Natural Instinct?: The Truth About Scent Tracking DogsOften 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.
About the Author:
Janis Cazares knows scent tracking dogs. For a 4-Step Must Know
Plan on how to find an excellent scent tracking dog trainer and
other dog training related topics click
http://www.scenttrackingdogs.com
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