Tracking with a walking cast?

[Liesje]

Long story, but I have a huge walking cast on my right foot/leg, not sure how long. Should I still track with this and my regular boot on my left foot, or let someone else lay the track so the "smells" are the same?

[onyx'girl]

Try it yourself first and see how it goes. If not, then let someone else do it.
Wow, what a drag for you, I hope your recovery goes smoothly.

[bergwanderkennels]

wear a plastic bag of course on that foot but maybe if you can wear it around the house a bit to get it nice and smelly then it should work for you to lay your own track. Your dead skin cells are going to be on the cast itself anyway.

especially because the "cast mittle" material is porous and will absorb you smells better.

[littledmc17]

hope you get better soon Lies!!

[Liesje]

Thanks guys, unfortunately this will not ever be "better" (I've had this problem for 5 years), but I need to get it under control again.

Suzi, the cast is a walking cast so it's like rubber, metal, neoprene (I think). I don't have to cover it but not sure if having two different "boots" is too confusing for the dog or will have him track up one side?

this is it

[khawk]

I do my track training with my pups out of a wheelchair, and they do very well. I figure if they can manage that, your pup ought to be able to manage a walking cast. Dogs' noses are so great anyway, I always figure the more different things you can throw at them in training, the better they will be able to handle real world problems when they need to. Let's face it, when they're looking for someone lost or strayed livestock or whatever, it's just as likely to be raining or windy or something as it is to be nice and clear with a damp surface to hold the scent. Dogs' need a little adversity in training now and then to get the idea that you don't quit just because it isn't easy any more. Good luck, and more power to you not letting the cast stop you. khawk

[G-burg]

Lies~

A very good friend of mine was in a boot like that for months and she still tracked her dog.. Don't recall the dog having any issues.. [heck], she even trialed her dog for his SchH 2!!

[Castlemaid]

I don't think it would be a problem. Your scent gets spread out around the track. What the dogs actually track when they go foot-step to foot-step is the scent of disturbed soil and vegetation, with the lingering smell of Lies around that area to let them know they are still following the same track they started on.

That is why, for example, young or inexperienced dogs may make the mistake of going off the layed track, and following truck ruts of a truck that has driven through the day before - very strong smell of squashed grass to follow. .

Sorry to hear about your cast - hope you heal up good and strong!

[G-burg]

Quote: What the dogs actually track when they go foot-step to foot-step is the scent of disturbed soil and vegetation,

Exactly Lucia!!!