Tracking Workshop

Caledon · 10-05-2010, 01:07 PM

This weekend my DH and I, and Dakota are going to a tracking workshop. Always wanted to try this and after talking to a tracking judge and the GSD Show in Kitchener a few weeks ago I'm gving it a try.

I can't remember her name, but this judge was so excited about tracking that she got me excited about it too. The one thing she said that stuck with me is that with obedience work you are the teacher and you teach your dog, but with tracking you learn from your dog. She also said the connection and bonding with your dog is amazing.

Going to give it a try. Friday night is a theory lecutre and Saturday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm is the field work.

I already play "find it" with Dakota so hopefully we all will catch on quckly and become hooked.

And this will be the first time in 2 years that my DH showed any interest in dog activities, besides hiking.

Can anyone recommend a good book?

Kayos and Havoc · 10-06-2010, 04:02 PM

I could recommend many!!! I love to track.

"Enthusiastic Tracking" Sil Sanders.
"Tracking from the Ground Up" Sandy Ganz
"Novice Nosework" Ed Presnall
"The Audible Nose" (can't remember author see Ed Presnall's website)

Ed Presnall's website:

www.pawmark.com

This is also where I get my tracking harnesses and lines.

HAVE FUN!!!!

Stosh · 10-06-2010, 04:22 PM

I would love to do this too, but don't know where I can in this area. Does anyone know?

elisabeth_00117 · 10-06-2010, 04:42 PM

Where is the workshop located?

I haven't heard anything at the club I belong to about it.

I would love to go this weekend AND I have it off so I can actually go!

I've been tracking with Stark since he was 10 weeks old (schutzhund style tracking) and he is a natural. Really nice deep nose, calm yet methotical (sp?), his drives really become apparent when tracking and I like the fact that he enjoys it so much. Gives me a high and a satisfied smirk every time he indicates an article or takes the corner.

Anyways, I would LOVE to go too, just need more information please!

Kayos and Havoc · 10-06-2010, 04:55 PM

Stosh check out the Tyler Obedience Club, I don't know if they track or not but I have been down there for obedience trials, they may have a website if you google them.

ShenzisMom · 10-06-2010, 05:08 PM

I'm down with strep throat, otherwise I would be ALL OVER this workshop. I second the question, where is it located?
I'll just wear a mask and a sign 'STREP THOAT KEEP AWAY 10 METRES'
no? that won't work?
ok, next time

Caledon · 10-07-2010, 10:59 AM

Elisabeth I sent you a pm

Deathmetal it is offered in Guelph. Send me a pm if you want more details.

ShenzisMom · 10-07-2010, 11:11 AM

Caledon I would love to go, maybe next time though. I've never had strep before and am taking it like a baby!

Caledon · 10-11-2010, 10:21 AM

Well, that was fun. I think I will get into tracking.

This workshop was just an introduction and for beginners. We each set a small track. It was interesting to see how quickly some dogs got it, and others needed more coaching, but they all got through the track.

She touched on both types of tracking.

The SAR was fun. One handler held the dog while the other one ran off. While the person was running off we had to get the dog excited. My husband ran off while I reved up Dakota. I've never seen her like that before. She was barking and whining. By the time I released her and told her to find she was so pumped. My DH hid very well (a little too hard for our level) and I could see her using her nose to locate him.

She also did a demostration with her tracking dog. Since her dog never met my husband she selected him to hide. We were in an old paintball field so there was a great spot for him to hide in. The dog sniffed his vest and off he went. It was amazing to watch. The dog picked up the fresh scent and off he went with the handler following him. Once the dog found him he came back to her, signaled to her that she found him and then led her to him.

I loved watching this dog working.

When we got back to the training facility we then worked with baiting cones and having the dog find it the baited one. Dakota got it very quickly and we moved on to her finding my scent. I was given a post it note and the instructor posted several of hers on a wall. Dakota was to touch the one I had touched. She did it but not consistenly. So this is our homework.

And, Saturday was a perfect fall day.

10-05-2010, 01:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Caledon Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,787	Tracking Workshop This weekend my DH and I, and Dakota are going to a tracking workshop. Always wanted to try this and after talking to a tracking judge and the GSD Show in Kitchener a few weeks ago I'm gving it a try. I can't remember her name, but this judge was so excited about tracking that she got me excited about it too. The one thing she said that stuck with me is that with obedience work you are the teacher and you teach your dog, but with tracking you learn from your dog. She also said the connection and bonding with your dog is amazing. Going to give it a try. Friday night is a theory lecutre and Saturday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm is the field work. I already play "find it" with Dakota so hopefully we all will catch on quckly and become hooked. And this will be the first time in 2 years that my DH showed any interest in dog activities, besides hiking. Can anyone recommend a good book?

