"After passing my third tracking trial with my GSD (in which once again I struggled) I thought I had finally started to understand what to look for.

How wrong I was!

"How To Achieve Precision Tracking With Your Dog" by Kris Kotsopoulos has shown me the light! Being a Novice tracker I relied solely on trusting my dog, after reading Kris’ book I can now completely trust my dog and myself when preparing for the track and while on it. Not only is it a great book to better help you understand how to train your dog for spot on tracking but an all round guide to training your dog in any area including obedience and agility! I look forward to training and trialing this year and will have Kris’ book by my side to be read over and over again!"

Jess Holmes - Security Officer - Australia

This new and fresh approach to tracking training allows the handler to prove his dog in easy to understand methods.

A must have book for those into Search and Rescue tracking dogs as there are training methods that will assist your dog in becoming a better bush and street tracking dog.

Michael Margot
Team Leader
State Emergency Service Canine Unit
Western Australia

Kris,

I have finally had the chance to read your book after purchasing it early in the year. My employer and fellow trainers have all wanted to read the book first. As they were more involved with training their dogs for tracking I agreed.

After the first read through I am reading it the second time to soak up some more information. It is the best written book on dog training I have ever read. Not only the information on tracking but all the detailed, easy to read and understand information on training tools, techniques and animal behavior.

In my opinion as a novice in training compared to more experienced trainers it is a must to read. I strongly recommend that all trainers read this book. It will not only benefit the person wanting to compete in tracking but like me the K9 handler working in the security protection field and obedience training.

It is so difficult finding anyone with the skills to learn from but even more difficult to get them to pass these skills on. Here we have good basic easy to understand knowledge that will help you to get more out of your dog. In my case a break from just bite work and obedience training.

Thank you Kris for writing this book and being so free with your knowledge. I can’t wait to attend one of your seminars.

All the best and please keep on passing this information onto us.

Les Simpson - Security K9 Officer and dog trainer - Sydney Australia

Hi Kris,

Having just finished reading your book Precision Tracking, I thought I would take the time to tell you how much I enjoyed and learnt from  it.  The step by step instructions are fantastic for a beginner or a World Champion and the issues that you may already have in regards to tracking can be ironed out using your methods.  The clarity of the training is very clear and easy to understand, for both the handler and the dog.  The way you teach the article indication is truly the best way to teach your tracking dog.  

The introduction of the Remote Trainer is fantastic, I can attest to how well it works from your Remote Trainer Seminar that we did last year.  To teach  five exercises in one day was an eye opener for all.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in tracking of course, but also to anyone with an interest in  dog behaviour and how dogs learn.  The science behind the writing is spot on and the methods can and should be used in all areas of dog training.

Using these techniques in your book, I have seen improvement in my dogs all-round performances and as a Professional Dog Trainer, I have learnt new ways of doing things that bring more clarity to the dog and that results with a better bond and a better result at the end of the day.  

Brent Dry
Melbourne, Australia
www.thek9company.com.au

Testimonial by Dorothy A Cullum on “How to achieve Precision Tracking with your Dog”

The author has worked with dogs since 1981, at many levels with first time owners and with Law Enforcement handlers and competitors.

He has realised that not all animals are reliable if they are forced to track out of fear of correction; He encourages and uses other means to get dependable work with success. His approach to tracking and the success achieved by his methods is very impressive. 

He speaks of the importance of the scent pad, how to approach the laying of the track-and what one should be looking for from the dog when working. How one reads a dog and what one should look for is very important – also what the dog is trying to tell you.

All written in simple and understandable language even for a beginner- set in easy step-by-step chapters with pit falls also explained.

One feels success and believes one will succeed, something one does not often find many books which get too technical.

To observe and promote certain aspects so that the dog becomes reliable because no pressure has been placed on them to achieve successful track. The importance of reliability is referred to many times through out the book.

He explains in his experience how many handlers are not able to go and work as they are not confident and cannot rely on their dog to complete the track. Often because the dog is fearful of making mistakes because of other harsher means are used to teach or correct.

He explains how to introduce articles-eliminate your dog missing them-how to teach corners and to stop overshooting. One very important aspect is to how to keep control whilst tracking and slow an enthusiastic animal down without destroying its motivation

He sets food for thought for the handler, why did this happen what am I am doing wrong. He also explains he has been there and this was how he wrote the book because he wanted to have positive outcome.

The writer is also a good instructor who works his own dogs with excellent success.

There is a Glossary of terms explaining what is meant in the book. If I had gone looking for a book written purely about tracking one could possibly have found one or two in this category, but one need look no further when purchasing this book for it stands out on its own it is a must for the book shelf.

Excellent value for money and very well produced. Kris has written a book for any person to read and understand whether they are a beginner or experienced. Which has long been waited for. This is a book that both Trials and Schutzhund enthusiasts will find interesting.

Dorothy A Cullum 

Head trainer GSD League from UK (1995 to 1999)
Kennel Club Founder member of the Accredited Training Scheme.
News Editor of Dog Training Weekly 1993 to 1998.
Our Dogs Breed Correspondent.
Championship Obedience Judge/ Good Citizens Scheme Judg

I started doing dog tracking with my female Germen Shepherd dog in 2010. Initially I tried to find a dog trainer near me but I couldn’t find one.  

As I have no experience in dog tracking I decided to purchase a few good rated books from local and online bookshops and give it a go myself.  I thought by reading these books I could achieve a better understanding of how dogs track and how I can assist them.  However I was wrong.  Those books were over my top and I couldn’t even get started.  It took me almost 6 months to find someone from a dog obedience club to help me start tracking training with my dog. 

