Tracking Question - Page 2

OK, this is what I am asking for. I don't know!!!!

     DOES ANYONE!!! want to tell me which is the right direction to head in???

I have been looking for HELP, I have been working it, just don't know if I'm doing it right.

I guess I'll call Tracey!!

>   Here is an excellant site on schutzhund tracking that will give you a good idea on this style of tracking. AKC tracking often combines tracking, trailing, air scenting while working, it is also primarily the way I train my PSD teams. 

>  Schutzhund is primarily working ground scent or footsteps.

>  Hope this helps.

http://www.schutzhundtracking.com/index.html

 Joann Plumb's Tracking 1 & 2 videos are good and simple to understand.

Schutzhund has very set rules and the dogs have to be obedient to the track and to the articles to get the highest amont of points.  Going to a search and rescue training method will probably not work, as the dogs are allowed to air scent?  Since youintend to trial in schutzhund you should probably go and check out the schutzhund tracking groups in your area, or ask your breed warden or a handler you respect who has good tracking dog who would be the best trainer for you and dog, and then go and observe to see if this person is someone you feel good about training with.  Just offering some suggestions once again and throwing them out there. 

 It just seems a little odd to me that you want to train schutzhund and are thinking about going to a search and rescue group?

Terri

     I am not going to a search and rescue group. These are just people that I know, THAT"DO" successfully train search and rescue dogs. What I am doing is looking for "THE BEST SOURCE of Information" I can find.

    The reason I ask here is, most here are training, or have trained SchH dogs. I'm looking for a MAJORITY consensus, as to what is the best Route, to travel with this. That's all.

Kitkat you need to keep that dogs nose to the ground for sch..sars can be air and ground..

KitKat, as has already been mentioned, there are so many different schools of thought and ways of teaching tracking that I don't think getting a consensus on what the "right way" is very easily. Different methods work best for different dogs.

I would recommend that you try to find various books on SchH style tracking and pursue the links that have been posted in addition to doing some searching online for SchH tracking.

I have 2 very very different dogs and I have had to try various methods for them both...in the end, each requires a completely different style of training, although the end goals for both are the same.

You need to be careful about the SAR versus SchH tracking. There is a huge difference in some othe methods used for each in regards to what is tracking (nose right on the ground) versus what is trailing (use of air scent/nose not to the ground as deep). This is not to say that the folks you are meeting up with who have trained SAR dogs can't do SchH type tracking, but for a dog that is able to do both very well, it is not an easy accomplishment to get them that way. If you are going to be focusing on SchH tracking, it would be preferable to find a mentor to help you do SchH style tracking.

My advice would be to get the Glen Johnson tracking book. I've got it and although some methods he uses would not work for my dog, there are always awesome tidbits that do help. I also have about 4 other SchH books that go into tracking as well. I've not used any one method, but rather a combination to see what works. That said, my one gal is a prey freak and although she kicks butt when it comes to trailing, I've had to spend countless hours getting her focused on "tracking". Realizing my inexperience in working with such a dog, I've sought out a mentor who has helped tremendously (although he is not local - far from it!) But myself and another club member work together with the same mentor, so we help each other when the going gets tough. Best advice if you are new to all of this is to really try to find someone in your club yu can work with. Not all clubs have this philosophy, but if it is a SchH club, are there training directors/obedience/tracking/protection directions who can help to mentor? If not, maybe this is something that you can bring up as a club member. Hard enough to attact and retain new members in the sport, but if no-one is willing to provide mentorship and if newbies aren't willing to try to promote this as well, it is pretty hard to get ahead with a dog!

Are there any tracking classes in your area? Even a beginner class can be incredibly helpful in just getting to know the basics at a minimum.

My thoughts

If you are starting tracking with any Dog  Then you go slow

I always start with one inch bits of small sausage, Put in a marker at the start  to move along in a shuffle walk to start so you get a good track

every two to three feet scrub your foot a bit harder and drop in a piece of sausage

keep on a straight track only go no more than 20 yds,

To start do not bother to put a long line under the dog so it comes out between his back legs the dog is learning

At the end of the track have a few Kibbles in a small pile for a reward and praise him a lot

To start put the dog at the sit then say SOUK point to the ground keep the line slack but stay level with your dog

if he goes to move off the track say SOUK and point to the ground level with his head he will get the hang of it quick enough

When he gets to the end of the short track tell the dog to AF; Down just before his treats

Keep this up at this distance with the sausage

Do not be in hurry to extend the distance or cut back on the distance you put the bits of sausage

he will in a few times go like a train at it , once he gets the idea at the distance you are starting at and keeps tracking give a little sharp pulls on the line to slow him down

Once he does this extend the distance and say two yards per bit of Sausage Thee is no hurry to go on more at this stage

Steve

Cut up tracking bait instead of feeding dog breakfast. Put dog in car. Drive to my house. I like company.

SS

Steve1 thats the way it was taught to me.Keep that  dogs nose on the ground kitkat.Go see Shelly.