Playing before /after tracking

[pfitzpa1]

I've seen suggestions regarding obedience training at parks, that you train then go home. i.e don't let your dog play in the park after training. Any thoughts on letting your dog play (with other dogs) on the tracking fired before/after tracking?

[JakodaCD OA]

can't really answer this because my girlie doesn't play with strange dogs

I am usually tracking alone, and for Masi that IS her playing field

[pfitzpa1]

I track with a friend who is also learning, so his GSD and mine usually romp around before/after tracking. We were just wondering if it is good/bad/or indifferent.

[JakodaCD OA]

IF it's not interferring with your tracking, I see no problem with it

[pfitzpa1]

Well that's just it, I'm not sure. I switched from self laid tracks to helper laid this morning and my dog just didn't seem as eager to engage as she did the first few days we did it last week (when there was less other dog interaction). So I'm trying to analyze why she wasn't so interested, a) new track layer (not my scent) or b) she wanted to play and not track or c) other.

[onyx'girl]

I don't let my dog play after running a track. I'd rather put him up in his crate to process it. I don't let him scent back on the track we just did either. Maybe a bit of play as reward at the end then bring him back to the vehicle to crate until the next phase of training(if we are training w/ club)
Same goes for before the track, he gets out for a few minutes/calm time/potty time then track, no ramped up play beforehand.

Helper laid tracks: are you doing articles yet and if so, your articles or the helpers? Before the track are you giving your dog an article sniff of the scent? That may help him decipher easier.

[pfitzpa1]

Originally Posted by onyx'girl

I don't let my dog play after running a track. I'd rather put him up in his crate to process it. I don't let him scent back on the track we just did either. Maybe a bit of play as reward at the end then bring him back to the vehicle to crate until the next phase of training(if we are training w/ club)
Same goes for before the track, he gets out for a few minutes/calm time/potty time then track, no ramped up play beforehand.

Helper laid tracks: are you doing articles yet and if so, your articles or the helpers? Before the track are you giving your dog an article sniff of the scent? That may help him decipher easier.

Helpers articles (though they were originally mine). I wasn't showing her an article at start) when I was laying my own tracks and she tracked great. So perhaps it was because it was my scent that she didn't need a starting article. I'll ask my friend/track layer to have another article (well scented by him) ready at the start.

[lhczth]

Why should she work for you when she just had all that fun playing with another dog? I sometimes play with my dogs myself, but I would leave the dog/dog play time to other times.