Recently I found Kris’ new tracking book “How to achieve precision tracking with your dog” and it totally opened my eyes. This book shows how to apply positive reinforcement to do the marker, tracking scent discrimination and E collar training with tracking.  Until now I have not seen any tracking books other then this book applying modem theories and technologies in dog tracking.  

One of the best things about this book is it provides readers step by step instructions in tracking methods and they are very easy to follow.  If I were to find this book 2 years earlier it would have saved me a lot of time training my dog.
I believe this book will help a lot of beginners like me training their dogs tracking as a hobby.  It will also help tracking dog trainers or people who are serious about tracking dog competitions to achieve their goals.  This is a book not to be missed!

Hong Lin

Hi Kris,

I have read your book twice.  I am blown away by the simplicity and logic of your method.  All the difficult areas of tracking are really anticipated and "cured" before they occur!  It even addresses one of the biggest tracking problems we have in the Southern U.S. - fire ants, which swarm on the food on the track, turning a reward into a punishment.  

Since the dog starts out tracking for articles - no ants, no bites, no problem! I also applaud your detailed explanation on how to introduce and train with a remote collar.  I know I need to use some sort of stim to get faster response and greater attention in other areas, but was not sure how one goes about educating the dog in the new communication system.  

In that vein, some of your most insightful words are found on pages 14 and 15.  When I reread them, I realized they are not only aimed at those of us who have preconceived ideas of how something should be done, but can just as easily apply to the canine/human communication.  Dogs who haven't been taught what the stim means and how the system works, cannot be expected to comply.  Upping the voltage in hopes of compliance is like speaking progressively louder English to  a non English speaker.  He may eventually stumble upon what you want, but chances are he would not respond correctly the next time he heard those words.  In short, he still didn't understand what you were saying.  Eventually learning will occur, but how much stress could have been avoided by an attempt to communicate better.

I suspect your book may be pooh poohed by many members of the schutzhund community - not because of the e collars, which they use (some heinously, some appropriately) - but because people don't realize the former system is flawed until they have problems and then it is blamed on the dog and force is introduced to "work through it."  If one  truly believes in positive training and back chaining etc., this system is a no brainer.  My husband is getting his own dog in coming months and we will definitely use this system from the beginning.

As for my dog, I actually performed your various tests to insure that she knows what she is tracking.  She is having some trouble with the hour old track, which I have been walking rather than scuffing.  She veers off occasionally, but comes right back.  I can tell she is working and she corrects herself.  I think  I let her build up steam before telling her to slow (handler error) and that is causing mistakes.  

With the weaker ground disturbance odor, she has got to work a bit harder. I am just so unused to speed being a problem with this dog.   I know we will get this, though.

Ps...Just got back from tracking an hour aged Sch 3 track - she nailed it even through puddles.  So much fun!

Thanks for your good work

Jay Tullis - Tyrone, GA USA

As I complete my second reading of this book I am reminded of the many reasons that I found it so helpful in the first place.  I am about to commence tracking training with my young dog and will incorporate the methods outlined so very clearly in each chapter of this book. 

I am a beginner at tracking competition/training and found helpful information throughout all chapters of the book. Of particular interest was Kris's comprehensive explanation of the use of the 'remote training' collar and I urge all training enthusiasts to read this section as it will dispel the many myths that accompany the use of this very powerful tool, not only in tracking but in all aspects of dog training. Whether you choose to incorporate this in your training schedule or not is an individual consideration however knowing the correct way to use will never be wasted knowledge

Early in his book Kris invites the reader to contact him with any queries about either the book or individual training problems. I accepted the invitation! Having gained our first two titles very quickly, I was bought back to earth quite soundly by failing my test for Tracking Champion more times that I am prepared to admit, so I contacted Kris via his e-mail address. 

He responded and was most generous in his help at both theoretical and practical levels. The result was that we achieved our 'Tracking Champion' two weeks later at the next tracking trial.

This book is economically priced and would be a wonderful addition to any dog trainers library"

Bobbee Terrill Melbourne Australia

I operate a business in Canada called Trackers Edge. Amongst other things, I evaluate products and services for potential clients. I am independent and do not advise the business or service I am evaluating of my intentions so as to be treated as a regular customer. I have acquired every noteworthy tracking book I have heard of. I am interested in tracking with and without a dog. 

I stumbled upon "How To Achieve Precision Tracking With Your Dog" while doing ongoing research on the internet. I had a gut feeling about this book which is written by Kris Kotsopoulos. I ordered it right away and was surprised at how fast it arrived from the other side of the world. I was not disappointed. The book is well organized and clear. It is an ideal training manual. Most books of this nature have a tendency to repeat what has been written before on the topic. 

This is not plagiarism, but rather due to the fact that most people do not think outside of the box. There are as many "experts" in this field as there are dogs. The refreshing thing about this book is that Kris has taken information gained by past research and assembled it in an orderly fashion that all can understand. Equally refreshing is the fact that Kris clearly states that there is more than one way to do things. He looks at the big picture and even has some noteworthy philosophical comments that are enlightening. His sections on clickers and electronic training collars are some of the clearest and best written chapters that I have read on the topics. 

You may not agree with everything in the book, but that is the whole point he makes. As opposed to forcing a set of rules down your throat he presents what he believes to be valid ideas with the hopes that you will use these ideas as you would any other tools, in the right way and under the right circumstances. There are many fine books out there on tracking by many fine people. This book is definitely on my top two list. I believe you should have an whole arsenal of training books. Read them all if you can as each has something to offer, but if you can only read a couple make this book one of them.

Kevin McCormick - Trackers Edge USA