K9 Professional Tracking: A Complete Manual for Theory and Training

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

As in their previous volumes on K9 dog training, the authors preach a
training gospel of science, patience, and mutual respect between
tracking dog and handler. The first chapter, “Scent and Perception,”
looks at how both dogs and people use their senses to interpret the
world around them. “Human and dog live in qualitatively different
worlds,” the authors point out; a handler who wants to get maximum
performance out of a dog must first learn to see the world from the
dog’s viewpoint. Chapter 2, “The Dog’s Nose,” is a fascinating
breakdown of a canine’s incredible sense of smell. Chapter 3, “The
Odors of the Track,” puts that sense to work; in easy-to-understand
prose, the authors explain how a dog can follow a track laid down by
another creature hours and even days after it was made. The chapter
“Equipment and Conditions” describes the kinds of harnesses,
tracking lines, and other accessories that aid in successful tracking.
“Common Training Methods” details the four common methods for
teaching a dog to track. “Asking for Trouble” discusses some of the
common errors that inexperienced dog handlers make. One of the most
interesting chapters, “History of Tracking Research,” takes the
reader back to 1887 when G.J. Romanes discovered that his pet setter
could follow his track even though it was covered by the scent of 11
other people. The book concludes with chapters about how to ensure
maximum performance by a tracking dog.

As in the earlier volumes, the text is clearly written and supported by
numerous photographs and illustrations. K9 Professional Tracking would
be an invaluable resource for any person interested in training dogs to
track. It is also a fascinating read for anyone who likes dogs and
wishes to learn more about them.