Book Review: Tracking Training for All Dogs
- K9Force WDC
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
by Alfred De Witte
It’s a bitterly cold November morning, with rain pouring down and wind howling through the countryside. I find myself shivering on a narrow country road somewhere in Germany, watching a distant figure trudge through a muddy field. A Border Terrier, nose close to the ground, moves methodically ahead on a 10-meter leash.
Tracking-only contests are popular in Europe, with the pinnacle competition being the FH (Fährtenhundeprüfung)—two tracks over two days, each stretching 1,800 paces and laid three hours earlier. Inspired by the FH tracking article I wrote for the October 2023 issue of K9Force Magazine, I wanted to see firsthand how dogs excel in such demanding competitions. So, a month later, I found myself at the German FH Championship for Terriers. Eighteen terriers and their handlers were competing in one of the toughest tracking tests. To my surprise, I seemed more bothered by the weather than the dogs out on the tracking fields.
The distant figure was Ute Fallscheer. She and her three-year-old dog, Moonlight Angels Rashu (Nico), scored an impressive 93 points that day. Ute is well known in the German tracking community, having successfully competed in multiple FH competitions each year for over 25 years. She is even better known as the author of Fährtenarbeit Trainingsbuch, an authoritative book on IGP tracking.
I met Ute later in the clubhouse. She mentioned that she was working on an English translation of her book and asked if I could help with some of the tracking terminology—German tracking terms don’t always translate easily into English. Of course, I was more than happy to assist.
The English translation is now available in Canada under the title Tracking Training for All Dogs. It is by far the best and most comprehensive tracking book I have come across—well-written, easy to read, and richly filled with illustrations. Ute shares her vast experience across 200 pages, offering invaluable guidance for dog handlers at all skill levels.
Ute’s training methodology fully aligns with how we teach tracking at K9Force, and serves as an excellent step-by-step guide for those learning to track. For someone like me, with a handful of tracking tests under my belt, the book offers valuable insights into various conditions and challenges, helping me trial-proof my Airedale, Hanzo. That way, I can hopefully avoid saying, like so many do after a trial “Well, my dog never did that before.” For those pursuing advanced titles like FH, the book explains how to train dogs for complex elements, such as semicircles and crossing surfaced roads. It also includes a troubleshooting chapter, where Ute outlines common tracking issues and their possible training solutions.
Ute’s book is a must-have for those seeking to perfect their dog’s tracking.
Tracking Training for All Dogs is available on Amazon Canada.
K9Force (2025, April). Book Review: Tracking Training for All Dogs K9Force April 2025
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