Tracking work

When tracking, the dog follows the trail that is created by the ground injuries while walking and not the individual smell as with mantrailing . The odor particles of the individual odor are often drifted away by the wind and can be found next to the “mechanical” track.

Tracking is a term from the dog world. The dog searches for a track with the help of its nose , which is why the term nose work is used for it.

Basics and principle

The dog as a nasal specialist was used early on by humans for searching. The number of olfactory cells is many times higher than in humans (see house dog, sense of smell ).

There are two different configurations for recording a track:

• Mantrailing - the dog picks up the actual scent trail of the person.
• Tracking works through the scents of mechanical soil damage.

While the scent trail followed during mantrailing is drifted by the wind and is thus next to the mechanical trail, the dog follows the scent of the mechanical trail when tracking. The smell is created by:

• damaged earth's surface,
• trampled plants,
• Microorganisms.

For tracking dogs kept by the police, the individual odor of the “tracker” (in the case of the perpetrator) forms the key odor, i.e. the odor that determines the direction of the search. In doing so, the dog orients itself on a complex scent pattern that includes the odor pattern of the mechanical track.

In contrast to the scent trail, which can be retained for weeks under good conditions and can really be assigned to the individual, the mechanical trail can often only be followed for a relatively short time (a few hours). Crossing other tracks can lead to irritation as they consist of the same fragrance components. Even a rain shower can mean that the trail can no longer be recorded and followed.

Tracking is mainly done as a sport. This is mostly unsuitable when searching for missing people. By nature, dogs tend to follow the scent trail and need to be specifically trained for tracking.

Tracking work in dog sports

description

In tracking sports, the track is laid as a trail (on meadow, field) by a tracker . He places objects (plastic, wood, leather, 5/1 / 0.5 cm) on the track, which the dog either has to refer to (passively indicate ) or to pick up when working out (searching) . The dog handler follows the dog at a distance of ten meters when tracking, a leash can be used. Depending on the dog's level of training, the dog will work out the track for a certain time (20 minutes to three hours) after the track has been laid.

A distinction is made between self-track and external track . The self-track is laid by the dog handler, who therefore knows it. The outside track is laid by a tracker and is not known to the dog handler.

Picking up the track at the exit

Tracking dog at a championship

A track in dog sports consists of several straight or curved sections, the legs , and various angles between them. The beginning of a track is called departure and is marked by a departure stick .

education

Training in the field of working dogs means that the dog can read and follow a track. This ability is tested differently depending on the performance level. The training should be broad, in different terrain and with different earth surfaces. Especially at the beginning, these areas should not be entered too often beforehand, meadows with tall grass should be avoided. The dog should orientate itself with the nose and not with the eyes.

At the beginning of the training the dog should pick up the track already 20 minutes after laying the track, for the track dog tests 1 and 2 the track is then three hours old. Depending on the level of training, a different number of changes in direction are incorporated. With the higher exams also come inducement sfährten it. A second tracker lays a track that crosses the original track. The dog must stay on the original track while searching.

Desired search behavior

The following search behavior is desirable for sports dogs:

• intensive and calm recording of the weather at the base with a deep nose,
• the dog follows the track with a deep nose, at a steady pace, intensively,
• positive search behavior,
• safe working out of the angles,
• immediate reaction to the object (picking up or pointing),
• Independent work without the influence of the dog handler such as encouragement or line corrections.

To check the success of the training, the dogs complete the tracking tests , there are special tracking tests for hunting dogs.

Performance evaluation of tracking dogs

Tracking cross

The services of tracking dogs can be divided into three categories:

• track-proof : the dog picks up the track and follows it, but deviates on enticements
• safe to drive : the dog picks up the track, ignoring younger and older temptations
• Track clean : the dog picks up the track and follows it, ignoring all temptations.

Whether a dog runs purely is, can be explained by the track cross by Konrad Most notice. For this purpose, two tracks, each consisting of two legs and a right angle, are laid. The tracks touch each other at right angles. When searching, the dog should only follow the track on which it was set and not switch to the temptation track.

Track in the riding hunt

When hunting on horseback behind packs of dogs, the dogs have to follow a track over several kilometers. In parforce hunts , the track is created by the game. In drag hunts , on the other hand, a rider, called a fox, lays the trail. The train consists either of the footsteps of the fox horse or of diluted herring brine, aniseed solution or a similar fragrance solution. An evenly fast, loud and closed chasing, tracking pack with good endurance is aimed for, which is as safe as possible from foreign dogs.

Track while hunting

Track work is also the huntsman-worthy Nachsuche the hunter on sick wild with that on the trail of blood discharged hound .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ FCI : Examination regulations for the international working dog examinations and the international tracking dog examination of the FCI . Valid from January 1, 2012. p. 31. Archive link ( Memento of the original from November 2, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 1.5 MB) 
2. ↑ DVG: Track festival, safe to drive, clean tracks. ( Memento of the original from January 12, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
3. ↑ The Most'sche Fährtenkreuz (PDF; 2.0 MB)
4. ↑ Ilse Haseder , Gerhard Stinglwagner : Knaurs Großes Jagdlexikon . Augsburg 2000, ISBN 3-8289-1579-5 , p. 556

literature

• Thomas Baumann: tracking dogs. In the nose for the police . In Der Hund 2 and 3, 2004. (Detailed description of the principle of tracking work and the differences in tracking work in sport and service dogs)
• Konrad Most: The training of the dog . Kynos Verlag , ISBN 978-3-924008-26-0 .