Jälgivaid

Jälgivaid is an Estonian term used to describe individuals or animals that are capable of following a scent trail, most often applied to dogs trained for trailing. The word stems from the Estonian verb jälgima, meaning to track or follow, with a suffix that forms an adjective describing capability or activity. In practice, jälgivaid refers to working trackers in various fields rather than a fixed breed or species.

Common contexts for jälgivaid include hunting and game tracking, search-and-rescue missions, and forensic or scent-detection work. It is also used in trailing sports and competitions where dogs demonstrate their ability to follow a specific scent through a course or over terrain. The term can describe both working dogs and other trackers that rely on olfactory cues to locate a person, animal, or object.

Abilities and training are central to the concept. Trailing relies on a highly developed sense of smell, endurance, and sustained concentration. Training typically starts with simple trails and gradually introduces longer, more complex routes, decoy scents, and scent discrimination tasks to ensure the tracker can focus on a target scent amid distractions. Welfare considerations, proper handling, and humane training practices are emphasized in professional settings.

See also: scent tracking, tracking dogs, search and rescue, trailing sports.