Search Dog Training Manual

1. Selection of things 2. Search of the area 3. Search of premises 4. Setting on the trail

Select item

1st period The task of the first period is to develop the dog's skill of sniffing things and objects from the hands of the trainer. 2nd period. The task of the second period is to develop the dog's skill of selecting "his" thing from identical objects with a smell of strangers. 3rd period. The task of the third period is to develop in the dog the skill of selecting from identical objects that do not have the smell of people, an object with the smell of a stranger. 4th period. The task of the fourth period is to develop in the dog the skill of selecting an object with the smell of one stranger from other objects with the smell of other strangers. The selection of objects by the dog during this period is made in the most varied combinations of 10 - 15 objects and ends with a "blind" selection. With systematic practice of this technique, the dog develops a clear skill of odor differentiation after 2 - 2.5 weeks. Before proceeding to the practice of the skill, it is recommended to pre-toss an object to another object in full view of the sitting dog and, sending the dog for the object, at the command “fetch”, ensure that it takes only its own aptorder object. Having achieved this, working off a selection of things will be much easier. The selection of things is structured as follows: apart from the rest of the dogs, at the direction of the trainer, they put on a clean and level place two items of the same shape (sticks) at a distance of 20 - 30 cm from one another. The trainer, 3 - 4 m from the put objects, preferably in the direction of the wind, sits down the dog (the dog is on a leash). He gives her a sniff of his aorting object, doing it like this: with his left hand he easily takes the dog by the muzzle, holding the object in his right hand, brings it to the nose and says the command "sniff". After that, rubbing the object with his hands, he moves away from the dog and puts it in front of the two previously placed sticks (and sometimes, without leaving the place, throws it). Then he returns to the dog. He takes the dog by the muzzle with his left hand, and brings the palm of his right hand to the nose. At the same time, several times, in a gentle intonation, he utters the command "sniff", "sniff". If the hand senses that the dog is sniffing, the trainer approves of the dog, pronounces the commands "good", "sniff". After that, with a gesture of his right hand, he shows the dog to lying objects, sends the dog to them, walking next to the dog and saying the command "sniff". At the handler's gesture and the command “sniff”, the dog approaches objects lying on the ground and, in some cases, first grasps the first object that comes across, without sniffing. The trainer does not allow this, utters the command "sniff", "sniff" in a threatening intonation, forcing the dog to throw the wrongly grasped object, points at the desired object and makes him take it. When the dog picks up the object, the handler gives the command "okay". If the dog sniffs exactly at the desired object, but does not take it on its own, the trainer helps the dog by saying the commands "fetch", "good". And as soon as the dog takes the desired item, he beckons him to him and caresses. In the same case, when the dog sniffed the objects and correctly took the desired thing, the trainer gives the commands "good", "good", "to me." He takes the object from the dog, caresses it and gives it a treat. After that it is recommended to play with the dog for 1 - 2 minutes. During the lesson, the dog is allowed to sample no more than 2 - 3 times. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that the last start of the dog on the sample was always successful and was fixed with a delicacy. In cases where the dog is mistaken and takes the same object twice, it should be removed and replaced with another. If the trainer sees that the dog weakly differentiates the object or shows a desire to take any object, the dog should be taken away from the things and, having seated it, allowed to sniff the thing and hand again, and then let it be sampled again. Individual dogs are bad at sampling things. In such cases, it is recommended, in full view of the dog, to throw your dumping object to others and immediately let it go by the commands “fetch” and “sniff”. In an effort to take a thrown object, the dog will sniff at the objects, and grasp the object with a familiar smell. This moment must be captured by the trainer and linked with the command "sniff", securing it with a delicacy. The trainer must clearly know the object to be selected and the place where it lies. Confusion is completely unacceptable here, it complicates and delays skill development. The trainer should not touch other objects with his hands, so as not to leave his smell on them. It should not be forgotten that the main command in this technique is the “sniff” command, which denotes a general signal to sniff and differentiate odors. The commands "aport" or "good" are used only when the dog sniffs the desired object accurately, but does not take it in the teeth. The command "fu" is pronounced only in a soft tone and only if the dog, at the command "sniff", given in a threatening tone, does not throw the wrong thing. With the correct and timely giving of the commands listed above, the timely encouragement of the dog, the latter relatively quickly begins to sniff at lying objects and correctly choose the desired smell among others. When approaching with the chosen item, the dog must sit in front of the trainer and, on the command “let”, give the item. After the dog has been able to unmistakably pick the handler's items by sniffing his hand, the dog is sent to the sample by sniffing the item. Thus, the working conditions for the dog are somewhat more complicated. In this case, instead of a hand, the trainer gives the dog his thing to sniff. As soon as the dog, when sniffing a thing, relatively correctly selects the object of the trainer, the number of foreign objects increases to 6. If at the beginning the objects were put by one person, now several persons put their objects, this increases the number of smells among which the dog will choose the desired thing. In the future, in order to develop a more subtle differentiation in the dog, the number of objects with different smells is