10-06-2010, 04:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kayos and Havoc Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: McAlester, OK Posts: 16,921	I could recommend many!!! I love to track. "Enthusiastic Tracking" Sil Sanders. "Tracking from the Ground Up" Sandy Ganz "Novice Nosework" Ed Presnall "The Audible Nose" (can't remember author see Ed Presnall's website) Ed Presnall's website: www.pawmark.com This is also where I get my tracking harnesses and lines. HAVE FUN!!!! __________________ Kathy The Wrecking Crew URO3, UCD "Kayos" CD,TDX,RE,CGC,HIC,TC URO1, UCD "Havoc" CDX,GN,RE,CGC,HIC,TC,BH At the Bridge: Lucky, Wolf, Max Gone but never forgotten

10-06-2010, 04:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
elisabeth_00117 Crowned Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 7,252	Where is the workshop located? I haven't heard anything at the club I belong to about it. I would love to go this weekend AND I have it off so I can actually go! I've been tracking with Stark since he was 10 weeks old (schutzhund style tracking) and he is a natural. Really nice deep nose, calm yet methotical (sp?), his drives really become apparent when tracking and I like the fact that he enjoys it so much. Gives me a high and a satisfied smirk every time he indicates an article or takes the corner. Anyways, I would LOVE to go too, just need more information please! __________________ Battleborn Hundesport Wild Winds Archangel Raphael "Stark", HIC (2009-04-10) Wild Winds Zephyr "Zefra" (2011-04-15) *Beau* 03/08/97 to 06/07/10

10-06-2010, 04:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kayos and Havoc Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: McAlester, OK Posts: 16,921	Stosh check out the Tyler Obedience Club, I don't know if they track or not but I have been down there for obedience trials, they may have a website if you google them. __________________ Kathy The Wrecking Crew URO3, UCD "Kayos" CD,TDX,RE,CGC,HIC,TC URO1, UCD "Havoc" CDX,GN,RE,CGC,HIC,TC,BH At the Bridge: Lucky, Wolf, Max Gone but never forgotten

10-06-2010, 04:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Stosh Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: tyler texas Posts: 8,434	I would love to do this too, but don't know where I can in this area. Does anyone know?

10-06-2010, 05:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
ShenzisMom Master Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Brampton, ON Posts: 839	I'm down with strep throat, otherwise I would be ALL OVER this workshop. I second the question, where is it located? I'll just wear a mask and a sign 'STREP THOAT KEEP AWAY 10 METRES' no? that won't work? ok, next time

10-07-2010, 10:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
Caledon Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,787	Elisabeth I sent you a pm Deathmetal it is offered in Guelph. Send me a pm if you want more details.

10-07-2010, 11:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
ShenzisMom Master Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Brampton, ON Posts: 839	Caledon I would love to go, maybe next time though. I've never had strep before and am taking it like a baby!

10-11-2010, 10:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
Caledon Elite Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 1,787	Well, that was fun. I think I will get into tracking. This workshop was just an introduction and for beginners. We each set a small track. It was interesting to see how quickly some dogs got it, and others needed more coaching, but they all got through the track. She touched on both types of tracking. The SAR was fun. One handler held the dog while the other one ran off. While the person was running off we had to get the dog excited. My husband ran off while I reved up Dakota. I've never seen her like that before. She was barking and whining. By the time I released her and told her to find she was so pumped. My DH hid very well (a little too hard for our level) and I could see her using her nose to locate him. She also did a demostration with her tracking dog. Since her dog never met my husband she selected him to hide. We were in an old paintball field so there was a great spot for him to hide in. The dog sniffed his vest and off he went. It was amazing to watch. The dog picked up the fresh scent and off he went with the handler following him. Once the dog found him he came back to her, signaled to her that she found him and then led her to him. I loved watching this dog working. When we got back to the training facility we then worked with baiting cones and having the dog find it the baited one. Dakota got it very quickly and we moved on to her finding my scent. I was given a post it note and the instructor posted several of hers on a wall. Dakota was to touch the one I had touched. She did it but not consistenly. So this is our homework. And, Saturday was a perfect fall day.

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