Engaging Your Bluetick: Scent Work & Tracking Activities

Bluetick Coonhounds are intelligent, energetic dogs bred for tracking and hunting. Their powerful noses and innate desire to follow scents make them exceptionally well-suited for scent work and tracking activities. Engaging your Bluetick in these exercises provides mental stimulation, physical exercise, and strengthens the bond between you and your dog.

Why Scent Work & Tracking?

Blueticks thrive on having a job to do. Scent work and tracking tap into their natural instincts, providing an outlet for their energy and a positive way to channel their drive. These activities:

• Reduce Boredom and Destructive Behaviors: A tired dog is a good dog. Scent work challenges your Bluetick mentally, helping to prevent boredom that can lead to unwanted behaviors like excessive barking or digging.
• Enhance Focus and Confidence: Successfully locating a scent builds confidence and teaches your dog to focus on the task at hand.
• Strengthen Your Bond: Working together as a team to find a scent strengthens your relationship and improves communication.
• Provide Physical Exercise: Depending on the level of difficulty, tracking can be a great way to get your Bluetick moving and explore the outdoors.

Getting Started with Scent Work

Scent work is a fun and accessible activity that can be done at home or in a training class. Here’s how to get started:

1. Start Simple: Begin with a high-value treat and let your Bluetick smell it. Place the treat in plain sight, say “find it!”, and encourage them to take it.
2. Hide and Seek: Gradually increase the difficulty by hiding the treat in increasingly challenging locations. Start with easy spots like under a towel, then move to hidden corners or behind furniture.
3. Introduce Scent Articles: Once your Bluetick is proficient at finding treats, introduce scent articles such as cotton swabs scented with essential oils (start with something mild like anise).
4. Progress to Odor Discrimination: Place multiple identical articles, only one of which is scented. Encourage your dog to find the specific scent.

Tracking Activities

Tracking involves following a specific scent trail over a longer distance. This requires more training and a suitable environment, but the rewards are significant.

1. Lay a Simple Track: Start by walking a short, straight line and dropping small pieces of treats along the way. Let your Bluetick smell your scent and then encourage them to follow the trail.
2. Increase the Distance and Complexity: As your Bluetick progresses, increase the length of the track and add turns and obstacles.
3. Age the Track: Allowing the track to age for a few hours or even overnight makes it more challenging for your dog.
4. Introduce Articles on the Track: Place scented articles along the track for your Bluetick to indicate.

Important Considerations

• Positive Reinforcement: Use positive reinforcement techniques such as treats, praise, and toys to motivate your Bluetick.
• Patience is Key: Be patient and understanding. Learning takes time, and every dog learns at their own pace.
• Safety First: Ensure the environment is safe and free from hazards. Avoid tracking in areas with heavy traffic or dangerous wildlife.
• Professional Guidance: Consider working with a professional dog trainer experienced in scent work and tracking for personalized guidance and support.

By engaging your Bluetick in scent work and tracking activities, you can provide them with a fulfilling and enriching life, strengthening your bond and harnessing their natural talents.