How many times can I use the same area??

LHunter82FXRS · 03-11-2009, 07:56 AM

Hello,
I have read through a lot of posts, and decided to try tracking with Chico. As of now, it is just me and him, because the only class in tracking offered is on Saturdays, and with my daughters activities the scheduling doesn't quite work.
Anyway, there is a park very close to us where we have been going to track. My question is how many times can we go there before our "scent" is all over the place? I always chose a different area to set up the tracks in, but also when we are done, I let Chico run around and play. With us walking around will it confuse him if the next day I set up a track where he was previously? Right now we usually track on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and sometimes Saturday or Sunday. Also, it rained 1/2 inch over the night, did that wash away any scent we might have left on Monday? Thanks!

**DFrost** · 03-11-2009, 10:40 AM

To avoid confusing a dog that is in the relatively early stages of training, you should avoid cross-contamination by the track layer. Other scents are ok and should become just background. It teaches the dog to discriminate and stay on the scent he is supposed to be tracking. If that scent is present and goes in different directions, it can be very confusing for the dog. It is best to wait at least 72 hours (with a new dog), before using the same area. Watching your wind directions though you can lay a track parallel with an old track, at a distance greater than you dog would scan off the new track (make sense?). Just make sure your new track is up wind of the old one.

DFrost

Catu · 03-11-2009, 10:41 AM

I think a dog nose can recognize the fresh scent of the track versus the old scent of the playing the previous day at least a more experienced one, but if I'm working usually in the same place I let some days between one track to the other mainly because the dog (at least mine) never eats all the food (I use a lot of food to reinforce a calm slower tracking because I do SchH style) so I wait those few days to give time to the stray dogs, birds, mices, etc. to eat wathever was left behind.

**Amaruq** · 03-11-2009, 12:12 PM

I agree with the others about waiting several days between tracks. Another option is using that area JUST for tracking and take him somewhere else to play.

LHunter82FXRS · 03-11-2009, 12:34 PM

Thanks for all the replies! I'll start waiting about three days between tracks at that location. There is another area where we could go, it's just that one is nice because we can walk there.
Thanks again

03-11-2009, 07:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
LHunter82FXRS Master Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 950	How many times can I use the same area?? Hello, I have read through a lot of posts, and decided to try tracking with Chico. As of now, it is just me and him, because the only class in tracking offered is on Saturdays, and with my daughters activities the scheduling doesn't quite work. Anyway, there is a park very close to us where we have been going to track. My question is how many times can we go there before our "scent" is all over the place? I always chose a different area to set up the tracks in, but also when we are done, I let Chico run around and play. With us walking around will it confuse him if the next day I set up a track where he was previously? Right now we usually track on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and sometimes Saturday or Sunday. Also, it rained 1/2 inch over the night, did that wash away any scent we might have left on Monday? Thanks! __________________ Chico-GSD-10/13/2007

03-11-2009, 10:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
DFrost Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Tn Posts: 779	Re: How many times can I use the same area?? To avoid confusing a dog that is in the relatively early stages of training, you should avoid cross-contamination by the track layer. Other scents are ok and should become just background. It teaches the dog to discriminate and stay on the scent he is supposed to be tracking. If that scent is present and goes in different directions, it can be very confusing for the dog. It is best to wait at least 72 hours (with a new dog), before using the same area. Watching your wind directions though you can lay a track parallel with an old track, at a distance greater than you dog would scan off the new track (make sense?). Just make sure your new track is up wind of the old one. DFrost __________________ Any behavior that is reinforced is more likely to occur again. DFrost

03-11-2009, 10:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Catu Crowned Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Valdivia, Chile Posts: 4,276	Re: How many times can I use the same area?? I think a dog nose can recognize the fresh scent of the track versus the old scent of the playing the previous day at least a more experienced one, but if I'm working usually in the same place I let some days between one track to the other mainly because the dog (at least mine) never eats all the food (I use a lot of food to reinforce a calm slower tracking because I do SchH style) so I wait those few days to give time to the stray dogs, birds, mices, etc. to eat wathever was left behind. __________________ "The dog does not need to be deranked so much as the people need to learn to act like people worth listening to" Suzanne Clothier. Diabla, my Daemon; SchH A, RH-T A Akela, my Direwolf; Work in Progress Bagheera, Long term puppy host

03-11-2009, 12:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Amaruq Moderator who has gone to the dogs Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Where I don't wanna be-NW PA Posts: 14,645	Re: How many times can I use the same area?? I agree with the others about waiting several days between tracks. Another option is using that area JUST for tracking and take him somewhere else to play. __________________ Ruq Paq Lakota, Chimo, Tika, Rayne, Kanuck, Jethro and Keyzah My Angels forever in my heart and watching over us: Phoenix 9/07 Kaylee Cheyenne 5/09

03-11-2009, 12:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
LHunter82FXRS Master Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 950	Re: How many times can I use the same area?? Thanks for all the replies! I'll start waiting about three days between tracks at that location. There is another area where we could go, it's just that one is nice because we can walk there. Thanks again __________________ Chico-GSD-10/13/2007

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