Using Lokate for Trailing/Tracking Training
Recording the Hider’s Track
For any trailing or tracking problem, the starting point is an accurate record of the hider’s route. The hider walks a planned course while recording their path with Lokate or any reliable GPS app. This track acts as the reference for the K9 team’s assignment and provides an objective baseline to compare the actual run against. Recording the hider’s path is essential for both in-field guidance and meaningful post-exercise review.
Uploading GPX Tracks (Lokate 3.2 or higher)
Lokate supports direct import of GPX files. Handlers can upload any recorded track and save it as a map item. This imported track can then be designated as a hider track in the Map Items settings. To help visualize the assignment, handlers can adjust the Guidance Track’s color and choose whether the Guidance Track is visible during the live run. Keeping the track visible or hidden allows different training approaches, depending on whether real-time feedback is desired.
Understanding and Using the Track Guidance Function
Lokate’s Track Guidance function adds context by identifying likely scent pools along the hider’s route. These are areas where scent may accumulate or linger due to the hider pausing or slowing down. This feature relies on two adjustable parameters found in the app’s preference settings:
Dwell Time: Sets how long the hider must remain in one spot to create a scent pool.
Pool Size: Defines the maximum area that counts as a valid scent pool.
Fine-tuning these parameters helps handlers interpret how environmental factors and hider behavior may affect scent distribution and the dog’s working pattern.
Generating Trailing Reports
After the training, Lokate automatically produces a trailing report. This report measures how closely the dog’s actual track followed the planned route, calculating both minimum and average deviation. By default, this comparison uses the handler’s GPS log, but if the dog carries its own GPS device, that data can be used instead for greater accuracy. Reviewing these reports helps teams identify strengths and pinpoint areas for improvement in scent handling, reading the dog, and navigating terrain.