increased to 6 - 8 pieces. The aorting items are mixed with other things. The layout of objects will be diversified. The time for starting the dog to sample is gradually delayed by several minutes. Commands of an auxiliary nature are not used and only one basic command "sniff" remains. The dog goes to work without a leash. To check how correctly the dog chooses the trainer's item, the latter is completely covered with other items. The dog is given complete independence in sampling. After the dog, from sniffing the trainer's thing, will clearly and without mistakes choose his thing from other foreign objects, it is switched to a selection of “foreign” things. The selection of "foreign" things is first carried out in light conditions. Two faces put three objects on 12 - 20 cm from each other (aport). The first one puts two items, the second one (the second will serve as an assistant). The assistant who put one item down, we leave the trainer with any thing with its own smell (headdress, gloves, etc.). The trainer, as in the selection of "his" things, in 3 - 4 m from the set items puts the dog down, carefully takes the thing left by the assistant, and lets the dog sniff it. After that, he puts this thing on the ground beside him and, with a gesture with the command “sniff,” sends the dog to the sample. The first two or three times, the dog will usually look for a thing with the trainer's scent among the lying objects. The trainer gives the command "sniff" in a threatening tone. In some cases, the dog will return to the handler without selecting or picking up the item. In this case, the trainer gives the dog a second sniff of the thing and sends it back to the sample. Sometimes he brings the dog directly to the thing, pointing at it with his hand. This technique is repeated 3-4 times. With the correct selection, the trainer calls the dog up and rewards it with a “good” command, stroking and giving a treat (meat). Since sniffing a thing when sampling "his" things in a dog has been worked out, the technique of sampling "other people's" things is worked out much faster. With the transition to the selection of "foreign" objects, one should not return to the selection of things with the scent of a trainer, as this will knock the dog down during subsequent exercises on the selection of "foreign" objects. The selection of "foreign" items is gradually becoming more complicated. Things are diversified in shape, size, and their number is increased. The trainer should especially carefully observe the dog's actions during sampling, avoiding mistakes in giving auxiliary commands, and know the chosen object well among other things of the assistant. Places where items are laid out for sampling should be changed more often. They also change the assistant. When a dog, released on a sample without a leash, clearly, without mistakes, chooses a "foreign" thing, this dog is checked by the so-called "blind" sample. In this case, the handler does not know what the dog will have to choose. This activity is led by another person. Often, inexperienced trainers make mistakes when practicing a skill. The most typical of them are as follows. Layout of things with the presence on them, in addition to the individual smell, of other unwanted odors, such as: meat, dog saliva and other odorous substances that attract a dog to pick and pick up an unknown thing. The difference in the freshness of smells when sampling "foreign" things, that is, when the selected thing is rubbed vigorously before laying out, and the rest of the things in the hands of the assistant remain with a lesser smell. This leads to the fact that the dog chooses a thing not according to the individual scent of the helper, but according to the freshness or the strength of the scent. Excessive actions of the trainer at the time of practicing the technique lead to the formation of unwanted connections. For example: if the trainer always utters the auxiliary commands "fetch" and "good" at the moment when the dog is just intending to take the object, then in this case the dog will establish an unwanted connection, and the dog will make a sample not by smell, but by team. Or it is enough for the trainer to take a step back several times at the moment when the dog is just sniffing at things, as it will grab the first thing that comes across and bring it to the trainer. The trainer is obliged to very carefully monitor his actions, avoiding unnecessary movements at the time of sampling. A technique can be considered worked out if the dog, without the help of a trainer, clearly chooses "other people's" things from 6 - 8 different items.

Selecting a person and things

The purpose of the technique is to develop the dog's skill to choose a person from a group of people by the smell of his thing. The main conditioned stimulus is the command "sniff" and a gesture - throwing out the hand in the direction of a group of people. Auxiliary - command "good" and soft command "fu". An unconditional irritant is the dog's grip on the helper. Reception is introduced after the dog is relatively good at choosing "other people's" things. This technique, like sampling of objects, contributes to the development of the dog's sense of smell for a clearer differentiation of odors. Initially, classes are conducted in a light environment - with minor distractions. Methods and techniques for constructing a technique. New in this technique for the dog compared to the previous one will be sampling of a person. At the direction of the trainer, 3 - 4 assistants stand in one line in advance. The assistants are dressed in their own clothing. The distance between the helper should be such that the dog can walk freely near each person during the haul (1 - 2 steps). One of the assistants, in advance, throws out three meters of the thing belonging to him - a hat or a roll of shoes. The trainer comes with the dog to the thing thrown by the helper, and on the command “sit”, he seats the dog. With the right hand, with the help of some object, better than tweezers (so as not to leave your smell on things), very carefully takes this thing and lets the dog sniff it. At the same time, in the usual intonation, he pronounces the command "sniff", "sniff". After that, putting the thing on the ground behind him, with a gesture of his right hand, simultaneously with the command “sniff” in an increased intonation, he sends the dog from the flank, holding it