shinokami's good advice plz - Page 2

Sorry about the double post...seems like a lot of that going on lately....

In the dog world, especially if you're a noob like me, best to keep mouth shut and ears open, so you don't get attacked. Like it says in one of the threads below, dog people are not people people. :) The good thing is dog people are usually compassionate and will give help when you seek it.

Hey - I read the article, its great! I thought (thought is the key word folks) that I was attempting (another key word) to do it correctly. Needed to stay on step #1 WAY longer.... Still no interest in competing in SchH yet... I like the protection sports better (ringsports...ASR, PSA type stuff..)I just wish that people would not pick out a particular sentence, read WAY more into it than what it means, and act like jerks about it. If I came on here saying I knew it all, then by all means shred me apart. But thats the beauty, NO ONE, knows it ALL... We all need to learn, and we all have a different opinoin, and view on things. I did not come on here to "prove" anything, I answered a question (that I am done with BTW), and got my dog, and me riped apart, because of the misread (or rather misunderstood) posts that I posted. It sucks really. A bunch of SchH people tear me apart, for not wanting to do SchH, and me not caring about the "tracking" bit, calling me lazy, or unable, or my dog being unable..when I just dont care for it in the first place. BUT, I will teach him to track. And I am going to continue working on his OB, and since I had to START over on the bitework..(think puppy tug folks..) Its going to take longer than I have ever anticipated.... But like I said, all in good fun, and I cant wait to get into any sports to get him a title! Hey what do you all use for FOOD during the track..He wont do the dry kibble... Tried it, even on an empty belly.... Hot dogs they say gives off to much odor, keeping the dog away from the "scent" that they need to learn... Any Ideas? I orderded the Harness.. and I already have the 30ft lead... Is anyone else sick of the little metal twists that come in ALL the toys???? You know, the 8 needed to hold ONE pony in place?! Going crazy here...

Hot dogs, Hot dogs,hot dogs!!!!!!!! They are your best friend in training!!!!!!!!!!!

Forgot to tell you, alternate with steak, cheese, but hot dogs are a great way to start out tracking!

Will stick with the Hot dogs, and I know that he LOOOVVEESS Cheese, so that sounds good too! Maybe I will try a variety of "kinds" of hot dogs.. Turkey dogs, beef dogs, plain ole' hot dogs.. Hmmm, big variety. Steak he is 'ehh' about (believe it or not...) but likes chicken... I must have left common sense back somewhere else here..... Thanks all!

I like the food rolls - the " meat" dog food that comes in rolls with plastic wrap - Nature's Balance or something like that. Can cut them up in little squares, and they last longer, are less messy, and easier to handle than hotdogs. They also don't stick to the bottom of your shoe when you step on them on the track. Hotdogs work fine too but I find the food rolls to work better for me. I do recommend using kibble on the track later, for the reasons stated in Armin's article. But I always start my dogs with pieces of hotdog - or food roll cut up. molly

Where can you get the rolled food? I havent seen it...But then again, I havent looked for it. Petsmart? I will go there tomorrow for dog food anyway...Anyone know what isle? Yeah, the smushed up hot dogs do stick.. kinda gross... I will get both, and see which one works best for now.. I thought about going to dried liver bits instead of kibble, since his normal kibble aint "normal", I mix a bit of yogurt in it... Alright guys, once I get everything, should I go to the park that we go to walk the paved trail, and wooded trail, and work the "mowed every month" field? or in my back yard... I have 5acres.. The park is literally 4 miles down the road, so easy to go everyday.. i figure the park is good since "my" scent isnt there....???

Forgot to tell you, I don't feed my dogs the night before and the morning of. Make sure he is hungry when you go tracking! Don't worry, he won't starve!

use a clean field no matter where it is - your yard where you haven't walked (at all) in at least a day or two - or the park as long as the grass isn't too long and there aren't people running all over the fields (clean is important so the only scent there is your track). Short grass is best for the beginning teaching of tracking - you can see the food - it is most important to know exactly where your footsteps are so you can help the dog if he gets off or quits or gets distracted (help by pointing at the next footstep). Food should be in the TOE of each footstep, so he can "work" the footstep heel to toe before getting the reward at the toe. Keep him slow with the line, walk beside him but leave him alone as long as he is tracking himself and finding the food. You can get the food rolls at Petsmart - in the dog food aisle or sometimes I've seen them in their own rack in the middle of an aisle. Cut them into small pieces - molly