I'm not a proffesional by any stretch of the imanination but one thing I have learned is get the book and when you start laying trails for training watch your dogs reactions and learn how he runs a trail. That way when your out on a bonfide trail for yourself or someone else you'll know what the dog is doing and not be persuaded into making the dog go where you or someone else thinks he should be going. You have to believe in the dog, after all if you could smell what he does he wouldn't be needed in the first place. When you put the dog down you have to know that he's on the trail of a wounded animal, if not you both need more training and practice. It's better explained in the book, that's why that guy writes books and I'm just another redneck from Texas.