Scent Detection Outdoors

This class begins July 14th and runs every Monday at 6:30pm for 6 weeks.

Trainer: Cliff Erhardt

What is it?

Tracking refers to a dog's ability to detect, recognize and follow a specific scent. Possessing heightened olfactory abilities, dogs,, are able to detect, track and locate the source of certain odours.

In this NEW 6 week outdoor only class, we will teach you the fundamentals of tracking basics. We will help introduce tracking of human scent outdoors to your dog and how to handle your dog as he tracks! We will help develop a dog that can follow a track that has been laid by a person, indicate on a found article that a person has lost, and work in various outdoor locations in and around Saskatoon to develop a dog that is eager to follow a scent and find the person at the end of the trail! This class will require you to travel within city limits to posted locations and runs in various weather conditions.

You will need a well fitted harness with a back leash attachment and a 15-20 foot long lead (not a retractable leash) for this class!

Topics covered:

• how to lay a human scent trail for your dog
• how weather conditions and time effect the track and how to help your dog work through problems on a track
• leash handling during tracking
• scent tracking over different terrain and in different environments
• how to develop a clear scent article indication while on the track
• keeping your dog motivated and how to efficiently build up the duration and length of your tracks
• learning your dogs tracking body language to help identify when he is on the right path