Tracking - newb- pup is missing some food on track - Page 1

Will this be a problem?  She is very excited and wants to move forward.  I have increased the "size" and value of the treats and have been putting them (now) in about every 5-10 steps.  Yes, she started with food in each step.  I am trying to only "feed" her on the track these days before the snow flies.

We have a glove as an item and put some food in the glove.  IF she sees it, she simply moves toward it as she knows that there is a big reward associated with it.

She sometimes moves off the track and I wonder what the sam heck she is confused about. 

It is almost like she is not concentrating at times.  Any suggestions?

Tracking is very hard to assess over the computer.  It is hard for the handler to assess, thus coming to people here for answers.   

Sometimes people will do serpentine tracks to slow the dog down.

How much time does the dog spend at the scent pad?  Does she immediately go with a deep nose and intensity to find every morsel in the pad?  Do you think that less food on the track is better at this stage?  Is it possible that more food on a more difficult track wioll challenge the dog more and you will have more concentration?  What if you take the Jackpot off the end off the track?  Does that negate her rush to the end?  How well do you know your tracking grounds?  There are many reasons a dog may depart a track momentarily.  What do you use for food and is that the best motivational food for your dog?

Your dog shouldn't see the glove.  You need to find a way to keep a deep nose and concentration on the task at hand, not ten meters down the track.

Do you not have a training director who can help you with your training questions?

Good lord, you're going to have to eliminate the food at some point anyway! Why worry if she misses a couple of bits??  I've had a couple of seminars with a K9 police officer, and he uses NO FOOD....EVER! Not even for a puppy doing their first track. He either has the handler hide, or uses the dog's favourite toy as a motivator. Either way...as long as the dog is tracking,  and finding the object/person at the end of the track, don't worry!

Do you do the tracking when the pup is hungry (before feeding)? That might help, if you're really worried about this.

Sunsilver

There is a big difference between air scenting and Sch tracking.

If you are doing schutzhund tracking, I would want to know all the answers to all the questions Don has asked.  I would also like to know how old the dog is.  Autobahn is right, you need an experienced person to start out, but if you don't have anyone to ehlp you, we will give as much advise as we can.  A very good site to get help is Prestons' schutzhund tracking site:

 http://www.schutzhundtracking.com/

I know that, Don. I've trained two dogs to do AKC style tracking, which I believe is very much like Schutzhund tracking. As long as the dog has its nose to the ground, I'm not going to worry if he blows past some of the food. My trainer said it's a sign you can start reducing the amount and frequency of your food drops.

She sometimes moves off the track and I wonder what the sam heck she is confused about. 

It is almost like she is not concentrating at times.  Any suggestions?

Are you working with an experienced trainer? If not, get a good book on tracking, and study what it says about scents and scenting. She may be getting confused by an air scent. What way is the wind blowing?  Is the area relatively free of distracting scents and possible cross trails?

Even experienced dogs sometimes lose the track, and have to circle to find it again. Nature of the vegetation, wind direction, and the presence of nearby buildings all can affect the scent and just where the dog is going to find it.

Also, she's a puppy. They naturally have shorter attention spans! You have to find out what motivates her best to keep her focused. Is it finding a favorite toy? Food? Or a person she really cares about?  You can have your wife/kid lay the track, and hide at the end of it, if you find that helps her focus better.

You are looking for a very slow, methodical tracker with a very deep nose in each footstep.  One thing not mentioned by Preston is plow lines and I find them very helpful.  These are two lines on the collar, one going under each front leg.  Also, I would not put any food on, in or under the article (glove) because the dog is not to touch the article.  If your dog is a young pup, I would most def go back to food in every footstep.  It might help with control to  be holding the lines right at the pups shoulder/wither area in the beginnning (one in each hand).  The pup needs to learn he/she must inspect each step.  Stop putting the golve at the end of the track.   Try a food jack pot.  When she gets to it, just tell her "good girl" in a quiet, soothing voice & stroke her sides. 

I too, wonder if you have done enough with scent pads, I'm not sure she understands what you want of her.

Thanks for the tips.  Here is some more info for you pros:

I  was "warned" by a trainer that IF she is missing food on the path then she WILL likely miss the tracking article.  That is what has me worried.  I was told it was like she was not paying attention.  And that is REALLY why I am asking the question to the Board.

I do have a trainer but we do not always spend time on tracking and spend more time on obedience (we were working toward shows and her BH) and protection. We have not been able to track much at all until now for various reasons.  This is a problem that is just showing up now and I appreciate different views on subjects as all dogs are different.

I don't think she is understanding the scent pad.  Tips? I do try and hold her back on the pad and also on the trail so that we do not "run" through it.

She is 16 mos of age so she is still a pup but not in the conventional sense.  She just got her BH actually.  Sueincc - I have seen the site but thanks again for the terrific link.  I do understand about cross tracks and wind but don't always see the direct link between her behavior and those factors.

I do have her hungry but not terribly so. 

Should I teach articles off or on the track?

Really, this all came about because I was told she would miss articles based on missing the food.

Thank you all for your time.