tracking question... - Page 1

what should i put at the end of a tracking trail? shouldnt there be a 'find'?......use a toy ? should i let him sniff the toy before he starts the track, then place it at the end of it?

I don't use toys at teh end - creates too much excitement and anticipation for the end in a  high-drive dog - so the dog will rush through the track and pull hard, possibly cut corners and be too excited on the track.  I use food reward - usually a handful of food at teh end "paydirt" for young dogs, can of sardines(unopened) that can be used as an article, then opened as the "paydirt" at the end, or an article, rewarded by you giving the dog the big handful or sardines or toy or "paydirt" at the end.

molly

thank you molly

thank you molly

thank you molly

Me too, food jackpot at the end.  I do carry a ball with me, and sometimes will reward with a toss but not always.

thanks sueincc...

how do i teach him to signal me that he found it?.... am i suppose to make him 'down' at the jackpot then allow him to eat it?

If you are just beginning to track, you should be putting food in each footstep.  The jackpot is at the end of this, so it's a natural progression to the jackpot.  In the very beginning, I'm not worried about having the dog down at the end, so I guess it kind of depends where you are in tracking.  Have you seen the Schutzhund Tracking website?  It's really very good, especially if you are new at tracking:

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

The book, "Schutzhund Theory and Training Methods" by Susan Barwig & Stewart Hilliard does a great job at explaining how to start tracking.  You can probably find it for a good price on Amazon.com

Can you tell us how long you have been tracking with Boss and describe what you are doing with him regards to tracking?

I agree with Molly's advice, partially.  The reason I say, partially, Is because all dogs are different.  You need to look at your dog's performances, drives, and weaknesses and do whatever motivates and gets the best results.

I have seen people reward the articles with a toy and I have never liked that.  I don't like taking a dog off of the track and losing the focus of what we are here to do.

I have always like to put the jackpot at the end and when finished, the toy comes out and we play.  This is a reward and a sign that the track is over.  I don't want the dog to be fighting to go back through te track towards the start.

Like I said, dogs are all different.  Some dogs will rush to the end for the jackpot and miss what is under them.  If they have this problem, it is the same as Molly has stated with the toy.    YOU need to figure out what gets the best results.  What is producing/hindering the dogs progress? 

sueincc...

 im just begining on schutzhund style tracking...

before, i was teaching boss tracking by tieing him up where he couldnt see me then dragging a toy across the yard and hiding it....he did great at that but i stopped because i know it wasn't the 'right' way...