I'm curious how many of you are training your patrol dogs to track. Do you prefer to scent discriminate off scent articles to locate a track and how many train your patrol dog to locate a hot track? Or do you teach a combination of both and let the deployment scenario dictate how you will start your patrol dog to track? I have opinions for both sides of this issue but I'm curious what others think.
Originally posted by Mark Connolly: I'm curious how many of you are training your patrol dogs to track. Do you prefer to scent discriminate off scent articles to locate a track and how many train your patrol dog to locate a hot track? Or do you teach a combination of both and let the deployment scenario dictate how you will start your patrol dog to track? I have opinions for both sides of this issue but I'm curious what others think. Scent discrimination is poorly accepted in respect to reliability. Soooo, I won't waste time on it. Recent cases involving scent ID trailing have been shot down.
Now, before everyone gets up in arms over that, there is also good support for the statement that reliability is low (read zero percent success) under blind testing out of England.
But, what is well documented is the dogs ability to maintain a track once established on that track. This puts the burden on the investigation to show that the dog was placed on the correct track and followed it. This is done either through witness statements, physical evidence, victim statements, or observations by law enforcement.
As far as search and rescue goes, have at whateveer kind of training you like, or if it is a hobby. But, for LEO's it is best to stear clear of the scent ID trailing work, it just muddies the water in court.
The Springfield P.D. considers tracking an essential part of police dog training. The most successful dogs have been the best trackers. If you can’t find’m, nothing else matters. But police dogs also need to be able to trail (skin rafts) suspects and alternate or combine the two styles. Both styles require a knowledgeable handler, considerable time and training, and motivated/concentrated behavior by the dog. Police dogs should be trained to locate a track without any assistance, hot(fresh) or cold(old).
I often hear the discussion of "skin rafts" come up. A popular book on tracking and trailing really introduced this idea. Syratuck, the author, basically said....that dogs use skin rafts to detect trails, talked about their bio activity, and related their ditribution to wind currents and climate, weather conditions, as wellas parallelling it to studies from surgical suites.
We still have absolutly NO scientific foundation that what he assumed to be true in regards to skin rafts in the environment and how a dog works to be true. He may be 100% correct. Yet, we don't have any real evidence to support it. It is funny how such things become gospel without testing. I guess you just need faith in something but I'm a little too cynical for such things. Subvert the dominate paradigm is my motto.
Kevin,
I respect your position on this. I expect the SAR crowd would differ with your opinion but after all we are talking about police dogs. There seems to be a trend towards scent discrimination dogs in NC. I've always trained without a scent article at the start of the track but I'm always open to new ideas. It seems quite a few NAPWDA trainers in my region are training with scent articles.
Originally posted by Alan Carlson: Kevin.....So what odor was the dog smelling and following on the trailing video?????? That's a good question....we don't know.
Kevin……..Clever answer, especially if you’re going to challenge or undermine the dominate example!!! Perhaps you could share some of the Netherlands trainer’s theories on trailing and scent???? Or, your own theories????
Robert VanCamp Webboard User Reg: 11-28-2001
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Who cares what the dog is following if you are in a results only discipline? SAR it doesn't matter, you find the guy. . .great. But, if you catch a bad guy and need to validate your methods and "theory" in court you better have all your ducks in order.
I think that is the point Kevin is making. Correct me if I'm wrong Kevin.
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