Tracking Class

[Samba]

I decided to take a class to get me going with Hogan. I have tracked him on and off, definitely off over the winter. Thinking that I need to push on to get him ready for a TD soon, I signed up so I would have structure.

We are starting off with the assignment of 5 days of tracking in a week. The instructions are to track into the wind on these days for the assistance with scent coming from that direction. It is AKC tracking class, but they are generous with food and that suits my training style. We are to use a food drop every third step on the track. With new trackers, there is generous use of flags as people tend to get lost and not trust the dog. Our dogs are not to be fed at home on tracking days and get their food on the track at the end article.

1st day: 3 tracks each 35 yrds long
2nd day: 3 tracks, each 70 yds
3rd day: 3 tracks 140 yds long
4th day: 2 tracks, each 280yds
5th day: 1 track, 400 yrds long

I had in the beginning been working on pretty tedious stuff with Hogan. Footstep tracking and some corners. Was surprised he did the 400 yard track well today. Looks like they work on getting the "distance" component covered early on. I am sure we will then go back to shorter tracks and work other components on them. I know the instructor is one who "builds" the skills of the dog through working various pieces before putting it all together.

[JakodaCD OA]

good luck and have fun,,I am STILL trying to find something in my area(( in regards to tracking, I need 'pro' instruction, it's what i get for living in the boonies

[cassadee7]

Sounds a lot like what we do in tracking. Saber loves it too! Have fun!

[jocoyn]

Interesting. I like starting trailing dogs with the wind at their back to keep their heads down....and minimize frigning (quartering)

[Samba]

Yes, everyone has theories on scent and what helps at first, I guess. I would have tracked wind at my back also to begin with as the head tends to come up into the wind. Oh well, the winds blow every which way by the time I have laid very many tracks, I figure.

If there is a particular wind direction to make Hogan go faster I will take it! Perhaps 60 mph at our back!

[Samba]

Had our second class. The assignment this week is the same as last week as far as length and number of tracks, except we are to track away from the wind.

At class we ran short consecutive tracks. The last one went out onto pavement for several yards to the end. Hogan did really well until pavement. I did do his first tracks on pavement but have not revisited it. He looked pretty clueless there. I made excuses for him as some of the dogs kept going on the pavement! I decided he was really tracking and they were looking for food!

Our track layer was one of the funny older guys at the club. He kept wanting Hogan to watch him lay the track and kept calling out to him. I decided he was trying to get me killed with the pulling. So, whenever he would call Hogan, I would quietly say revier and Hogan would bark like crazy at him. It was funny stuff as our tracklayer deserved the raspberries. The instructor was laughing until I told her unfortunately now Hogan will expect a bite at the end. Tracklayer got away unscathed though.

[Samba]

We are five weeks into this tracking class. Coorners have been added. We are down to one piece of food per leg. Last week aging went to 55 minutes. This week we are to vary aging from 15 minutes to 45 and have some tracks with three corners. These tracks are short.

I must admit to putting more food down. I have areas of no bait and some of bait in each step spaced throughout the length. Hogan is working on concentration, so if he wants to gawk at dogs or wildlife, I like for there to be reward on the track when he responds to my admonition to get to work?

This week he did the blind corner with some checking before committing. I see this with inexperience but it gets better with confidence and time. Our job as handlers was to learn to read loss of scent.

Hogan did good and is now offering his down indication without reminder.

My tracklayer was a nice guy who also has a young GSD male. This past weekend my tracklayer had helped lay track for the tracking camp held there. As we headed back to the car in tall grass, Hogan threw something up into the air. I figured it was someone's long lost track article. Then he came bringing it to my tracklayer who exclaimed "my favorite stocking cap!". It had dropped from his pocket while laying tracks for the camp a couple of days before but he had no idea where. He said what are the chances I pick this dog to run a track over here and my hat was there in the field. He was sure Hogan was the dog most likely to do such a find from our class. I say 20,000 bonus points for Hogan!