on a leash, to the sample. At first, the dog may not make a sample. After sniffing at the people standing calmly, she will try to leave. In this case, the helper, which the dog should select, makes a movement. The dog usually immediately switches to the helper and grabs him. At this time, the trainer rewards the dog with the command "good", pulling on the leash, and the dog, as it were, pulls the helper out of order. When the assistant leaves the group, the trainer pronounces the command “stop” for him. The assistant on this command stops and stops any movement. The trainer takes the dog and takes it away from the helper, saying the command “near”. The assistant at this moment again joins the group, only in a different place. The trainer, having given the dog to sniff the same thing, with the command "sniff" sends it a second time to the sample. After the dog has patted the helper by the clothes, it becomes easier for him to select the already familiar smell, and the dog usually makes the secondary sampling correctly. In those cases when the dog, which was sent to the sample, makes a mistake, tries to pounce on another helper, the trainer pronounces the command “sniff”, “sniff” in a forbidding tone and directs the dog to the desired helper. The exercises are repeated in each session 3 to 4 times, until the dog is good at sampling from 3 to 4 people. In the future, the sampling conditions gradually become more complicated. The group is increased to 6 - 8 people. The distance between assistants is shrinking. People line up one to another closer. The dog is sent to a sample from a group of lying and sitting people. Help from the handler is reduced. When the dog is calm and error-free in sampling, it is allowed to haul without a leash. You can train the dogs to bark the assistant chosen in the group. They do it like this. When the dog approaches the helper, whom must be chosen, and tries to grab him by the clothes, the trainer with the command to "sit" in a threatening tone sits down the dog. The latter, being in an agitated state, exhibits barking. At this moment, the trainer gives a treat, strokes, saying the command "good". If the dog grabs the helper and flaps, the command "fu" is given. Subsequently, the dog, when sampling, will sit in front of the selected face and bark pointing at him. The sampling of a person from a thing is also achieved by the following method. The trainer, having several assistants, of whom two are equally dressed, leaves one in the group, the second begins to escort. Without turning to the dog, the escorted helper excites it by moving at a distance of 10 - 15 m from the group of other helpers. In order to familiarize the dog with the smell of the escorted, the trainer brings the dog closer to him and gives him the opportunity to grab his clothes once or twice. After that, at a signal, the dog is briefly turned or obscured by the trainer, the assistant at this time joins the group of other assistants. After that, the dog is allowed to sample. Gradually, the group increases to 3 - 4 assistants, the assistant, at the moment of leaving the group, throws his own thing prepared in advance. The handler gives the dog a sniff before allowing the dog to sample. After the dog has developed the necessary skill to go to a group and look for the desired smell, the escort is stopped, and the dog is allowed to sample a person only by the smell of things from a group of 6-10 people. A similar method can be used to conduct classes in a non-residential semi-dark room. The technique is structured as follows: 1 - 2 assistants enter and take refuge in., The room. The third assistant is escorted by the dog trainer near the entrance to the premises. Having reached the entrance to the room, the assistant, having thrown his thing at the entrance, hides in the room and is located next to or close to those who had previously sheltered. The trainer, having given the dog a sniff of the thing, enters the room with it. Having allowed the dog to take up the clothes of the chosen one, the trainer takes him out. Reception is repeated 2 - 3 times. In the future, the escort is stopped, and the dog is allowed into the room only after sniffing the thing left at the entrance. Dogs that are not sufficiently "interested" in the sample of a person are aroused by the helper from behind the door, without showing them. A significant disadvantage of the method "sampling a person from a thing" is that this method is based on the active-defensive reaction of the dog, which contributes to the development of her excessive anger and strong excitement. To avoid this, the technique of “sampling a person from a thing” can be based on the “interest” in the dog's search for an aported object. The technique is carried out as follows: having prepared 3 - 4 assistants (placing them at a distance of one step from each other), the trainer offers one of them in advance to put his thing (a glove, a handkerchief, etc.) in front of him at 20 - 25 m. The trainer then gives the dog a sniff of this thing, throws it in the direction of the helpers at 15 - 20 m. And at the command "fetch" sends the dog for the thing. As soon as the dog rushes from its place on command, the assistant - the owner of the thing runs out of the group, grabs his thing in full view of the dog, hides it in his sleeve and gets into place. The trainer, having the dog on a leash, at the command "fetch" brings it to the group of assistants and at the command "sniff" gives the dog a successive sniff of them. As soon as the dog comes up to the helper, who has the thing, and will sniff it. the assistant, showing the thing hidden in the sleeve, gives it to the dog to grab. When the dog starts pulling the thing, the helper takes a step forward and, at the trainer's command, “okay” gives the thing to her, and the dog receives encouragement. The exercise is repeated one more time. The assistant gradually hides the thing in the sleeve deeper and the dog "pulls" him out of the group by the sleeve. On the 4th - 5th day, the number of assistants increases, the assistant does not take or hide his thing. The dog is allowed to be sampled without a leash from 2 - 3 steps from the group only with preliminary sniffing of the thing. The skill is considered to be worked out when the dog, at the command of the trainer without a leash, flawlessly and clearly selects a person with a thing from a group of 6 - 8 people.

