Tracking vs. Nosework?

[Chicagocanine]

Hey I was wondering if taking a K9 Nosework class would potentially mess up a dog's training for tracking? Bianca had some training in tracking/narcotics in her previous home and I would like to do more tracking with her but can't find any classes nearby. There are some K9 Nosework classes and I thought she would enjoy that too, but I don't want to confuse her or teach her bad habits for when we eventually go back to tracking?

[sit,stay]

I am not expert, not even close! But if I remember correctly, Bianca's tracking experience/training has been in the schutzhund style, where the nose stays down and on the track all the time. Air scenting is not allowed in schutzhund style tracking.

I would make sure that air scenting isn't allowed or taught in the nosework class, so if/when you go back to schutzhund tracking she isn't needing to unlearn that behavior.

Have you contacted your local schutzhund club? I wasn't interested in doing protection work with Tanner (he just doesn't have the nerve for it), but our local club was more than okay with us just doing obedience and tracking. Maybe you could just do tracking with your local club?
Sheilah

[Chris Wild]

Dogs can learn different forms of scent work; tracking and detection, tracking and trailing, etc...

Whether or not one will carry over into, or mess up the other, is mainly a factor of training and handling. Use different commands and make clear to the dog what the expectations are in each venue. In other words, don't use the same sort of "find it" or "track" command for a track and a trail, or an article indication on a track and a indication for detection work, etc... Beyond that, the dog will pick up different situational cues, the use of different equipment, and such which will help communicate to the dog which form of work is desired at any given time.

So long as there is clear communication on what is desired and the handler doesn't muddy the waters and confuse the dog, dogs are perfectly capable of learning different types of scent work and doing each very well.

[GSDElsa]

I agree with Chris. Elsa is now at the point where she's looking for people in hiding for SAR training. She doesn't get that command and her command I give her when we're doing "article detection" (aka looking for specific toys). I've never told her to "sook" and had her come back with a tennis ball in the yard and I've never told her "where is it" and had her go find my husband in another room.

You'll just have to make sure there is a clear distinction between the two.

But I'm not really familiar with how the Nosework classes work and what method they are utilizing.

[lhczth]

Also agree with Chris. It may add some new challenges to the SchH training, but I have found that other types of scent work are beneficial in the long run.

[Chicagocanine]

Originally Posted by sit,stay

Have you contacted your local schutzhund club? I wasn't interested in doing protection work with Tanner (he just doesn't have the nerve for it), but our local club was more than okay with us just doing obedience and tracking. Maybe you could just do tracking with your local club?
Sheilah

Yes her previous training was in Schutzhund style.
I did contact a Schutzhund club and asked about just doing the tracking/ obedience. They said they train in all 3 disciplines and do not give lessons in just tracking and it's only for members, and that I should find a tracking club instead (which I'd already tried...) I didn't mention her previous training though.
So, if I do more with tracking I will probably have to switch to AKC style anyway since we can't go with a Schutzhund club.

[sit,stay]

Originally Posted by Chris Wild

Dogs can learn different forms of scent work; tracking and detection, tracking and trailing, etc...

See, I learn something new every day! It makes sense, especially after thinking of other instances where a dog can perceive a change of intent/expectation (for lack of a better way to phrase it).

Chicago, good luck with Bianca and whatever style of tracking you end up doing. I was warned how addictive it was, but I had no idea how true that warning was until we started.
Sheilah

[FredD]

Originally Posted by Chris Wild

Dogs can learn different forms of scent work; tracking and detection, tracking and trailing, etc...

Whether or not one will carry over into, or mess up the other, is mainly a factor of training and handling. Use different commands and make clear to the dog what the expectations are in each venue. In other words, don't use the same sort of "find it" or "track" command for a track and a trail, or an article indication on a track and a indication for detection work, etc... Beyond that, the dog will pick up different situational cues, the use of different equipment, and such which will help communicate to the dog which form of work is desired at any given time.

So long as there is clear communication on what is desired and the handler doesn't muddy the waters and confuse the dog, dogs are perfectly capable of learning different types of scent work and doing each very well.

[cassadee7]

Are there specific, different commands for finding and article vs. finding a person?

[GSDElsa]

Originally Posted by cassadee7

Are there specific, different commands for finding and article vs. finding a person?

Mmmm. Sort of depending on what you're doing. If you're doing SchH tracking and SAR, you would need different commands since it's a totally different kind scenting. But if you're just looking for "human scent" it should be the same so your dog can find a "clue" (ie torn shirt) if that's all that is there, or a person.