When to do a blind track?

[ShatteringGlass]

How do you know, or usually how far along in training would you do a blind track (meaning a track laid by someone else and you do not know how it is laid).

I want to do one with Shane, my sister said she would lay it for me, but I want to make sure he is at the right point in his training. He has showed me that I need to trust him more, because the last track we did, I was sure I knew where the track went on the last leg, but Shane went a different way, I thought he was wrong but he made me eat my words when he found the article!

[Samba]

I went to class and they had us doing this fairly soon. It sounds like Shane could do this. Hopefully your sister is a good tracklayer!
She should go along with you on the track in case you run into difficulty, she can advise where the track is, goes, etc.

I never ran a blind track without the tracklayer along to help me , if needed, until the day of the trial. I wouldn't run a track that I couldn't find out all about in case of difficulty.

[ShatteringGlass]

I think he can do it, too. I think I just worry too much that if I do something too fast too soon, I'll ruin him! LOL

I'll have to give my sister a whole lesson on tracklaying before we even head out to the field, she has no idea about anything tracking related, she took pictures for me once and that was the extent of her tracking experience haha!

[kearanentalo]

A blind track is not so much for the dog as it is for you as a handler. The dog is never blind, WE are!

What I have found has helped me over and over all my years of tracking is the fact that I did "man tracking" in search and rescue and learned how to read tracking "sign". I can almost always see where the track is ahead of my dog. Man tracking is where people follow the steps without a dog. I have found this skill invaluable to tracking with my dog. Searchers will tell you too, that the most valuable team is a dog and handler where the handler has done man tracking. Now you have the dog's nose and the handler's eyes.

But, yes, have your track layer accompany you several steps behind and have them keep quiet while you and the dog work out the problem. If you get really stuck, ask for help from the track layer. Be sure that the tracklayer is also making a map and that you practice mapping regularly and keep track in a journal.

Are you doing SAR, AKC or SV tracking or something else? The styles are enormously different.

[Samba]

Yes, well like any training..start by breaking down the exercise, have her lay simple track and first and give her lots of positive reinforcement! She will be a tracklayer in no time!

Running a blind track will help you learn to read your dog. Be sure you are calm and patient and watch him for signs of loss of scent, note what he does. It will build your confidence. I don't do a lot of these... just enough to get me feeling okay about test day. It is not necessary for your dog to do them, I don't think. I had to track alone for a long time and my dog still followed a stranger laid track but I did make an effort for her to get some practice at that.

You can mess him up with second guessing him, putting pressure on him or expressing some dissatisfaction with his work. Don't do those things. If he is motivated to find the article, he will do his best. If his best doesn't get the job done that day then make a plan for the next time.

If I remember, you had him up to some pretty long tracks. I wouldn't do that often. Put in a simple short track often enough to keep him thinking that he is "da man" about tracking and
have him stay very confident in his ability. I rely on those things in my dog a lot more than proofing her on tracks near regulation length. I also vary that reward at the end. I love the look of surprise at articles...."what??? they serve that in this field??!! wow!"

My TDX class starts next week... on the opening of deer season!! I am investing in orange. Wish us luck!

[ShatteringGlass]

Thanks, he loooooooves tracking, he's never given up and he's never really run into any problems.....yet! (knock on wood). He's come along way in ignoring tempting things on the track such as poo from deer, bunnies, and coyotes.

I use multiple articles on the track since we do a lot of long tracks. He stays motivated the whole time. I am really thinking he can get certified to enter a tracking test where he is at now, but I dont want to rush, either.

He is a real NATURAL at tracking! I didnt even have to use food on the track at all when we started.

[Samba]

Sounds like he is doing well! You guys will get that TD! You don't want to rush it but he may be ready soon. Maybe tracking tests in spring?

My friend certified her dog at 4 months and had to await the 6 month birthday. Some dogs are mature enough for a TD early on.

How old is your oldest track? What sort of cover have you exposed him to?

[elisabeth_00117]

Kelly,

I just did our first blind track last weekend. I had a friend of mine lay the track and it worked out great.

Trust Shane and trust your training.

I know you guys can do it!

[ShatteringGlass]

Samba, I was aiming for certification around spring. He is still a very silly boy and gets distracted sometimes, so I am really working on getting him to "leave it" and focus on the track. He has shown TONS of improvement in this area, though. He has ignored birds, deer poop, coyote poop, but he does have his days where his puppyness gets the best of him!

The oldest track he has done is 45 minutes old, I started increasing age slowly, but now I really dont think aging the track makes it anymore difficult for him, he hasnt shown me any signs that he is having trouble with the aging.

We've done lots of different covering, short freshly mowed grass, 3 foot tall THICK wet grass, dry hay fields, dirt, through piles of leaves, mud, water puddles, weeds...I've also tracked him in the rain, and he has done a short amount of pavement. I've also had cross tracks, whether I intended on it or not! Because Ive had people and dogs walk all over my tracks while im sitting by may car waiting for it to age! I also tracked him in a public park that has tons of traffic in the day.

Elizabeth, Shane did his first blind track this past weekend, he did really well! My sister laid it for me, he didnt show any signs he was having difficulties, he took the turns right on.....it's all me, I have trust issues! haha

[elisabeth_00117]

That's great to hear Kelly!

These boys of ours are something special, aren't they?

I am so excited to see what they have in store for us!

I will have to get a video or photo's of Stark tracking (and some obedience) as I have been watching yours with Shane.

Too bad you are so far away, I would love to train with you and Shane! You seem to have the same ideas for Shane that I do with Stark.