By Jason Mann

Whether for fun or for real world work the American Pit Bull Terrier makes an excellent tracking dog. Part one of this training your pitbull to track will cover what you need, what your dog needs, and how to get started with basic tracks.

Part II will deal with building your dogs drive in order to build their desire to track.

Tracking through drive works well for the Pit Bull because most of them have a good deal of drive for you to work with.

Let's get started...

For a dog to excel at tracking they require the following traits:

• Solid Temperament
• High energy & drive (must be able to work for long hours)
• Athletism
• Good health
• solid obedience skills

These traits are abundent in the Pit Bull Terrier and this is one reason they make excellent tracking dogs.

What kind of tracking do you want to do?

Search and Rescue?

Police work?

Protection sport tracking?

Tracking for fun?

Tracking for hunting?

All of these forms of tracking will have different approaches. They will also share some similar training ideas and methods but for the most part the end result is what makes them different.

For example, for Police tracking you would want a dog that is well versed in protection as well. As police dog handlers often say, "You never know what's on the end of the track."

It could be an armed felon waiting for you to come around the corner to kill you. Or it could be a teenager who's scared out of their mind. Either way, both present a level of danger that you and your dog must be prepared for.

On the other end of the specturm you have training for fun. You might want to teach your dog how to find your kids or how to find your wife or husband. In this case you can be a little more relaxed and your dog would only be tracking and not have to worry about the stress of long hours or the possibility of a dangerous felon on the other end of the track.

Basic Training for the Tracking Dog

For this training you will need the following items:

• 20-50 foot leash.
• Durable Tracking Harness
• A person to find (This is critical. You'll learn why in a second.)
• A distraction free area. A field in the country or a isolated baseball field work well.
• Your dog.

First a word about having a person on the end of the track.

Only those tracking dogs with super high drives for toys and balls should be trained without a person on the end of the track and even then it's better if you use a person.

The object of the tracking game it to find people. Without a person on the end of the track you only make training more difficult for the dog.

By having a person on the end of every single track the dog will work better if there isn't a person on the track later down the road.

Tracking Basics...

Have your helper run and hide. Some where about 20-30 yards away. When they do, have them slide their feet along the ground in the grass to make impressions and to leave their scent on the ground.

At this point your dog should be allowed to see them person run away.

A dog with good drive will start to whine and struggle to get away. They want to chase them. This is GOOD encourage it.

Once the helper is in their spot, wait a few moments, and then let your dog find them.

Your helper should have a toy, food, or other item that your dog loves. When they find them, praise them and let the helper throw the ball, play tug, etc... with your dog.

Repeat this a few times to give your dog the idea. Person runs away, hides, you find them and you all play a fun game!

After 5 or 10 of these easy session it's time to step it up a notch...

Taking it to the next level...

We're going to be doing the same thing as before but this time you are not going to let your dog see the person running away and where they are hiding.

With your back to them or by walking away allow your helper to run to the same area they were before but this time make sure your dog doesn't see them.

Now, go back to the start of the track and allow your dog to start using their nose.

If you need to, put the leash under them and pull down slightly to get them to put their nose to the ground. Pit Bulls usually will scent the air first and then go to the ground. Let them scent the air as they are better suited for this than ground sniffing.

Finding the prize

Now, slowly walk them along the track. When they get off the track feed them back into it with your leash. Watch as they start to pick the scent. Their head will raise, they will start sniffing and when they get the oder cone they will start to react by getting excited.

Praise them during this process. Good boy! find'em boy! Find'em!

You are going to allow your dog to find them, but in this part of the training you are going to be helping them a lot. Remember you are a team.

When you find your helper, praise, play, reward!

Work these easy tracks for 5-10 days. Every day. It also helps to work in the early morning when there is dew on the ground as this makes tracking easier.

TRACKING FACTIOD: In the movies the escapee is running through the woods. He runs through water to throw off the scent of the dog. TRUTH: This makes the scent stronger and allows the dog to track easier.

Moisture holds skin cells and oder much longer. This is why training in the morning or after a fresh rain makes it easier for your dog to find your helper.

Original Article from PitBullLovers.com