Getting started in tracking

[DeltaAlpha]

I have a 5 months old GSD puppy which is very much a joy in our life. Ever since she became a member of our family at 3 months old, I’ve noticed she always like to sniff around. (Probably just a dog thing). She’s been very easy to teach new commands so I figured I would teach her “Find it”. I started with just having her find the ball which went very easy when she should actually see it. Then I moved on to my stocking cap, which she can find up high, buried in the couch, or basically wherever in our house. (It’s pretty cold outside). Now, I take some cloves and wrap them in a coffee filter, and I swear she can find that thing anywhere, I could probably burry it and she could find it.

I like to take walks in nature areas around town and I can tell her “Look there” then point and she’ll go sniffing around in dry creek beds, under bridges, around trash cans, beaver dams (basically anything I point at).

I have a few questions for the dog experts out there:

Do you think my puppy may be exhibiting a special talent or are these skills easy to train most puppies?

Do you have any good book suggestions? (I read “Track it”, and it seemed pretty dated. Using flags and measures seems antiquated with available GPS technology and range finders). If the tools seem dated in the book, maybe their methodology is too?

Are there any other titles besides TD and TDX we can work towards?

Thanks for your time,
Jay

[poohbearsdad]

Jay

Sounds like your pup has a thing for sniffing things out. A book I've used is Sil Sanders' book "Enthusiastic Tracking". Very good book and I got to meet the author to boot.

There are also urban tracking titles as well, better known as VST in the states. There is also search and rescue stuff you might want to look into, as well as Nosework.

Good luck.

[Hunther's Dad]

Check out Steve White's website: i2i K9 Home

I have used Steve White's HITT method (Hydration Intensified Tracking Training) and love it. Just the fact that I can train on asphalt increases the number of places I can practice. In the San Francisco Bay Area, open fields whose owners will let you use them are few and far between.

[W.Oliver]

My life is populated with alot of golfers who always want to explain to me why I should golf. After the business aspects, which I cannot dispute, they always tell me about the outdoors, beautiful scenery, excellent walking exercise....and my response is always the same....lose the clubs, insert a tracking dog at the end of a long line, and I am happy...thank you very much.

For me, my tracking is SchH, but whatever venue you choose, sounds like you'll enjoy it...I highly recommend tracking, it is my favorite part of training...good luck.

[szariksdad]

For tracking I don't think that the methodology might get dated if it was good to start with. After all long before a gps was out a dog was tracking for say a S&R. The theory on scenting is not completely understood and always looking to be improved but not dated. For successful tracking a lot of the beginning is practicing behind a dog. If you are looking for other books, you could try "Tracking from the beginning" or "Tracking Dog"

[DeltaAlpha]

Thank you everyone for your input. I’m new at the whole tracking concept and I appreciate advice from you who have spent the time working through the process. To be honest, I’m not sure if I would have seriously considered tracking a hobby if it was for my puppy’s willful skill and enjoyment of finding things. Today I left her in the car while I went and hid little packets of cloves in a nature area. She found 2/5 on her own and after I pointed to where the remaining 3 where, she found them right away.

Originally Posted by Hunther's Dad

Check out Steve White's website: i2i K9 Home

I have used Steve White's HITT method (Hydration Intensified Tracking Training) and love it. Just the fact that I can train on asphalt increases the number of places I can practice. In the San Francisco Bay Area, open fields whose owners will let you use them are few and far between.

Cool site. I found the meat of the information in there Library section.
Libraries

Originally Posted by W.Oliver

My life is populated with alot of golfers who always want to explain to me why I should golf. After the business aspects, which I cannot dispute, they always tell me about the outdoors, beautiful scenery, excellent walking exercise....and my response is always the same....lose the clubs, insert a tracking dog at the end of a long line, and I am happy...thank you very much.

For me, my tracking is SchH, but whatever venue you choose, sounds like you'll enjoy it...I highly recommend tracking, it is my favorite part of training...good luck.

Could you imagine, teach the dog how to find the golf ball in the trees. I just need to find a course that will let me bring my pup.

Originally Posted by szariksdad

For tracking I don't think that the methodology might get dated if it was good to start with. After all long before a gps was out a dog was tracking for say a S&R. The theory on scenting is not completely understood and always looking to be improved but not dated. For successful tracking a lot of the beginning is practicing behind a dog. If you are looking for other books, you could try "Tracking from the beginning" or "Tracking Dog"

I agree, I don’t believe that the methodology is dated, I was thinking a more current technology based approach. With even a phone with decent GPS like an HTC Evo (Plenty others out there), you can get within at least 2 meters if you have enough satellites. Instead of flags, you hit a button near a land mark. Same track, 1/2 the time. I’ve read lay food along the track, seems like a lot of time and effort when I’ll the dog wants to do is find the item and get one really great treat, like a ball. I’ll take a look at the books you suggested.

[Kayos and Havoc]

If there is an AKC club near you they may have a tracking group that can help you too. Check out the AKC website. American Kennel Club - akc.org

[onyx'girl]

Originally Posted by DeltaAlpha

Could you imagine, teach the dog how to find the golf ball in the trees. I just need to find a course that will let me bring my pup.

I have a fear of golf courses and groomed grounds. I don't want my dog breathing or ingesting the chemicals that make that grass so plush! I want natural weedy airplane landing strip or a field that is only cut to be cut, but not chemically treated.
If I smell any fertilizer or even chlorine(city water irrigation) I don't want to track there. Probably not a big deal or heath issue, but I'm overprotective. I'm also always on the lookout for good tracking grounds!! I can't wait til the snowmelt.

[DeltaAlpha]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

I have a fear of golf courses and groomed grounds. I don't want my dog breathing or ingesting the chemicals that make that grass so plush! I want natural weedy airplane landing strip or a field that is only cut to be cut, but not chemically treated.
If I smell any fertilizer or even chlorine(city water irrigation) I don't want to track there. Probably not a big deal or heath issue, but I'm overprotective. I'm also always on the lookout for good tracking grounds!! I can't wait til the snowmelt.

Good point, I never considered the chemicals on the lawn. Thanks.

[codmaster]

Originally Posted by Hunther's Dad

Check out Steve White's website: i2i K9 Home

I have used Steve White's HITT method (Hydration Intensified Tracking Training) and love it. Just the fact that I can train on asphalt increases the number of places I can practice. In the San Francisco Bay Area, open fields whose owners will let you use them are few and far between.

Interesting web site. Unfortunately a little out of date - the dates referenced on the site were from 2008.