Too many times the role of the human partner in the tracking team is minimized and sometimes you may hear the statement, "the dog has the nose, follow your dog, you are the dope at the end of the rope." The only part of this statement that is true is that the dog does have the nose. The human half of the team has an important role to play in being observant, supportive, understanding and helpful. To create a real tracking team, you must be willing to learn to be the best hander that you can be.
Handling means more than lead handling skills. Certainly, you must be skilled at lead handling and be able to give line and take in line efficiently and smoothly but becoming a good handler must go beyond lead handling skills. You must exhibit neutral body language so that the dog can work without being influenced by your thoughts which usually reflect in your body language. It is important that the handler stay centered and neutral.
Verbally the handler should be quiet (very difficult for some people) and allow the dog to think and work. You may ask the dog a question to keep him focused such as "is that your track?" and you may want to offer some quiet encouragement like "yes" or "good", but basically you should not distract your dog with your voice.
A good handler sets the pace of the track that is comfortable for them. Running after the dog is not only unsafe but will cause the dog to overrun turns. There is no prize for the fastest track.
Posture is important. You should stand upright and be centered and in control of your body and look upward and forward and see not only where you are at the present time, but where you are going. The handler must see the big picture ahead of the team. A good handler has read and understands the rules and comes prepared with all the necessary equipment for the tracking day. You are there to support and teach your dog, not complain and make excuses. It was too hot, too wet, too cold, etc. A good handler sees problems as learning opportunities and where the team may need more practice.
A good handler will develop a comfortable routine with his dog from the very beginning, which starts with getting out of the car, walking to the track, starting a track, finding an article, recovering from an overrun turn, and ending a track.
There is so much that a handler can contribute to the team effort. The handler has a big responsibility to the tracking team and must be willing to take on that responsibility.
Tracking is a very intimate human/canine sport. It is a very wonderful, exciting, and meaningful journey to take with your dog. I hope that you will try it.
On Track Agility Club of Maine (OTAC) is holding an AKC TD (Tracking Dog) Test on August 23, 2026, in Somerville, ME. Spectators are welcome. See Downeast Dog News calendar for details.
Carolyn Fuhrer has earned over 200 AKC titles with her Golden Retrievers, including 4 Champion Tracker titles. Carolyn is the owner of North Star Dog Training School in Somerville, Maine. She has been teaching people to understand their dogs for over 30 years. You can contact her with questions, suggestions, and ideas for her column by e-mailing carolynfuhrer@gmail.com