After a long winter break, tracking again...

[umzilla]

Umsa had just finished a VERY long and very difficult track. Turned out we had the camera in the car, so we thought we'd take some pictures of her before putting her up. Here she is, in her hot pink tracking harness and line, and of course there's me in my tracking boots adding some elegance to the photo. Not exactly a typical stacked shot.......



Fritz tracked next. My husband took some shots of him tracking - it's been an awful winter, and this was the first time we'd tracked since last fall.

Starting out



Pausing at the first article, waiting for some joggers to pass



Crossing a stream that isn't normally there (didn't know about it when I laid the track, but he handled it well)



Up the sled hill



Across the hill (difficult crosswind)



and finally down the hill



Christine

[butch33611]

Great pics!!! Sarge likes to track quite a bit. He does it on his own. He gets on the sent of a rabbit or something and really seems to enjoy seeing where it leads. I noticed you mentioned, laid the track. Can you explain more what that means, what you use and how you do it. I have a great place out in the country where sarge and I could do this. I think he would enjoy it very much.

Thanks for any help you may offer.

[umzilla]

Somehow this one didn't attach......Fritz crossing the bike path

[umzilla]

Originally Posted By: butch33611 I noticed you mentioned, laid the track. Can you explain more what that means, what you use and how you do it. I have a great place out in the country where sarge and I could do this. I think he would enjoy it very much.

Thanks for any help you may offer.

I've tried to answer and my computer gremlins keep abducting my posts......

Laying a track usually refers to a person starting somewhere and walking a path with certain training goals or trial specifications for the dog. Usually there are some items dropped along the way which the dog must find. For example, today I picked a park, looked at the terrain, and mentally mapped out some challenegs to present my dogs. In the string of photos above, my "training challenges" for the day included crossing a 2 lane asphalt road (not pictured), crossing water in a ditch, crossing a bike path with LOTS of traffic (lots of people and dogs) and tracking at an angle up, across, and down a steep hill right near a lake. I picked a start point, and walked my path, spotting natural markers along the way (trees, posts, etc) so that I could remember where I had walked later when out with my dog. (Yes, the dog should follow the scent, but knowing exactly where the track is helps you learn to "read" when your dog is off track, helps you assist working out a problem if needed, etc. )

I usually lay my own tracks for training, but sometimes people have others lay them. When the handler doesn't know where the track goes, it's called running a "blind track".

Usually starting out you want to start with easy tracks - straight lines, basic ground cover - and reward the dog for following the same scent the entire time (and not being distracted by other scents that cross the track, sometimes called "contamination"). Later you can start to add corners, articles (dropped items), angles, serpentines, hills, changes of cover, etc. There is endless variety.

The other thing I'll mention is that there are different tracking styles. Schutzhund tracking is very precise and the dog is expected to have a "deep nose" in the ground. AKC and ASCA tracking allow a freer tracking style. The tracking titles are different in length, design, obstacles, etc. It's all nosework, but quite different.

Hope that helps some!

Christine

[butch33611]

It did, thanks a lot. I didnt know if you actually put something on the ground for the scent. So you just walk the track and then have the dog follow it. Sarge is a big fan of tracking. He gets very excited when hes on the track of something. Thanks again, im sure we'll have lots of fun doing that this summer.

[umzilla]

Originally Posted By: butch33611I didnt know if you actually put something on the ground for the scent.

The dog learns to follow where the person walked (THAT scent is what you are aiming for), but most people do leave rewards along the way, such as food drops, baited steps, toys, etc. You have to know what best motivates your dog, and also be careful that you are not teaching him to track THAT scent (ie. the food, bait, toy) rather than the scent of where the tracklayer has walked. To me, an interesting challenge.

A well laid track is the best training tool for your dog, and that takes strategy.

I absolutely love tracking. It never fails to amaze me when I see a dog tracking well or working out a complex problem. I saw tracking called "Following Ghosts" somewhere (that may even be the name of a book?)....it really fascinates me. I think you will enjoy it alot - it sounds like your dog has an affinity for it too.

You might want to look for a tracking club or training group. I track myself, but if you are just starting out, it might be good to get feedback and watch others track too. Just a thought....

Christine

[Cassidy's Mom]

Originally Posted By: umzillaI saw tracking called "Following Ghosts" somewhere (that may even be the name of a book?)...

Following Ghosts is a booklet by John Rice and his wife Suzanne Clothier. http://www.flyingdogpress.com/john.html

[umzilla]

Thanks - couldn't remember where I'd seen that, but thought the description was PERFECT.

Christine