Searching the area and premises

The purpose of the technique is to develop in the dog the skill of an active, interested and organized (zigzag) search for people and objects in a certain area of the terrain and indoors. As conditioned stimuli, the command "seek" and a gesture are used - throwing out the hand with the palm down in the direction of the searched area. Alimentary, defensive and orientation reactions are used as unconditioned stimuli. You should proceed to classes on searching the area and premises after the dog has worked well: bringing things to the trainer and the skill of distinguishing the individual smell of a person is sufficiently fixed. Methods and techniques for searching the area. Practicing the construction technique begins with the dog finding objects on the ground. A dog is trained to search the area without a leash. Initially, the trainer develops an "interested" search in the dog by scattering his aorting objects and sending the dog after them on the gesture and command "seek". Classes in the future are carried out in lightweight conditions, in an area where there are few distracting stimuli. The site must be at least 100 * 150 m. The technique is built as follows: at the direction of the trainer, the assistant, without entering the site so as not to leave traces there, throws three objects from a distance to different places, forming two corners on the site. This order of the arrangement of objects on the site contributes to the development of a zigzag search in the dog. When the assistant scatters objects, the handler closely monitors him and remembers the places where they are. When the objects are scattered, the handler walks with the dog to the middle of the area, seats the dog and removes the leash from it. Then he gives the command "seek" and with a gesture of his right hand with a tilt of the body sends the dog towards one of the things scattered in the area. Initially, the dog is not actively searching. In such cases, the trainer, more persistently uttering the command "seek", runs along with the dog and directs it with a gesture of his right hand to the lying object. When the dog, having stumbled on an object, takes it, the trainer calls the dog to him, takes the found object from her, caresses it and gives it a treat. After that, the dog is sent to the other side of the site - to the second thing. Here, along with the command "seek", the gesture is given with the other hand with the torso tilted to the other side. In the event that the dog, approaching a lying object, does not take it, the trainer makes it take on the command "fetch". In the same order, the dog is sent in the direction of the third thing thrown by the assistant. In all cases, when the dog grabs the detected object and brings it to the trainer, the latter is obliged to encourage the dog by playing and giving it treats. After a series of such exercises, the dog will search quite actively. Subsequently, when the dog, at each turn (zigzag), will independently detect the thrown object and bring it to the trainer, with the front shrinkage, the distance between the objects is increased. The assistant still approaches the searched area of the terrain from the side, throws the first thing at the beginning of the area, not far from him, the second thing he throws further away from himself, going 40-50 m forward from the first place, and the third thing at the end of the area, about the middle. So that the dog does not develop a conditioned connection to make turns only after finding the thing, the trainer, sending the dog on the gesture and the command “seek”, gives it a direction in the direction where there is no thing. Moving with the dog and giving the command “seek” and the gesture, the trainer abruptly changes his direction by turning in the other direction. After making the second turn, the dog starts searching in a new direction. When a dog, having passed 30 - 40 m and sniffing at the terrain, stumbles upon a lying object and takes it, it receives encouragement from the trainer. After that, by a gesture of the hand, the dog is directed in search of the third thing. By practicing the skill with the help of a gesture sending the dog in opposite directions, it develops an independent, active and organized search. As the dog gains an active and zigzag search, the conditions become more complicated. Increase the number of empty corners. The trainer is in the middle of the searched area, behind the dog, controlling it from a distance by means of commands and gestures. The scattered objects are masked in the grass. They put heavy things on which the dog needs to bark. They do it like this: an assistant in a searched area of the terrain hangs up or puts down a heavy thing or a light object tied to something. Upon detection of such an object, the dog, due to the fact that it is not able to pick it up or grab the tied object, will become excited and usually begin to bark. Then the trainer quickly approaches the dog, sits it down, says the command "voice", "good" and gives it a treat. In the future, the dimensions of the areas to be searched are increased to 150 * 200m. Along with the scattered things, they are looking for a person. They do it like this: the assistant, having previously scattered things, without leaving his traces on the territory of the site, hides. The trainer, leading the dog to the area to be searched, with the command “search” and the direction of the hand and his movement, exiles the dog to search the area, and he himself moves in the middle of the area, controlling the dog. When a hiding helper is found, the dog is rewarded with the command "good" in an affectionate tone. In the future, the search of the area is being worked out in conjunction with the tracking work. In this case, the assistant, having finished scattering things, does not remain on the site, but, leaving the starting point at the last item, makes a trail outside the searched area for 300 - 500 m. known to the trainer) are allowed to work out the trail to find an assistant. These exercises are repeated at dusk and at night. In order to avoid the upbringing of an undesirable connection in the dog to objects of the same shape and to a certain area, it is necessary to systematically change areas of the terrain, thrown objects and assistants. The skill is considered to be worked out when the dog actively and in an organized manner, at the command of the trainer, searches an area of terrain measuring 150 * 200 m, finds hidden objects and brings them to the trainer, finds people and works out their tracks.

Searching premises

The purpose of the reception is to develop the dog's skill to enter residential and non-residential premises and, by searching, find hidden objects and people in them. The commands and gestures for teaching these skills are the same as for searching the area. The technique is practiced in parallel with the “search of the area”. Methods and techniques for constructing the technique. Non-residential outbuildings, sheds, barns, barns, empty stockyards , etc. A pre-instructed assistant throws one or two things into the room in a conspicuous place and leaves. The trainer brings the dog to the door of the room and without a leash, at the command "look for" and a gesture sends it to the room. At first, when entering an unfamiliar room, a dog is usually alert, and its behavior is indicative. The handler must enter the room and, if necessary, point the dog with the command "fetch" to the lying objects. As soon as the dog picks up and brings the object to the trainer, the latter rewards it with the command "good" and gives a treat by stroking the dog. As the dog develops the skill to search the premises, the number of things left is increased, things that are different in shape are left, and they are carefully hidden. When the dog is good at finding disguised objects in the room, it is transferred to find a person. In this case, the assistant leaves his object in a conspicuous place in the room, moves away from it and hides in the same room. The handler enters the room with the dog and controls its behavior with the commands “seek”, “good” and gesture. When finding a helper, the dog is encouraged. When the dog is trouble-free and interested in searching the premises in the presence of a trainer, it is sent alone to search basements, attics and various kinds of shelters. Subsequently, these classes are carried out at night in the presence of shots. The assistants and the searched premises are periodically changed. The skill is considered to be worked out when the dog boldly enters the room alone, actively searches for things and hiding people.

