Quote:
Originally Posted by GalomyOak
My tracking group (AKC) actually gets/has quite a few people who are involved with SAR, but sometimes don't have the time/dedication at a particular point in there life to be completely involved in SAR (baby, work, etc.). As I figured out at a seminar I went to a couple weeks ago, AKC tracking is somewhere in between SchH and trailing - our dogs are supposed to "track" - follow ground scent. But, AKC is much more liberal in the distance a dog is allowed to air scent and leave the track than in SchH (which is no more than a body length off - training involves a lot of obedience). For AKC, it almost has to be that way, since the dogs are pushed further faster - a TD (beginner) track in AKC is very similar to a SchH III track. I think think that you will find members in a dedicated tracking club that will be willing to work with you towards your goals, and have plenty of expertise in scent theory to at least get you started. I've actually been training (laying tracks for) with a lady in my SchH group (from Germany) that does SAR - but she is a single mom in the navy, so no time for the intense stuff. The track-laying has been similar - except I sit as the reward at the end of the track, and no food is used as it is SchH or AKC. The dog is also not allowed to eliminate on the track (in AKC they can) - don't want to contaminate the track. And of course, things go much faster! The age of the tracks can be much longer too (in AKC, the age is a maximum of 5 hours - SAR can be days or even weeks long!).
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You should be carefull not to mix up tracking and trailing, these are two very different techniques and if you work a trailer much after tracking rules he will never become a good trailer. As a working trailer can make up to around 20 kms a day and works several hours with breaks around every 1-2 hours he of course is allowed to eliminate on the trail and should be able to get a contaminated trail sorted.