America’s pitbull Terrier is an excellent tracker. This first section will deal with items such as what you will require, what the dog will require, and how to start on basic tracks.
The second section covers building up the drive in your dog so they will develop a desire for tracking.
Most pitbulls have plenty of drive to harness, therefore tracking using drive works well.
To begin…..
An exceptional tracking dog should have the following qualities:
A sound temperament
Stamina to work long hours
Athletism
Sound health
Exceptional obedience
Most pitbull Terriers are abundant in these traits, which makes them ideal as tracking dogs.
Varieties of Tracking:
Search & Rescue
Police Tracking
Tracking in Protection Sport
Fun Tracking
Tracking for hunting
Whilst all of these will share similarities in method, mostly they should be approached differently as the end result needs to be different.
For instance a dog trained in protection is required even for police tracking, since as handlers say, they never know what they will find at the tracks end.
On the other hand if you want fun tracking, you could start by teaching your dog to track your family members, and adopt a more relaxed approach.
Items Needed
A twenty to fifty foot leash
Strong harness for tracking
Someone to find
An isolated area without distraction
The dog
One reason for using someone to be found is that since tracking is for the purpose of people finding, any other way could confuse the dog.
Basics
Get the helper to make marks and leave a trail or scent on the grass as they find a hiding place 20 to 30yards away. At this juncture the dog is allowed to watch the helper running away. Dogs with good drive should be whining and struggling to chase after them, which is a good sign and should be encouraged. After a few minutes, let the dog loose to find them. The helper should carry a treat and praise the dog when found. Let the helper then play awhile with your dog.
Now repeat several times to get the pattern of praise, play, reward into the pitbulls mind. The next session will be a little harder.
Next Level
Here the helper hides without the dog seeing him. Allow the dog to use his nose to start searching. If necessary pull his head down with the leash to start him sniffing the ground. A pitbull will rather sniff the air than the ground – let him.
Walk them slowly along the track, Guide them back on if they deviate and help them to twig on to the scent. When they do, they will raise their head, sniff and get excited. Praise them saying, ‘Good boy!’ and ‘Find ‘em!’. When the helper is found – repeat the praise, play, reward pattern
Follow this routine everyday preferably early morning when the dew makes tracking easier, for five to ten days. Movies show the culprit running through water so as to break the scent – though really smell is stored for longer in moisture which makes the odour stronger and allows easier tracking.