Follow the trail

The purpose of the technique is to develop in the dog a persistent skill of trouble-free search for a person by his smell, at the command of the trainer "trace". When practicing a skill, the command “footprint”, the desired smell of a person, and an object for handling are used as conditioned stimuli. The main unconditioned stimulus causing the dog to react to movement along the track is a person (assistant) at the moment the dog grabs him at the end point of the track. In order of encouragement, they use: the command "good", a treat and stroking the dog. The technique is introduced after practicing the techniques that establish a connection between the trainer and the dog, and after the dogs have developed the skill of interested bringing objects to the trainer and selecting things. Considering that the dog's instinctive desire to pursue an animal, a person, etc. is innate, the trainer needs to develop this instinct in every possible way and direct the dog to an active and trouble-free search for a person on his trail of different ages and in conditions of different complexity. Methods and techniques for constructing a technique. The training of the dog to the "track work" technique is carried out in two consecutive periods. In the first period, the dog develops the skill of an interested search for a person by his smell, in the second, the dog develops the differentiation of smells on the track. The first period, During the first period of training, it is necessary to obtain from the dog an interested sniff of the trail of the trainer and bystanders (assistant), active study of these traces along the entire length, bringing up the found objects and arresting the assistant (tracker). At the beginning of practicing the skill in this period, classes should be carried out in the morning, in the dew, in an area with the presence of shrubs and grass cover, with the least amount of distracting irritants and especially the smells of people. This creates the most lightweight conditions for the dog to work on the track. To achieve the greatest success, the trainer must assist the dog in all difficulties in its work on the track, do not allow jerks with the leash, do not detain it unnecessarily and keep up with the pace of movement when working out the track by it. Reception is carried out as follows. The trainer, having come to the practice area, ties the dog to an elongated leash (by a stump, tree or some other object) and begins to play with the dog, exciting it with an aporting object. Having caused the dog to try to grab the object, then moves away from the dog at a distance of 75 - 100 m. (To make the trail more noticeable, it is recommended to walk with your feet dragging on the grass.) Having passed in a straight direction 30 - 40 m, makes a rounded turn to the side and continues motion. At the end point, openly puts the transfer object. The return of the trainer to the dog is carried out strictly according to the laid trail. When approaching the dog, the trainer, drawing the dog's attention to the lack of aport, unties it, brings it to the starting point of the track and seats the dog. After that, having straightened the leash, he says the command "trail" and, bending to the ground, gestures with his right hand to the trail. The trainer, slowly moving forward along the trail with the dog, repeats the “trail” command several times in the usual tone. At the first attempt to correctly follow the trail and sniff at it, the dog is immediately rewarded with the command "good" and the command "trail" is repeated. If the dog is not following the trail and does not sniff at it, the trainer, cutting the leash, restrains it, utters the command "track" and, pointing with a gesture of his right hand to the track, pulls the leash down and forward, helping the dog to follow the trail slightly ahead of him. At the end point of the track, the dog is brought to the abandoned aportement item. When the dog at the end point independently picks up the object, the trainer takes it from the dog, commanding “give”, and immediately rewards it with a treat and the command “good”, if necessary, the command “fetch” is given. This is followed by a game with the dog, and it is given a free state. In the same lesson, this technique with short intervals, in the same sequence, is repeated 3-4 times. Turns are gradually introduced. The given method of training is the most effective, since the formation of a conditioned reflex to the command "track" begins relatively quickly. With the correct observance of all the elements of the construction of this technique, the dog usually on the 5th-6th day of training, at the command of the trainer, begins to sniff the scent. Some trainers prefer to start off the trail by leaving the helper and teasing the dog first. This leads to excessive excitement of the dog, which makes it difficult to work out the track, since the dog, trying to find a helper and "pat" him, does not sniff at the track. Sometimes the following method is applicable. The dog is accustomed to a second trainer and she must admit him to her and not show anger. When practicing the technique, the first trainer hands the dog over to the second trainer and leaves to lay a trail for it up to 300 m long with 2 - 3 corners; he does not return to the dog from the end point of his track. The second trainer, after waiting 15 - 20 minutes, takes the dog on a leash and lets it follow the trail of the first trainer using the above method. By this Method, the dog is trained to work well on the track with angles and time delay. It makes it easier to train the dog to search for "someone else's" trail. As soon as the dog clearly and interestedly will work out the trainer's tracks and a connection between the "track" command and the smell is formed, it is necessary to proceed to the study of "foreign" tracks also in facilitated conditions. The technique is structured as follows: the trainer tethers the dog and puts an object near it in such a way that she cannot reach it. After 2 - 3 minutes, an instructed assistant calmly approaches the dog from behind the shelter, picks up the lying object and leaves it at 50 - 100 m, trying to leave a clearly visible trail behind him. At the end of the trail, it makes a rounded turn and hides behind a cover. After that, the trainer unties the dog, brings it to the starting point of the track and seats it. Having straightened the leash, he says the command "trail" and, with a gesture of his right hand, points to the trail. As soon as the dog began to sniff and follow the trail, the command is repeated. When approaching the end point, the trainer brings the dog to an object lying near the helper, and at the command "fetch" forces the dog to take the thing without arousing the dog to the helper. After