Dogs are amazing creatures capable of learning so many things that make humans love them as pets. They start with “sit and stay”, then “roll over”. But as your dog matures, you notice that they learn things faster and more easily. With their perfect sense of smell, it is a great idea to train your dog to track people especially at Great Lakes. But make sure to track the location of your dog first just in case!

They love a fun hide-and-seek game because it challenges their skill while having fun. You can start teaching your dog to identify objects through its scent, smell the air, and follow a track. Dogs can learn all three simultaneously to improve their smelling skill. But it will start with an item or anything that you will like for them to look for. It is best to start with their favorite toy. First, you’ll make it simple and fun. And as they learn the game, you’ll make it more difficult for them to find it and they’ll be needing to use their nose to locate the item.

There are different methods to train a dog to track people. The three most common methods include the Hotdog Method, the Spray Bottle Method and the Clothing Method. We’ll discuss the Hotdog Method as an initial training guide and then advance to the Clothing Method.

Preparation

As you get started, you’ll notice that some breeds are smarter and learn faster than others. It is also best to start training while the dog is younger. Make sure to prepare some materials that will help you make these training methods effective and efficient.

Prepare the following:

• Treats
• Leash
• Harness
• Small flags
• Human clothes
• Hotdogs

Dogs are natural smelling machines. But the key to effective training is to teach them how to use their nose properly with patience and consistent practice. Remember that you still need to regularly practice with your dog even if he has mastered the skill of tracking already.

The Hotdog Method

You can use any kind of hotdog for you and your dog to use during practice. It is best to start early in the morning, in a clear field, so that there will be no human smell in the area.

First thing to do is tie up your dog in the area. Get two chunks of hotdogs (1 inch in length) and smash one chunk on the ground using your feet. This will help release the smell of the grass with the hotdog smell smeared on your shoe.

Turn away from the spot and walk forward to create a trail. Do not forget to drop a small piece of hotdog every 6 to 10 feet. When you reach 20 to 30 feet of trail, drop a piece of your clothing on the ground and place a treat on top of it.

Now, go back to your starting point by following the trail you created backward and release your dog. Take him to the area where you smashed the hotdog on the ground and encourage him to sniff it. Give him the “find it” command as he starts going around the area looking for the trail. He will eventually follow the trail on his own, and let him lead you to the path you’ve created. Give him praises as he does a good job of following the trail.

Keep repeating these steps to create a new trail. Your dog will start to track the combined smell of grass, smashed hotdog and your scent.

Once your dog mastered this, make some hard turns and confuse him in the new trails you do. As he masters the skill, get help from other people in making a new trail for him without any hotdog. Give your dog some time to familiarize his nose with the smell of the person creating the new trail for your dog.

The Clothing Method

In this method, you can use old clothing like underwear or a sock to help your dog familiarize his nose with your smell. Stay in a closed room with your pup and hide the clothing in plain sight. Instruct him with a “find it” command. If he is not familiar with the command, you would have to guide him to give him an idea of what he should do. As he gets the hang of it, try hiding the clothing out of sight so he’ll have to use his nose to find the clothing.

You can continue this training outdoors. Grab any clothing and create a trail by dragging the item on the ground and leaving it at the end of the trail. Walk back by following the trail you created backwards so as not to cause any confusion.

Let your dog out of his leash and tell him to “find it”. He should start looking for the scent of the clothing and following the trail you created. Give him a treat or praise whenever he follows the trail correctly and finds the clothing you kept at the end.

Keep repeating the steps until your dog masters the skill. Afterward, start working with other people so your dog will learn how to track others using their clothing.