I have never taught my GSD to footstep. However, if we are on a track and it leads across a parking lot, my dog will often times nose down very close to the ground. I have mentioned this before, that I believe a dog knows how to track and GSDs naturally air scent, but will nose down when it is needed. Scent does act differently in different weather conditions. That is why it is so important to train how you will need to perform. In all weather conditions at all times of day.
I agree with Kevin regarding the nosing down. If the dog can air scent, it will, but when necessary will nose down. I don't think doing either needs to be taught - once your dog is tracking, they'll just do whichever one is necessary. I also believe that it is not necessary for you to tell them which one you want them to do - you don't know exactly where the scent is, so how could you direct them?
I also don't think that when the dog is nosing down that they are following the exact path of the footsteps they are tracking. Scent moves, so its not necessarily at that exact foot step. I am assuming that the footstep tracking referred to is the same as Schutzhund footstep tracking - following the exact path. My apologies if I am wrong.
But I think to force the dog to foot step track is not productive if you intend to truly track people. Footstep tracking is for sport.
Once again I agree with both your comments. A police dog has to know all three methods well if he is going to have any sucess on the street, unlike our competition counterparts we spend the majority of our time tracking on multiple surfaces as well as dealing with several distractions and weather conditions,vehicles,etc,moving the scent away from the bad guys original path of escape.
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