Research in directional tracking - Page 1

I would like to see if research could be done to find interesting results. I would like to ask all experienced handlers who have a qualified tracking dogs to provide me with some information, and help me by completing a experiment. This request will be posted on many databases so the number of tests can be at its maximum. Trail laying. The Experiment consists of a trail, measuring 100m in length, laid by a adult male walking in a straight line in a 2 hectare grass field. The trail laid at a 90 degree angle to the direction of the on-coming wind. The begining and end of the trail is marked with a pole (3ft). Seperate trails for each dog used. (if you have a number of dogs to use, have different trails for each dog) more experiments the better. i.e ten individual trails for each dog, Half of the trails to be laid from left to right, the remaining 5 laid from right to left. The trail layer can be driven to the start of each trail by car and picked up the other end by the car, thus removing any odours cues from the handler outside the 100m trail. Experiment 1 Each tracking test starts 1 hour after trail had been laid. Each dog is to be led to the middle of the trail by the handler who is blind to its direction. Both dog and handler approach the trail by right angles to its orientation. At 10m from the trail the dog can be ordered by the handler to track. Each tracking test, information needs to be collected, as a group and individually, has the dogs managed to identify the correct direction of the trail, i.e reach the correct pole ( yes:no ) Experiment 2 Those dogs who are able to determine the correct direction of the track, are only needed for this experiment. The trail is laid exactly the same as the 1st experiment, rather than the trail being laid in the normal forward direction, the trail laid in a backward direction (walking backward). laying the tracks in this manner provides spurious visual information. It is assumed that if the dogs were following the trail laying footprints from heel to toe (using visual) the animal would be more inclined to follow the incorrect direction of the trails. The information if possible to be e/mailed to me. The info i require is the age of the animal, dog or bitch, how many trails taken- how many tracked to the right direction ( experiment 1) And how many trails for experiment 2 and how many tracked the correct direction. If all could try to apply to the information as best as possible and give accurate readings. The results and findings will be posted in Feburary. This experiment has been done before with 22 dogs and i would like to see the results with more dogs involved around the world. Thank you very much for all who take part. E/mail results to tarakiwa7530@yahoo.co.uk, subject:Experiment. Any problems or queries please contact me.