06/30/2025
Search Dogs: Tracking vs. Trailing
Handlers must be aware of environmental factors, such as distance and weather, to leverage the strengths of their canine partners and navigate the challenges posed by multiple scent envelopes between the last known point (LKRP) of a missing person and any discernible natural barriers. A trailing dog should be dispatched to check the perimeter. Just minutes after the officer and their dog began their search, a trailing dog located the missing man. As they gather information, each canine specialist can help the handler determine which dog best meets their needs. Given the significant differences between the two types of tracking specialists, choosing and confirming our officers and potential applicants is a relatively straightforward process.
Mantrailing involves following a commonly recognized trail, whereas trailing is a broader process that does not adhere to a specific path linked to a particular person. Tracking is characterized by moving from one footprint to the next in a direct line. The critical distinction is that tracking dogs search for ground disturbances that indicate where a person has been, while trailing dogs follow the scent of an aged human. When selecting air scenting dogs, many handlers involve more than one dog in the process. For tracking or trailing dogs, such as bloodhounds, the scent may be days old, depending on the conditions.
The evolution of the search and rescue community accounts for some of the confusion surrounding these terms. Fifty or a hundred years ago, many search dog handlers, including hunters and farmers, had experience with tracking and trailing dogs and a solid understanding of their differences. Today, with roughly 80% of the population residing in urban areas, fewer individuals engage in tracking, while more people recreate on backcountry trails. Many handlers and rescue planners may lack the experience to interpret reports of lost persons, recognize visible scents and signs, and understand the conditions that determine whether a tracking or trailing dog can effectively work. Tracking dogs can locate lost individuals much faster than teams of human trackers. Well-trained search dogs are best suited for tracking and trailing work. However, many search and rescue planners lack a comprehensive understanding of how to select, train, and deploy these dogs, and even fewer grasp the significant differences in training and deployment strategies. Additionally, many handlers do not fully understand their dog's capabilities in tracking and trailing work.
Selecting the appropriate dog for trail and area searches is crucial. Start by assessing the probability that the dog you have or are considering is best suited for the job. Consider factors such as breathability, hunting style, conformation, and temperament. You need a dog that can hunt and work effectively with you; it should possess a strong sense of smell, good structure, and sufficient drive to perform well under stress. These dogs serve as first responders, interacting with witnesses and locating most lost persons in wilderness situations. Breeds currently achieving the greatest success in this work in the U.S. and Canada include German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Australian Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Dutch Shepherds, with the Belgian Malinois being the most successful
breed. These dogs are always ready to work, regardless of their environment or distractions. While this does not imply that dogs from tracking-focused breeds cannot excel in sports or that Labradors, Pits, and Border Collies will automatically fail at tracking, it does mean that for both new and experienced handlers, finding the "right" dog can feel overwhelming. When selecting a dog, consider its temperament and personality. For individuals eager to explore and develop each dog's unique attributes, these traits can unlock the dog's full potential.
Dogs do not excel in the same traits or areas. Just as certain purebred sporting dogs may not make good bloodhounds, a dog with a strong bite drive may not be the right choice for every environment. Consider the following factors: the relationship between dog and handler, the handler’s ability to identify faults in the dog’s trailing behavior without punishment, the social dynamics between the dog and handler, the necessary environmental exposure, the handler’s experience in training, expectations for trailing, training and deployment considerations, leadership dynamics, work drive, personal protection issues, high degrees of obedience, agility, and the handler's ability to work effectively with their new dog. To succeed in urban trail situations, only the most sociable dogs with the right temperament are suitable.
Training aids are commonly used to refine skills and help progress beyond habit development. These aids can establish or maintain desired behaviors when the dog is out of the trainer’s control, such as with an interim or backup handler, or when the search team needs to learn a search strategy in a safe and controlled environment, such as backtracking human scent. Some exercises include footstep placement, training for surface scents, heavy cover, water acclimation, and enhancing scent layer visibility. Training also aims to direct the dog’s attention to the team leader and ensure handler control. Success in these advanced exercises is critical for a working team that relies on its members. This stage of a trained search dog’s career focuses on developing a cohesive working entity. After completing these exercises, the dog should exhibit eagerness and a desire to track or trail.
With tracking dogs, poor scent conditions (such as lack of wind, side-hill drift, or human scent contamination), complex terrain (including rocky trails and undisturbed areas), and the age of the trail can hinder the dog's ability to find evidence. These challenges are exacerbated if the scent source has not been exposed to wind. Although these factors are typically predictable, recent technological advancements have made human scent tracking less effective and more labor-intensive than trailing. Tracking and trailing are distinctly different processes, and the development and deployment of trailing dogs differ from those of tracking dogs. By defining these differences and identifying the dogs best suited for tracking or trailing, you will gain insights into the training and deployment processes that align with your needs, knowledge that is often overlooked in other discussions.
