I have trained hunting dogs for many years and have always been interested in Police Service Dogs. I have spent several years around Military Working Dogs, and Police Dogs and have assisted with training. Recently, I've promoted to Sgt. with in the Police Department and have been placed in charge of the K9 Unit, and have been assigned a nice 3yrold GSD male. All four of our dogs are imports and have been trained to track (FST but not "forced track trained"). None of them are GREAT at tracking, but all are still young dogs. I've purchaed several of the Leerburg tapes and loved the Tracking Through Drive I tape. I've presented this tape to our Training Officer and he loves it too. Yes, I'll eventually get around to my question. If the RCMP washes out 50% of the dogs for this type work, wouldn't it be more economical to buy a hound for this specific purpose, rather than having such a high washout rate? We wash enough "purchased" dogs as it is....so we certainly wouldn't wash one soley on the basis of it not being a great TTD type tracker. I live in West TX in a city of about 90K people, however, most of our tracks are rural and in warm to hot weather, and I want a reliable tracking dog. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Well, I must admit I am beginning to respect bloodhounds for trailing work every since my friend adopted one (from my own SAR team no less!) and has been working dilegently with it.

What I like is her ability to follow a trail in high temp, low humidity situations at a decent clip. Now, apparently they are not all sweet laid back things. This one is pretty dog agressive. But trailing is about all that hound would be good for (although she can air scent but not do area search like an air scent dog would)

Also might be interesting to find out more about Catahoula's. I have heard some deep south police are using them ..... and they can do bitwork too. But I do not know much about them.

David, Tracking Through Drive II, is another fantastic tape. I'm in SAR, so we're almost totally air scent, but the tape has great info. I've heard some say the Mal takes the heat better than others. Kevin Shealdal, here on the board, lives in New Mexico I think. He could give you more info about dry heat tracking.
Sorry about the spelling on your name Kevin <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Nancy, I hadn't even considered a catahoula before. I have been around a few, and have "hog hunted" with them. Any dog that will fight a wild boar would, I think, fight a man. Thanks for the input. If you have personal knowledge of any Police Dept using them I'd like to know, so I could call them. Thank you....

I will PM you with the number of my vet.
His partner breeds Catahoula's and claims to have sold a number to police in Louisiana.

He says they aer incredibly tough dogs and good trackers.

There was a lady named Sue King in DVG that was working a Catahoula and got an FH on it, if I remember correctly ( about 10 years ago )
So they can track........ <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I wouldn't count on the willingness of a dog to engage an animal, as indicative of his willingness to engage a human. The two DON'T necessarily go together.

I'll offer for your consideration that a high number of patrol tracking dogs wash out because of the issues created with an aggressive man at the end of the track. . .rather than the tracking itself.

Ditto with LOU. I've hunted with some Terriers that are hard to an extreme on critters, yet downright shy around people. At the same time, I've seen useless hunt terriers that would be more than happy to engage a human with all the fight any good PSD may have. It's apples and oranges.

Yep, my JRT is down right submissive with people, but absolute hell on anything furry.

Hell hath no fury, like my JRT going after something furry??