objects, with vitality and intensity. The intensity of which a dog chases the ball or tug is important however, it’s the determination of which the dog clamps down with his mouth, holds
and resists in giving up the object that is desirable. This test of chasing and playing with you must be conducted in multiple environments and then with multiple distractions. Dogs that are easily distracted while playing with a ball may not make a great tracking dog.

Behaviourists know this behaviour all too well as it is more closely related to hunting than it is to play. This motivation cannot be created where it does not exist and it is inherited from your dog’s parents and ancestors. This instinct is called “prey drive” and it is prevalent
in all great working dogs. Working dog behaviour is goal motivated behaviour; this is the fundamental principal uniting all dogs that work.

A dog performs in order to gain some basic drive or instinct fulfilment. In this case “Prey Instinct”. I must emphasise that contrast is one of the most important teachers in life and one soon realises that prey drive descriptions vary considerably from one person to another. If you are not certain of what intense instinctive prey behaviour is, then please consult a specialist for assistance in selecting your next tracking dog.

An Extract from the new K9 TRACKING BOOK. www.precisiontrackingdogs.com

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