Malinois Tracking. - Page 1

thanks everyone!

Sounds to me like you've got some problems.  Schutzhund style tracking is not a natural way for dogs to track.  Air scenting with a high nose is much easier and more practical.  What makes it nice, is to start with a dog with good food drive and survival instincts,,,without these, it can be very difficult.  Something had to happen around June/July for a dog to just suddenly change, something in her everyday life?  Training?  When a dog has the option to quit on a track and takes it,  it can be dicey.  What are your dog's bloodlines like?  Is she by chance French?  If the dog is not interested in feeding itself on the track, you only have several options, the best of them would probably be paying a visit to Gene England.

With tracking for toys or tugs, unless your dog has strong search drive ie digging or scratching for hidden objects, the chances of tracking with a high nose are greater.  Maybe try some practice where you throw her "special" toy into some tall grass while she runs free.  Then, try throwing it in the tall grass while holding her back for a few seconds before you let her go.  Increase the time that lapses gradually and then work your way up to putting her in a sit/down (or have someone hold her) while you walk the toy into the field.  When you reach a desired point, show her the toy and drop it in the grass.  Intitially you can backtrack your way to her but wean her off of that as soon as you can.  Now start holding her by the leash and actually let her take you to the object, you will see her start to use her nose.  Introduce burying the toy to activate her search/hunt drive and from there you should be able to change terrain and start laying "actual" tracks..

Looking at her age, has she come in season yet? If not she may be getting ready to. The hormonal change can REALLY mess them up.

Just a thought.

Thanks to both of you for the advice!!!! I started using cheese as bait and she is back tracking like crazy.