Tracking Session

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Hi! Very new to this area of the board. I am going to take 1 tracking lesson with Rocco. He's about 6 months old and can find a poop anywhere...

He also seems to like to spend a lot of time when we are out with his nose down, so instead of constantly tamping what seems to be something he likes I figured I'd see what he would do in a training session. I have no idea if he has talent, or is just looking for food.

We are just going to do 1 session at this point for fun (I can take the fun out of anything if I go into it thinking this is something we need to do just right, so I am starting out thinking "eh" instead). AKC style I believe. The person we are seeing can do both.

Any suggestions for us? Thanks!

[elisabeth_00117]

Have fun!

It's addicting, let me tell you!

Stark and I just started a few months ago and we are both enjoying it so much! He is a nose to the ground all the time kinda guy as well which is what got me thinking about Tracking.

Have a great time!

[Samba]

Oh, you may really like it! It is not something you have so much control over like obedience. It is up to you to create tracks that give the dog little "lessons", scent pictures. I work on components rather than lots of long tracks. Over time your dog learns what scent does in different scenarios and they get quite a box full of problem solving abilities under their belt. Make it fun, find the dog's motivation.
I really like the activity. So relaxing to be out enjoying the natural world with a dog.

[ShatteringGlass]

It's fun and addicting! Once you see your dog work and use his natural scenting skills, its amazing to watch and be a part of. I've been tracking with Shane for around 3 months now and he is progressing very nicely.

[Samba]

Now, you will need to take a camera person along so you can begin to chronicle our pup's tracking career! Take a hungry puppy and a toy if he likes something special.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Thank you! I fed him half a cup for breakfast early this am so that should do it for him being hungry (and he seems to like food). I wonder if I can take pictures while he's tracking myself-I will try!

This is going to be different-I have no idea how it works or why a dog would do it (I guess initially the food huh?) but it seems neat. What you are saying about the scent pictures is so interesting. And I like the not in control aspect...I get tired of control!

Great, another addiction! Pretty soon I'll be all addiction and no person.

[Kayos and Havoc]

Originally Posted By: JeanKBBMMMAANGreat, another addiction! Pretty soon I'll be all addiction and no person.

Too funny!!


How did he do???

[Barb E]

I can't wait to hear about it.

I wish I could find someone local that I could train with 1 on 1 for tracking with Dante

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Kathy-first I want to say how glad I am to see you posting from "over there." I am sure that there are many who just feel better seeing you here on this board.

And thanks for asking both of you.

It was REALLY interesting. She uses food. She does both AKC and Schutzhund but we are going to do the AKC type. I got to see her dog (bi-color beauty) do a really long Schutzhund track. I got to be a distraction, then at the end Rocco and I got to be the distraction and Rocco did REALLY well with the big dog coming toward him (we have issues) so double yay.

We did tracking circles-about 9 of those I think. She kept going with him beyond (I say with as much pride as if I had given birth to him) what she normally does because he was so into it. She even did the track between the two circles and he followed it.

The neat thing was you could hear him sniffing-and granted it was for food (and I am not clear on how long it takes before you stop using food) but he sounded like a little piggy. He was REALLY working hard and he loved it.

Uh oh...I am thinking we like it.

I even left him alone in the car while I watched her dog-first time not in a crate-and he just slept from all that work. But before we left the field we were at, he was trying to get back into the circles.

So it was cool. Barb, is there anyone on the board who migt know? You guys would love it and it wasn't super tiring for me. I was lucky-I know her from volunteering with rescue.

I am going to post the rest of the pics on his Leetle Friends thread in pictures but here's one:

[Castlemaid]

That is just awesome Jean!!! I agree with the instructor that Rocco is a natural, with lots of tracking drive. His ability to stay focused for so long on something new says a lot about him.

You will just HAVE to do this regularly and bring out all this talent in him!!

Sounds like he is good enough to earn titles: mixed breeds can earn tracking titles in Schutzhund (hint, hint!).

Though I hear that AKC will be opening the opportunity for activity trials to mixed breeds, but I don't know when that might happen.