encouraging the dog, the handler takes it away for cover, and the helper stays in place. After a number of such combinations, when the dog will work out the trail of the assistant with an interest in the lower instinct, it is necessary to further elaborate the traces with the binding of the command "voice". When following the trail, reaching the end point, having found the assistant, the dog is called to bark (the detention of the assistant is practiced when training patrol-guard dogs). After that, giving the assistant the opportunity to hide, the dog is again allowed to follow the trail; this exercise is repeated two to three times with each lesson. For the development of a dog's "interest" in sniffing the trainer's and assistant's tracks and the skill of actively working these tracks in light conditions, 20-30 minutes ago, at a distance of one kilometer, for most dogs, no more than one month of regular training is enough. As the dogs are prepared, they gradually introduce complications of the track. Instead of one rounded corner, one or two obtuse corners are made, the corner at the end of the track remains rounded, the distance of the trainer from the dog is increased, and the dog is less restrained in the pace of movement. The length of the track is gradually increased to 200 - 600 m. The time for starting the dog on the track is delayed up to 10 - 30 minutes. The shape of the track and the nature of the corners change, lay a track with several right or sharp corners. On the trail behind corners and turns, the assistant puts various objects that the dog must bring to the trainer. During the work of the dog on the track in difficult conditions, the trainer's special attention should be paid to the accuracy of the dog working out the corners on the track, which is achieved by holding the dog with a leash when approaching the corners and with the help of the trainer at the moment of overshooting the corner. It should be remembered that frequent restraint of the dog in front of corners can lead to the formation of an unwanted bond. The dog, when held by a leash, without sniffing the track, will make turns to the sides. To avoid this, it is necessary to periodically practice restraining the dog and moving it in a forward direction during the development of the track. During further training, in cases where the dog runs over the corner of the track, it is necessary, without using the leash, to return the dog to the corner of the track and direct it to the track. When working on a track on sharp corners, the dog very often does not reach the end of the corner and cuts it off. This is due to the fact that the dog, having sensed a stronger smell from the next line of the track, freely switches to it and continues further processing of the track. There is no practical need to work out the trail to the end of the corner. Therefore, in these cases, the dog should not be required to fully work out the corners. When the dog, on the command "track", will independently find the smell from the starting point of the track and clearly work out the tracks, it is recommended to let the dog to the starting point of the track at different angles. This skill is built as follows: the trainer, not reaching 5 - 10 m to the starting point of the track, lets the dog follow the trail using the commands "sniff" and "trail" and gesture - showing with his right hand towards the starting point. As soon as the dog has found the track, immediately pronounce the commands "good", "track" and continue working on it. If the dog goes wrong and does not find the starting point, the handler moves with the dog to the starting point and directs the dog to the track, repeating the commands. Having developed the dog's skill to independently detect traces in small areas, they proceed to further work out the technique of the dog's independent finding of a trace by searching the area on a site of 40-50 m. In practice, this is done like this: the trainer lets the dog on the track line at different angles. If the dog tries to follow the track in the direction of the starting point, that is, on the opposite track, it is held and directed towards the end point of the track. With repeated repetition of such exercises, the dog will independently find and work out the trail in the direction of its end point. Along with other forms of trail, it is necessary to practice laying a loop-shaped trail line. This is essential for improving the dog's ability to track different forms. The methods of training a dog on loop-like tracks are no different from those described earlier. It should only be pointed out that if the loops converge very close to each other, the dog will walk either in a straight line, or somewhat zigzag, depending on the strength and direction of the wind. Wind in any form of footprints should be considered a complicating factor. Therefore, the trainer must take this into account every time the dog is trained. In a crosswind, the dog deviates from the track line towards the direction of the wind. In a headwind, the dog follows the trail, as a rule, with an "upper instinct", less sniffing at the trail on the ground. In such cases, inadequately trained dogs often run around corners, and sometimes get off the track. Therefore, during the initial training, it is necessary to train the dog with a light tailwind and only after that proceed to work with a crosswind and headwind. It is also necessary to take into account the strength of the wind. Initially, the work of the dog on the trail should be carried out with an average wind strength, gradually moving to a strong one. With all the difficulties of the dog, it is necessary to provide it with the required assistance. Along with the gradual complication of the shape of the tracks, their length and age, other complications are gradually introduced, such as: a change in the nature of the terrain (open, closed and crossed), the nature of the soil (plowing, mowing, trails, etc.). Work on the trail is carried out in different weather and at different times of the day: morning, night and day. Assistants are often changed. All complications should be introduced gradually and depending on the preparedness of the dog. In the first period of training, it is necessary to bring the dog to work on a track 1.5 - 2 km long and up to one hour old, at different angles. To work out a sample of a person from a track from a group and to prepare a dog for sampling the desired track from a number of other tracks, as well as to work out the reliability of processing tracks and the clarity of odor differences (differentiation). Along with this, in the first period, it is necessary to achieve a clear selection by the dog of "foreign" things with 4 - 6 smells. Second period. The task of this training period is to develop the dog's scent