False indication on tracking phase?? - Page 1

So my dog and I went for our Schutzhund 2. Well she was doing fine and was right on track but she started downing when there was no article. She is usually a great tracker and got a 100 on her sch 1 track and I have never seen her do this before. Haha of course that is the catch phrase of all Schutzhund participants on trial day. Any advice as to make sure this doesn't happen anymore. We're going again for our 2 this Sunday. So hopefully we don't have a repeat of last time. Thanks in advance

Well I have seen false indications due to too much pressure or corrections being put on the dog during training of the articles on the track. I would take the aricles off the track and try practicing them with immediate positive reinforcement. Are you using "platz" as the indication?

Where was the article in relation to where she downed?  What was the wind like and what was the wind direction in relation to the track?  I agree with Sheesh, this often happens with pressure in training.  The pressure doesn't always have to be from the article training, although it very well could be.  The pressure could be from a different phase and showing up in the tracking.  

Good point about pressure in other areas too.

IPO 1 You lay your own track with your articles........IPO 2, someone else lays it and uses their articles. Did you ever practice that? I agree on the others about wind and pressure. 

Not really any added pressure lately I think the problem was I wanted to ensure that she would down on articles so I fed her extra when she downed on the articles and when she wasn't finding any food on the track she figured if she downs she'll get her food. Idk, it was nice field for tracking and no wind to speak of. I had practiced others laying the track for me but not a ton because I can't always find someone who can lay it so I'll just have to give it another try at the next trial and just track her as much as I can leading up to that trial. Thaks for all your help everyone!

I think you answered your own question. She thinks she was getting feed/rewarded for downing, not for downing on an article ;-)

Thomas Barriano
Dubheasa Germania (11/05/99-08/11/08) SchH III M R Brevet AKC WD III AWD 1 STP 1 CD WAC TT
Ascomannis Jago (06/20/03) SchH III AKC WD III AWD I TT WAC
Belatucadrus (08/14/05) DS BH TT MR I
Flannchadh von der Bavarianburg (5/21/08) TT IPO II STP I
Winterfell Arya (11/27/09)BH TT K9NW I
Gwrgenau vom Himmelhoch (8/19/09 BH TT

Chill,

How did your trial go? Good I hope

Mike