How To Train A Dog To Track Lost Items
Dogs aren't just plain pets. They can do more than asking a belly rub. They are reliable in securing us and our house. They have special skills and the ability to detect illnesses before we can. So they have big potential in becoming more efficient to us their masters. To achieve our goal of enhancing their skill, constants training is a must. But you need to be specific in your goal, for example you want to train your dog to track. You need techniques and effective methods to teach them. To help you, here are some tips on how to train a dog to track. So keep your notes and remember the tips.
Why Is It Important To Teach Our Dogs To Track?
Dogs have great senses that can be beneficial if they are trained well. With proper training, they can help us track lost items, fugitives, hunt, detect bombs, narcotics, drugs, and more. They have a sharper sense of smell that is 10,000 to 100,000 times more advance than ours. That is why it’s very easy for them to detect termites in our home, sniff deadly venomous snake, detect cancer cells, locate leaking pipes, and save lives. Some dogs have recently trained in Russia to help monitor the endangered species of tigers, the dogs successfully tracked the endangered species of tiger but also identify the tigers individually.
Let's Discover Different Ways On How To Train A Dog To Track:
Trigger their Natural Instinct!
Dogs have their favorite toys, you can use this as a training tool to keep them involved. Besides who wouldn’t react if somebody takes what is yours. Keeping their favorite toy somewhere will trigger their natural instinct to find it.
Find The Best Location To Train.
It would be best to do it inside and outside the house. Keeping them exposed to different weather elements and temperature will help them persevere and easily adjust to any environment. But first, you have to refrain them from distractions like crowd, loud noises, and other pets. Unless you want to find yourself sitting in a corner, scratching your head in annoyance.
Play Before You Train!
How to train a dog to track? Play! Play has a big role in your dog’s performance. 15 minutes of play with your dog before your training will keep him energetic and attentive in your training. This will serve as a warm-up exercise and will effectively excite him/her to train. You can do play fetch or hide and seek with your dog, these games will condition your dog to focus on what he is looking for.
Watch and Retrieve!
Remember what we told you about your dog’s favorite toy? You can teach them to track and retrieve by letting them smell their toy before watching you lightly bury or cover their favorite toy. Remember, you need to make sure that your dog is paying attention. It would be a waste if he or she is not interested. Plus you need to command your dog to get it. First, point it and then tell command him/her to get the toy. Another method is intentionally drop the toy while you are both walking.
Use a Track Line and Harness!
Track lines and harness are an effective tool in advanced track training. This will help your dog understand and be directed to whatever he/she is tracking. Track lines can be attached in your dog's collar or to the harness. This will also prevent your dog from running away from you.
Reward your dog!
Rewarding your dog after or during your training can boost their motivation to listen to you and to track. Reward can be both material or food and praise. After listening to your command you can give him/her a piece of her favorite biscuit and a pat on the head. With this method, you can show your concern to your pet at the same time motivate him/her to do more. So how to train a dog to track? Give them the reward that they deserve!
Adjust the Track!
When your dog is successfully conditioned with the stated techniques above. It’s time to raise the game. You can now adjust the track and put hurdles, flags, tracks, or curves. You can see the result after some practice and this will help your dog adopt new skills in retrieving and tracking!
Keep Your Cool!
Keeping your cool is one of the best techniques on how to train a dog to track. Training a pet is not easy. It will require your time, attention, dedication, and of course a room of patience. Getting mad or punishing your dog will not motivate your dog to do better. You are also stressing yourself and thus make your dog feel unwanted. If you are about to reach your boil, take a break, breathe in and breathe out, and always recall your purpose in training your dog.
Conclusion
Dogs are more than just being pets. With patience and determination, we can help them reach their fullest potential. One of these is the skill in tracking, if we teach them to track they can help us a lot. They can help us detect dangerous substances, help us find lost items, and detect danger. Now that we have shared with you the techniques on how to train a dog to track, all you need to do is prepare yourself and your dog. Commit in the process to achieve positive results!