differentiation skills on the track. During this training period, the dog achieves the reliability of working through the crossed tracks, a clear difference in odors (differentiation) and the selection of the desired track from a number of other tracks. At the beginning of dog training during this period, the intersection of the main (desired) track at a right angle by the "alien" track is introduced. Classes are held early in the morning, or in the evening, in the absence of other traces on the ground (smells of people). The practice of this skill is built as follows. The main assistant makes a trail in the direction indicated to him. His trail is immediately crossed by another person. In 15 - 20 minutes after crossing the trail, the trainer lets the dog work out the trail of the main assistant and carefully monitors the dog's behavior, especially when approaching the crossing. If the dog switches to the trail of another plotter, then the trainer stops it at the intersection line, pronounces the forbidding command "fu", and immediately directs it to the desired trail. As the dogs become more prepared, they introduce the intersection of the track at an acute angle, and then gradually make more complex intersections of the track. The second paver goes to the trail of the main plotter at right angles. Not reaching this trail 40 - 50 m, continues to move along the paved main trail, up to about half of its distance. After that, it crosses the main trail and, moving away from it by 40-50 m (depending on the wind), continues to move parallel to the end of the main trail. Upon reaching the point indicated to him, the second assistant leaves in the opposite direction. Next, a group intersection of the track is introduced. They do it like this. On the instructions of the trainer, a trail is laid at a distance of 500 - 600 m. Then two other assistants go to the track line from both sides and cross the main track at an acute or obtuse angle, approximately in the middle of the line and at some distance from one another of the track. At the same time, the main trail is crossed by a third person. After that, the dog is allowed to follow the trail. When the dog switches to another trail, the trainer acts in the same manner as previously. Group trail crossing should be practiced in different terrain conditions, on different soil, at different times of the day and in different weather conditions. In the practice of working with a dog, there may be breaks in the track by water (near a river, lake) or other obstacles). When the track is interrupted by water and other obstacles, the trainer acts as follows. When approaching a water hazard (river, lake), a dog interested in searching begins to look for a trail along the coast to the right and left. The trainer, knowing where the trail at this obstacle is interrupted, detains the dog and goes with the dog in a convenient place through the obstacle to the other side. Having crossed to the opposite bank in 50-60 m from the line of the laid track, the trainer, at the command "trail", directs the dog along the bank to the line of the trail and as soon as it has found the trail, he pronounces the commands "good", "trail", etc. It also follows act with other obstacles (road with a lot of traffic, etc.). After several repetitions of this technique, the dog will freely work through the tracks interrupted by water and other obstacles. In further training, it is necessary to gradually move to an independent finding, by a dog, of a crossed track by searching the area. In practice, it is done like this. A crossed track is being laid; The trainer, not reaching 50 - 60 m to the starting point of the track, puts the dog down in the direction of the track. Having released the leash, the trainer says the command "look for" and "trace", makes the appropriate gesture and lets the dog search the area and find the trail. When the dog detects a trail and at the first attempt to work it out, the commands "good" and "trail" are immediately followed. The trainer, not lagging behind and without delaying the dog, follows it until the track is fully worked out. In the event that the dog, upon detecting a track, makes a mistake and goes to the starting point of the track, the trainer restrains it and directs it towards the hiding helper. After the dog will accurately work on the control-crossed track in light conditions, it is necessary to move on to work on the "blind" crossed track, that is, a track unknown to the trainer. When a dog is working on such tracks, special requirements are imposed on the trainer. Mismanagement of the dog will negatively affect the quality of its training. Therefore, it is especially important for the trainer to study the behavior of the dog on the trail before moving on to work on the "blind" tracks. During this period, the work of the dog is supervised by the 2nd trainer. Initially, "blind" tracks are laid in lightened conditions of the terrain, soil, time of day (preferably in the morning), with weak wind and favorable weather. Then they gradually move on to work in difficult conditions. A selection of a person from a group of other persons is introduced directly from the trace. They do it like this. A trail of 200 - 250 m is laid and after 10 - 15 minutes the dog is released. The development of such a trace proceeds quickly. Having overtaken the helper, the dog barks at the helper at the end point or grabs his clothes. After that, the helper frees himself from the dog, leaves the same distance and joins a group of other assistants, dressed in the same clothes as the first helper. The dog, following the trail, comes up to the group and, at the command of the trainer "sniff", selects the assistant from the group directly from the trail. In the future, this skill is practiced in the order of laying ordinary tracks. When conducting classes, you should not abuse the helper's excessive beating and grip of the dog, and also do not turn these activities for the development of anger and retention. Next, go to the angular control and "blind" sampling of the desired track. The reception is structured as follows. A control trail is laid by two assistants who go from different directions and meet at a certain landmark, from where one plotter continues the direction of the other plotter's trail. When working on such tracks, especially in the first days of training, very often the dog on the line of divergence of the assistants breaks down differentiation (makes mistakes), moves from the desired track to another and, not distinguishing between smells, continues to follow the track. The trainer, knowing where the tracks diverge, when the dog approaches this point, slightly restrains it and with the command "fu" prohibits switching to a false track. When done correctly, the dog is rewarded with a "good" command. After several such sessions, the trainer does not restrain the dog at the intersection (angle) and gives him the opportunity to make mistakes. In this way, the dog is checked for correct odor differentiation. However, every error of the dog, which was not hindered by the handler at the point of divergence of the tracks, should be corrected immediately. The dog is guided and encouraged to follow the correct trail. After the dog will accurately work out such tracks, the number of plotters is increased to 3 - 4 or more. Then they pass from the control sample of the track to the "blind" one. In such cases, the trainer does not have to know the passage of the tracks, their intersection by other persons, the end point, etc. Along with this, complications are gradually introduced by increasing the length of the tracks, their age, on different soil, at different times of the day and in different weather. Then one goes to a "blind" fan-shaped selection of the desired track from a number of other tracks. It should be noted that fan-out of the track is a further complication of angular sampling. In this case, the dog chooses the desired track not from two tracks, but from 5 - 6 other tracks. In the first days of training, the fan sample should be worked out on the control track, and then, as the dog is prepared, they switch to "blind" sampling of the track. The fan sampling technique is almost no different from the angular track sampling. The only difference is that the number of other tracks should be up to 5 - 6 fanning out in different directions from the desired track. Practically for a dog, a selection of the desired track is obtained from a number of other tracks. When a dog works on a fan trail, it is given freedom of behavior. At first, this leads to errors, and the dog will switch from the desired track to other tracks. In these cases, the handler is obliged to assist the dog in finding the desired track. To achieve the greatest success in the correct study of fan tracks, it is first necessary to lay the fan (divergence of tracks) closer to the starting point, in the field of view of the trainer, or at a clearly visible landmark, which will contribute to better control and ensure the correct guidance of the dog by the trainer. However, you should not make a fan angle very close to the starting point on the track, since at a short distance the dog will not have time to sniff well at the desired track. Thus, the trainer achieves from the dog a trouble-free and error-free study of complex tracks with a selection of the desired track from a number of other tracks. Not later than one month before the end of the training course, the tracking work of the dog should be carried out in the complex by searching the area (see the techniques "searching the area"). This is where the training of the dog ends and the training period begins, that is, the further improvement of the dog in the conditions of its practical use. Often, inexperienced trainers make mistakes when training a dog in tracking; the most typical of them are the following: a) Frequent laying of a track in the same area with the end of the track at certain landmarks, as well as work at the same time of day; b) leaving the same items on the trail by the assistant; c) conversations between the trainer and the assistant after finding him at the end point of the track. The skill is considered to be worked out when the dog correctly and interestedly works through the "blind" and control tracks 3 - 4 km long and 1.5 - 2 hours old, independently detects tracks on the ground and selects the desired track from three or more other tracks one hour old, in moderately complicated conditions, it makes a sample from the trail. After developing a general skill, we proceed to differentiate odors of different ages. The duration of the scent trail is determined by the time elapsed from the moment the "subject of the trail" passed to the moment the dog was placed on the scent trail. It is customary to distinguish: a fresh or "hot" track up to 1 hour old, a normal track up to 3 hours old and an old or "cold" track 4 hours old or more. Age is crucial in a dog's scent trail. The longer the trace is, the more difficult it is for the dog to work. For fine differentiation of odor traces, the dog must be accustomed to working on the individual odor of a person, which is the most resistant to weathering, has the greatest biological activity and remains on traces of a long time ago. Information about the smell of a person is carried by blood, hair, and particles of nails. Dry blood spots, hair, nails that have not undergone putrefactive changes can retain the smell for several decades. Under favorable conditions, items of clothing that have been worn for a long time, cigarette butts retain their smell for several months; objects in contact with the human body for at least half an hour - up to 60 hours, footprints - from 10 to 24 hours.

Methods for preserving odors

Means for obtaining and preserving (preserving) odor samples are prepared in advance. These include: rags (napkins) of washed cotton flannel about 10x15 cm in size, aluminum foil, tweezers, a spray bottle with water and gloves. For packaging, clean glass jars with metal or glass lids are used. If you don't have a bike, you can use cotton flannel or sterile gauze wipes. Collecting odor samples should be done with gloves and tweezers to prevent contamination of traces with foreign odors. The subject in the places of the alleged location of the odor trail is slightly moistened with a spray bottle (light moistening contributes to the release of odorous substances). Then the object is wrapped with a flap (s) of the bike, and on top of it - with foil in two layers, after which the latter is carefully squeezed to ensure tight contact of the fabric with the object. The bike, covered with foil, is pressed against the horizontal surface of the tracker with a load. When collecting odor samples from clothes, proceed as follows: you should roll up the object with the rags placed inside and fix them in this position with a string. Inside the shoe, napkins are pressed with foil and crumpled paper. The time of minimum contact of the bike with the carrier object should not be less than one hour. An increase in the contact time contributes to a better sampling of odor samples. At the end of the collection of odor substances from the tracers, the flaps with the collected odor samples are removed from the objects and packed separately in clean glass jars or wrapped in several layers of foil, after which the edges of the bundle are folded over and smoothed. Jars are tightly closed with glass or metal lids. Bags and lids made of polyethylene and other plastics are not suitable for packaging, as they let in or absorb odorous substances.