Some elements make the Dachshund’s task easier:
a ground warmer than the atmosphere: the air currents are weak or non-existent areas with a lot of grass and wooded areas: vegetation acts as a windbreak at night: evaporation is slower. The first hours of the day and those following sunset, during the summer.
The scent of the lost or runaway person: the stronger the scent, the easier it will be for the Dachshund to find him. If for example:
it sweats it smells of perfume it is dirty
wounded and bleeding
it has taken alcohol or medication
speed: the more time passes, the more difficult it will be for your pet to find a trace
Table of Contents
Elements Making The Search Difficult
Some elements will make the search more difficult:
a blazing sun and high temperatures torrential rains running water such as the ford of a stream sandy and siliceous soils, dry ground: the wind will blow away search clues strong winds and hurricanes; especially dry, westerly winds disturbed soil and freshly plowed ground snow and ice covering the tracks urban environments where all kinds of odors mix
very clean surfaces
Training
The order: “go, search”.
The material (instrument): a rubber ball, cheese, the leash of 6 m, the leather harness for the search and a rope of 30 m
First Step
*Introduce your Dachshund to this exercise at an early age, around 4 months. Take advantage of games to throw the rubber ball to him so that he brings it back to you
*As you go along, complicate the game by throwing the ball in a hidden place that the puppy knows
*Pass the ball through cheese, have him sniff it, pick it up and roll it across the floor to leave the smell of cheese on its path
*Start to give the Dachshund the command “go, search
*Then, teach him to find you when you are hidden. If he doesn’t find you, call him until he discovers your hiding place.
*The next step is to follow a trail that has been laid out. Use the 6 m harness and leash
*Tie him to a lamp post, pole or tree so he can’t follow you and give him a sniff of meat
*Next, walk a straight line and carefully trample the line in front of the animal. Start by trampling an area of about 0.5 m².
*At the end of the course, put down an object that your dog likes and return to him. Untie him and have him sniff the area you have trampled while giving him the command “go, look”.
*He’ll start sniffing and following the trail until he finds the object. Be sure to congratulate him. Your student will have learned to look for something you need
Second Step
*The second step in this exercise is to teach him that you’re not always looking for the same thing:
*Ask someone your Dachshund knows well to help you: a neighborhood child, for example
*Start by trampling a half-meter square area in front of the dog before making a track
*Your helper should make this track; he should walk in a straight line for 45 to 50 m, then turn right or left to hide
*The animal, which will have its harness and leash on, will have observed the assistant while remaining at your feet
*Then give him the command “go, search”. You will follow the track traced by your assistant while walking.
*Repeat this exercise for several days, but change the assistant (who will always be someone your pup knows well and is friendly to him)
*Then teach your dog to look for your helper, but without him seeing it, using his clothes
*Before starting the exercise, thoroughly inspect the course, leaving markings. Have your helper hide for about 15 minutes before you arrive at the scene.
*Take your dog about 50 m away from his hiding place
*Take one of your assistant’s clothes, such as a shoe or sock, with you (always choose something with a strong smell) and have your dog sniff it for several minutes.
*Then give the command “go, search”, while pointing your finger at the ground
*Continue this lesson, once the previous exercise has been successfully completed, with another collaborator and different objects
Discoveries of hidden people should be well rewarded, but remember that this reward should come from you and only you; your Dachshund should never receive anything from strangers.
