PoserHoser
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41 Mag What breed is that?
Evading Tracking Dogs
- Thread starter Cob
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Don't (doubt it).
I participated in quite a few S&R exercises in the late 80's/early 90's (had a good friend who was in training to be, and then did become, a deputy) with Maricopa and Pinal County Sheriff's Depts.
It wasn't unusual for people to be bitten or have close calls. They may be highly trained (some more so than others, the same goes for "handlers"/owners) animals, but they're still not anywhere near capable of reasoning like even the lowliest human can.
Another thing to consider... there wasn't a separate set of dogs/people for a "lost child" vs. "escaped hardened killer" scenario.
Have fun on your 'evasion'!
41 Mag
Member
Not sure, but if like in the pic, the wife tells him, "WATCH HIM", you can bet, who ever is being "watched", that they won't be getting any closer without getting a reaction.
BSA1
member
I agree that a true dog bred for S&R uill not bite the victim. In the prison setting they normally use two different breeds; one for tracking, another for biting and attack.
The tracking dog can be breed such as a bloodhound. The bloodhound is a excellent tracker and will slober all over you after he finds you.
In the case of catching a criminal a more aggressive breed is used. Problem is it is not as good of tracker. Police budgets may not allow for both types of dogs so the cops go with breeds that bite.
A true story I was involved in once was searching for a prison walkaway. Our handler used a bloodhound to follow the scent trail. The escapee followed a road and every so often would hide in the ditch when a car approached. It became routine for the bloodhound to track along the road and to go off the road to investigate the scent every place the inmate hid. So this goes on for several miles with the dog on and off the road until he doesn't come back onto the road. Wondering what the heck the dog is up to the handler goes down into the ditch and there is his dog, standing on top the inmate with his tail wagging! And the inmate to scared to move for fear he would be bit!
The tracking dog can be breed such as a bloodhound. The bloodhound is a excellent tracker and will slober all over you after he finds you.
In the case of catching a criminal a more aggressive breed is used. Problem is it is not as good of tracker. Police budgets may not allow for both types of dogs so the cops go with breeds that bite.
A true story I was involved in once was searching for a prison walkaway. Our handler used a bloodhound to follow the scent trail. The escapee followed a road and every so often would hide in the ditch when a car approached. It became routine for the bloodhound to track along the road and to go off the road to investigate the scent every place the inmate hid. So this goes on for several miles with the dog on and off the road until he doesn't come back onto the road. Wondering what the heck the dog is up to the handler goes down into the ditch and there is his dog, standing on top the inmate with his tail wagging! And the inmate to scared to move for fear he would be bit!
Cob
Member
The Exercise is Over
The exercise is now over. Dogs used were bloodhounds, and I was informed to try to make the search last about 2 hours. After 5 hours, the handlers/dogs did not find me. Highs were in the 90's last Friday, & I found that placing as much distance between the exercises starting location (the boating accident site on the river) and the ending location; about 2 miles through woods, while "maximizing" leaving minimal scent was an effective method in losing both the dogs/handlers.
The handlers were a "Cocky sort", with a bit of an "invincible attitude", thinking that there was absolutely no way the dogs could be thrown off track. I used a few simple steps to fool both the dog and the handler.
The first teams dog's wore out from the heat after about 2.5 hours, and second team was called in to continue tracking the scent. The second tream lost the scent. A 3rd & 4th team came in, and I verbally instructed them (over cel phone via texting - not really supposed to have been allowed) to a point where i crossed a woods/logging roads, about 1/2 mile away from where i "had a heat stroke & become incapacitated". They finally found my trail again, with a little help. I finally saw a dogtruck driving down a woods road & stop a couple hundred yards away (with texting help) about 5 hours into the exercise, so i then walked to within 75 yards of the truck, sat down and called for Help out loud multiple times. I am afraid had i not done this last step, the search would have lasted for several more hours. (I was not getting paid by the hour, but by the day, and it was a long one).
The info provided here was useful. The handlers used long lead lines (about 15' -20') on the dogs, and thick brush limited both the dogs on the lead lines & handler. I walked a relatively straight compass bearing, and found that areas along one trail were inadvertantly contaminated with lots of "other" scent, due to numerous tracks. I purposely diverted in one spot along a heavily used deer trail, and walked about 150 yards along the deer trail with numerous rub lines & tracks.
I was able to make use of some natural features & scents found along the way, including a skunk (which i never saw, but definitely smelled), a water hole, some natural vegetation, and a few items i had brought with me in a backpack. The wind was to my advantage,(blowing NE at 6 mph), and the pre chosen route i was instructed to walk was NE. Where i ended up was on a public road, not far from a subdivision, with some barking dogs I had seen on the drive in. (they never barked at me). I learned the 2nd & 3rd team of dogs was not that experienced, (younger dogs), and the 4th team I'm convinced would have found me eventually. Although I walked 2 miles, I'm convinced the handling teams walked double that, maybe more. They were all tired when i caught up with them
It was unique exercise, and tomorrow if repeated; the whole thing could go differently.
The exercise is now over. Dogs used were bloodhounds, and I was informed to try to make the search last about 2 hours. After 5 hours, the handlers/dogs did not find me. Highs were in the 90's last Friday, & I found that placing as much distance between the exercises starting location (the boating accident site on the river) and the ending location; about 2 miles through woods, while "maximizing" leaving minimal scent was an effective method in losing both the dogs/handlers.
The handlers were a "Cocky sort", with a bit of an "invincible attitude", thinking that there was absolutely no way the dogs could be thrown off track. I used a few simple steps to fool both the dog and the handler.
The first teams dog's wore out from the heat after about 2.5 hours, and second team was called in to continue tracking the scent. The second tream lost the scent. A 3rd & 4th team came in, and I verbally instructed them (over cel phone via texting - not really supposed to have been allowed) to a point where i crossed a woods/logging roads, about 1/2 mile away from where i "had a heat stroke & become incapacitated". They finally found my trail again, with a little help. I finally saw a dogtruck driving down a woods road & stop a couple hundred yards away (with texting help) about 5 hours into the exercise, so i then walked to within 75 yards of the truck, sat down and called for Help out loud multiple times. I am afraid had i not done this last step, the search would have lasted for several more hours. (I was not getting paid by the hour, but by the day, and it was a long one).
The info provided here was useful. The handlers used long lead lines (about 15' -20') on the dogs, and thick brush limited both the dogs on the lead lines & handler. I walked a relatively straight compass bearing, and found that areas along one trail were inadvertantly contaminated with lots of "other" scent, due to numerous tracks. I purposely diverted in one spot along a heavily used deer trail, and walked about 150 yards along the deer trail with numerous rub lines & tracks.
I was able to make use of some natural features & scents found along the way, including a skunk (which i never saw, but definitely smelled), a water hole, some natural vegetation, and a few items i had brought with me in a backpack. The wind was to my advantage,(blowing NE at 6 mph), and the pre chosen route i was instructed to walk was NE. Where i ended up was on a public road, not far from a subdivision, with some barking dogs I had seen on the drive in. (they never barked at me). I learned the 2nd & 3rd team of dogs was not that experienced, (younger dogs), and the 4th team I'm convinced would have found me eventually. Although I walked 2 miles, I'm convinced the handling teams walked double that, maybe more. They were all tired when i caught up with them
It was unique exercise, and tomorrow if repeated; the whole thing could go differently.
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