Reading the Dog-Variables a K9 Search Team Encounters on the Trail

 Variables a K9 Search Team Encounters on the Trail:

What are variables? 

Variables are the many different and constantly changing things a search dog comes across in the search for a person. Every kind of detection dog learns how to work in various conditions which is why we call these different conditions, "variables". Other trainer use different terms of course, but for an easy understanding I am sticking with variables. Here's why.

During training and in mock training searches. A handler has to learn how to read the dog when the various conditions (variables) and aspects of the search change or are encountered by the dog. The dog also must learn how to work the missing person's scent trail or location in the variables the dog will most likely encounter during a real search. 

For instance, a wilderness trained dog learns how to work in a natural settling while a urban search dog learns to work in pavement, cement and human made environments. Both environments affect scent very differently. 

Just think of all the different odors we humans smell in a big city compared to what we smell when we are out exploring a natural woodland or countryside. Imagine how much more our dogs smell and the different places where the odor changes. 

Watch your dogs and see how they react when they encounter a variable, a difference, when you're both out for a stroll. 

Learning and knowing how your dog behaves when they encounter variables is how you read a dog.

Here's the most common variables a K9 team will encounter on a search for a person.

Each variable is in bold print.

Surface: 

An example of surfaces are paved roadways, sidewalks, dirt, grass, woodland, water, snow, gravel, sand, indoors carpet, tile, floor, table, windowsill, etc. 

The K9 Team learns to search on different surfaces by introducing each type of surface one at a time because scent particles travel and collect differently on natural and human made surfaces. This is one reason training takes time.

Contamination: 

Every trail has contaminates and every contaminate changes with the type of surface and other variables.  Contaminants are all living beings, chemicals and natural scent particles that come in contact with the trail, trail layer or scent article. 

A few examples are animals or people who walk near and on a Trail Layer’s trail, gasoline odors, chemicals and traffic, other animal’s urine and feathers, buried bones or fur. 

Weather: 

The weather changes on a minute by minute, hour by hour, daily bases and this makes each and every step of a search for a person begin a new trail. When a slight breeze begins to blow, in the middle of training so does the scent particle begin to drift and change path. This is why Mantrailing dogs are a valuable resource for finding missing persons. 

Age of the Trail:  

Every trail ages with the passage of time, beginning at the time a person goes missing or the trail layer starts to make a “hot” or “fresh” training trail. As time passes, the person’s scent trail begins to dissipate and grow “aged” and “cold”.  If the person has been missing or hidden for under a hour the trail is considered, “hot” or fresh and as the trail ages the scent becomes “cold” and aged. 

Lost Person Behavior: 

Teams who wish to advance to active duty readiness and operational level to work actual missing person cases will benefit from studying how people behave when lost or taken against their will because the person’s behavior is a very important variable that changes and challenges a dog team’s search strategy.   

My dog and I on the trail to a hidden person

Learn to read a dog by paying attention to the dog's behavior when you encounter variables.

Learn more about training a dog to find people in my new book "Start Mantraining" Step by Step and in The "Family Disaster Dogs" book available my author page at Amazon worldwide or you can get a personally signed copy from me the author at my own store here. 

How-to Use a Long Lead and Tracking Leash

Using the Long Tracking Leash 

This is the first long leash lesson for using a long tracking or trailing leash for Family Search dogs is split into 3 lessons that are listed on the Lesson Link Page click to see all the free lessons.

The 1st lesson is Lesson 5 Leash Work 1

The 2rd is Lesson 6 Leash Work 2

The 3rd is Lesson 7 Leash Work 3

The lessons cover much more than only the leash work.

As we discussed in previous lessons the Bloodhound and tracking dogs often use a long lead or leash when they are working. This lesson will teach you how to handle and use a long trailing and tracking lead.

First a leash is often called a lead. Both are the same thing.

The long leash is anywhere from 20 ft to 50 ft depending on what the purpose of the leash is. A lounge line for a horse works well for large dogs and long leashes can be purchased in any weight or width to fit any size dog. Buy one to fit your size dog. Even the smallest dog can be used with a long leash and plenty of practice.

The nylon material the leash is made from will give you a bad rope burn on your hand if your dog is one to bolt off and the leash slides through your hand. 

Dogs that are not use to being given room or those who are use to being in the back yard may be so excited by the freedom or they may see something they want, like a cat or another dog that they take off without you expecting it. 

Be careful when you first put your dog on a long leash in an open area and gloves are always a good idea.

Do not put your dog on this leash for play, or exercise until the dog is well trained to trail or track. This lets the dog know that when you have this long leash they are going to be working. They will learn to expect and love the time spent on this long leash as if it is a tracking game. They know the different equipment and rules for each game they play and we will use this to our advantage.

You will also need a harness for your dog although a harness is not absolutely required and many dogs work with a collar as well but using a harness lets the dog know that they will be doing the tracking game otherwise they may think you are expecting them to play a different game, like obedience.

With multi-purpose dogs, those who do different jobs, the different equipment is their clue to what will be expected and then they can get in that mind set. A police dog knows when his handler is in uniform they are working.

Your family pet is very much a multi-purpose dog and you should use the harness during training to help the dog understand this is not obedience work or taking a walk down the street exercise. Read the lesson about harnesses before practicing this lesson often with your dog.

After a few lessons when you walk up to your dog with the long leash and harness then they will get excited knowing what’s to come. This is when you know they really understand.

Order a Search Dog Equip Kit from me via the Contact page above...I will have a page up soon to order from too! 

Look at the page menu to see if the page is there yet or email me for Handmade UK  Dog Leads, Collars, and high quality Harnesses used by professional k9 handlers worldwide.

Recommended Dog Training Equipment

Check out my books to teach your dogs to find you and your children in emergency!

Here is a great leash to use for training and tracking


Here is a harness with Tracking Patches so people know your dog is working!




Here is a harness for small and medium sized dogs