CJ Unit 3 Canines in Criminal Justice Sports Tracking and Police Tracking Differences, Advantages & Disadvantages

Demonstration of footstep to footstep, deep nose tracking.

Question What exactly is the main difference between sports tracking and police tracking? Isn’t all tracking the same? What exactly is the main difference between sports tracking and police tracking? Isn’t all tracking the same?

Answer The primary difference between sports tracking and police tracking is sports tracking is a competition for points, whereas police tracking involves the pursuit of a wanted person. The primary difference between sports tracking and police tracking is sports tracking is a competition for points, whereas police tracking involves the pursuit of a wanted person.

Answer Sports tracking, depending on the level of difficulty involves accuracy of remaining on track, location of dropped articles, negotiation of difficult turns and possibly various types of terrain. (Grass, dirt, plowed field, roads, etc.) Sports tracking, depending on the level of difficulty involves accuracy of remaining on track, location of dropped articles, negotiation of difficult turns and possibly various types of terrain. (Grass, dirt, plowed field, roads, etc.)

Answer There is no danger involved in sports tracking. There is no danger involved in sports tracking.

Police Tracking Police tracking (not search & rescue) involves the pursuit of someone fleeing law enforcement, possibly armed & dangerous. Police tracking (not search & rescue) involves the pursuit of someone fleeing law enforcement, possibly armed & dangerous.

Police Tracking Police tracking (not search & rescue) involves the pursuit of someone fleeing law enforcement, possibly armed & dangerous. Police tracking (not search & rescue) involves the pursuit of someone fleeing law enforcement, possibly armed & dangerous. Examine the following diagram carefully to see one possible danger in police tracking. Examine the following diagram carefully to see one possible danger in police tracking.

Bad Guy

What is a Schutzhund Track? Schutzhund is a dog sport that offers various titles that involve obedience, agility, apprehension and tracking.

What is a Schutzhund Track? Schutzhund is a dog sport that offers various titles that involve obedience, agility, apprehension and tracking. Schutzhund titles are I, II & III additional tracking titles include FH1 & FH2 with each title the track becomes progressively more difficult.

Schutzhund I Track Handler lays track paces. Minimum of 20 minutes old. Change of terrain possible. Articles Start of Track

Schutzhund II Track Stranger lays track of about paces. Minimum of 30 minutes old. Change of terrain possible. Articles Start of Track

Schutzhund III Track Stranger lays track of about paces. Minimum of 60 minutes old. Change of terrain possible. Start of Track Articles

Schutzhund FH1 Track Stranger lays track of about paces. Minimum of 180 minutes old. Cross track at 30 mins. Terrain change across road, path, etc. Start of Track Articles Cross Track

Question What are the advantages of having a dog that already has a Schutzhund title to train as a police service dog?

Answer What are the advantages of having a dog that already has a Schutzhund title to train as a police service dog? Based on the title, the dog would already have anywhere from basic to advanced tracking skills.

Answer What are the advantages of having a dog that already has a Schutzhund title to train as a police service dog? Based on the title, the dog would already have anywhere from basic to advanced tracking skills. This could save you training time from tracking to focus on other areas.

Question What are the disadvantages of having a dog that already has a Schutzhund title to train as a police service dog?

Answer What are the disadvantages of having a dog that already has a Schutzhund title to train as a police service dog? If the dog has been “force trained” to track although the dog will stay on the track, he may ignore the bad guy when you find him.

Answer What are the disadvantages of having a dog that already has a Schutzhund title to train as a police service dog? If the dog has been “force trained” to track although the dog will stay on the track, he may ignore the bad guy when you find him. Forced training produces unreliable dogs for the street.

Question If forced tracking is not an issue, does a sports tracking dog make a better tracker on the street, in a law enforcement environment?

Question If forced tracking is not an issue, does a sports tracking dog make a better tracker on the street, in a law enforcement environment? Possibly, if during his police training, he is exposed to tracking environments in which he will be used. There can always be bad habits which may need to be unlearned.

Summary It is hit and miss when dealing with dogs trained in the sporting field as to whether or not they will make a good police tracking dog. Sometimes you can get a good dog and it saves you valuable training time and sometimes you may have more problems to correct than you bargained for.

Questions or Discussion? ?

Have a Good Evening and Thanks for Attending!