SAR Tracking with GSDs - Page 1

Hello - I am a K-9 Handler for a SAR team....I have one certified Area Search and HRD dog. I also have another GSD who is a year old that I am training in Scent Discriminating Tracking. I am new at the whole Tracking SAR training, I was just curious how old a track can be for a GSD to still be able to work. I understand for Police K9s...30 minutes is considered "old", but in a SAR situation you have to be VERY lucky to be able to get a trail that hot. I understand that GREAT training is extremely crucial, I was just curious what is physically possible to these dogs to still be able to track/trail. All of the dogs on our team are air scent/area search, so this is why I am looking to the outside for information, and the other tracking handlers I know have Bloodhounds...so this is why I am asking you! :) Thank you - Allison

in past my I handled my rotts in air scent I had a tracking bloodhound and one of my rotts was excelled at water searching. I now have gsd and have my showline 8 month old female is tracking a scent discriminate track 20 mins old feel free to contact me anytime I would love to compare notes?

Allison,I wouldn¿t say that a 30 minutes scent discriminate track should be considered for Police K9ś as 'old'. This particular level is just a first step on your way to get a good SAR tracking dog. With a right drive and properly trained K9 partner you could easily build up his abilities in scent discriminate tracking up to 3 hours old and much more.Peter

Actually many police dog handlers do consider 30 min. an 'old' track. I have worked my male in TTD (what is used in Canada to train dogs for SAR work.) I have also done some variable surface tracking with him. We have done 3-4 hr. old tracks in fields with NO problems. In variable surface tracking we have done 2-3 hr. old tracks over various surfaces (pavement, gravel, grass, parking lots)etc with no problems. It is quite amazing what a good dog can do. They do need very good hunt drive and great 'drives' over all for this type of tracking. WHen my male is working....there is nothing else, he is working. He has produced 3 certified bomb dogs from his first 2 litters so he has a great nose and also produces it. His first 'grandchildren' are now also in training for bomb work.

I was talking about the Czech State Police k9 handlers and Czech National trial rules for working dogs. Just for your review - 2 hours scent discriminating track layed on any surface for PH1 Police Patrol dogs and 5 hours old track for PP1 Police Tracking dogs is considered as a just first step to start their career in practical use. When we are talking about a civilian scope, there is ZVV3 trial with at least 3 hours or ZPS2 trial with 4 hours old layed track. On your request I would be pleased to provide you with further info regarded to this artickle.

Hi Allison, I have Czech lineage Shepherds and my male routinely runs 3-5hr old tracks with ease (we cross streets, running water, bridges, and other obstacles at this age). I've done tracks 12+ hrs old with him, he has some difficulty at that age, but I was pleased he was able to track them at all. We are also running tracks on pavement, up to 3hrs old right now (I plan on getting his AKC TD, TDX and hopefully his VST in the next year). We have also done tracks in rain storms, hurricane strength wind gusts, through swamp water, and while it's snowing up to 1 1/2 hrs old. One of my females doesn't have the concentration for tracking and I doubt will ever get to where he is at, while another female I have seems to be following is his footsteps so to speak. The ability is there in the Shepherd breed, but it still comes down to the individual dog as well as the type of training put into the dog. Hope this helps, Ang

Would you mind sending me more info? I would love to learn more about the Czech tracking titles, as well as the other Czech sport titles. Thank you, Ang

Wilderness Trailing 24-36 hours, pull out your Syrotouk. Some claim more. The trail is actually stronger at 12 hours than 24 which is about the strength of a fresh trail (obviously the aging times depend on ambient conditions. The aging trail is a *different* person than the fresh trail to the dog. Here is a link to a good article http://www.jonnijoyce.com/articles/archive/trailing_offlead.htm