Training Guidelines
(Used by Pope County K-9 Unit & Arkansas Alliance of Bloodhound Search Specialists)
These guidelines are a compliation of information obtained from various
seminars, organizations, agencies, and individuals I have encountered
during my career.
Whenever beginning a new obstacle bring the trails back to short hot trails. As the dog beginnings working the
obstacle consistently (4-5 times in a row) start lengthening and aging the trails. Never make a big change of
both length and age at the same time. Start all new obstacles alone or in combination with obstacles that the
dog is working consistently. As they conquer how to work out the new obstacle start combining it with more
difficult obstacles.
Beginner Trails -- upon completion of this level the dog should be able
to work 4 hour old trails that are 1/2 mile in length with turns
consistently
1. Run away trails - runner drops article and runs away in sight of the dog - trail should be no
more than 100-200 yards trails should remain straight or with gradual turns
2. Run away - Out of sight trails àrunner drops article and runs away and disappers from sight of
the dog behind something - trail should be no more than 100-200 yards and straight or with gradual
turns
3. Out of sight trails - runner drops article and leaves without dog seeing them - should begin at
no more than 100 yards and then work the length up to 1/2 mile
4. Turns - begin introducing sharper turns in trails - begin with sweeping turns and work up to 90
degree turns both directions
5. Longer trails with several turns
6. Aged trail up to 4 hours
Intermediate Trails - upon completion of this level the dog should be
able to work up to 12 hour old trails up to 1 mile in length
consistently with combinations of all the obstacles started up to this
point
1. Begin varying scent articles - be creative use anything you can think of and see how it changes the dogs
starting behavior - make sure to use both bagged and non-bagged (i.e. car seats, windowsills, etc) articles
2. Water crossings in standing water
3. Water crossings in running water
4. Sharp turns and backtracks
5. Aged trail up to 8 hours old
6. Trails up to 1 mile in length
7. Contamination on the trail
8. Contamination in the starting area
9. Pool scents - various ages of pool scents watch how the dog reacts to the different aged pool scents
10. Swampy areas
11. Pavement with fresh trails
12. Split trails with two runners walking trail and splitting up at the end of the trail
13. Broken trails à take the dog off harness moving to new location and resuming trail - is useful to navigate
obstacles on the trail that might be unsafe for the dog, handler, and backup
14. Vary position of runner at end of trail à standing up, sitting down, laying down, off of ground, underneath
some object (tarp, box, etc.)
15. Negative trails - don't end session on negative trails run a real trail after working a negative trail
16. Work through crowds
17. Road crossings
18. Intersection crossings
19. Trails 1 mile in length
20. Trails up to 12 hours in age
Advanced Trails -- upon completion of this level the dog should be working at least 48 hour old trails easily up
to 3 or more miles in length - the dog should be working any obstacles encountered previously consistently and working
through new obstacles quickly.
1. Broken trails - dog is taken off harness and taken to a new location to restart - used when suspect/victim
is suspected to have been picked up in vehicle dog is taken to next intersection to see if trail can be
redetected
2. Work on making consistent solid ID's at end of trail
3. Starting from preserved scent articles
4. Line ups with at least 4 people
5. Missing member searches
6. Stopping / resting on trail (should have been introduced in earlier stages)
7. Vehicle trails
8. 4-wheeler trails
9. Bicycle trails
10. Multiple Victim Trails
11. Anything else you can think of that someone might do
12. Trails up to at least 48 hour old trails - should continue to work up to 72 hour old trails
13. Trails up to 5 miles in length
