Questions about Tracking - Page 1

OK, I haven't taught a dog to track in something like 15 yrs....I have been too busy teach pet obedience to "bother" with competition, so.....

But recently I acquired a nice Import(let me know if we are allowed to post our websites, as he is on my website), whom I want to title out in Schutzhund.  He has his BH and AD.

And I also have a Rottie bitch(hungarian lines, bred in america), who is awesome on her obedience(She is a certified assistance dog----I have MS), who loves bitework, and will likely excell in tracking...

But, I need some suggestions on how to start teaching again tracking?  Any good books on the subject?  DVD's? etc...

I live in south Florida, and much of the grass down here really sucks!  I know of one trainer who recommends "stomping" out the tracks, but I am not sure that I can physically handle that....I can do it, but I usually can't move the next day.

Also, early AM's don't always work for me, as I have 10 dogs in the house(Assistance dogs in training, clients dogs, etc...) that have to be cared for, soooooo.....is it absolutely necessary to track only in the mornings?  Or is late morning or evenings ok?

Again, is it really necessary to stomp the tracks?  This guy suggested going so far as to wear cleats! 

Any thoughts?  Suggestions????  How do you make the transition from tracks to articles? 

Websites?  books? DVD's?  Help!!!!

 wow

no offense but you are more of a newbie than me

go ask Phil Hoelcher who lives in Florida

he is one of the best of the best

No offense taken.  Remember, I have been training professionally for 25 yrs, but just not in this venue----pet obedience usually doesn't include tracking.

I have placed assistance dogs that can 'air search' for their handler, or a person(IE, go find Tyler(a boy who is autistic) or "Go Find Mom"(IE, if the person is injured, thrown out of wheelchair, etc...and needs assistance---had that come in very handy when the guy got pitched out of his wheelchair when the ground gave way underneath him---chair ended up in water, he on dry land, but was stranded....about a mile from home---paralyzed, sent dog home to get help)

I simply have not don't "sport" tracking in order to compete. 

I have done drug/bomb detection dogs----but not tracking, not since 1986, and frankly, I have slept since then...and things change.

Were is this Phil guy at?  Do you have a website/email/phone on him?

Schutzhund tracking is basically footprint to footprint tracking.  Which is not how a dog would track naturally.  My best suggestion is to find a good trainer locally and take it from there.  I used to "stomp" my tracks in, but found that it's not all that neccessary.  I was just in Florida, and was noticed the crappy grass.  But it's still better than our winter grass up here! 

One dog I taught the articles to away from the track and then introduced them on the track, the other didn't seem to be getting teaching the article away from the track, so basically just worked them into the track. 

There's so much to tracking and I'm learning more and more everyday.  It is best to have someone watch you at least occassionally because there's a lot that you could be doing wrong, and not even realize it. 

grab a copy of   The Method and Theory of Schutzhund by   Susan Barwid /Hilliard    has all the track layouts and all the info you need....now some rules have changed and they do the front start pads different.

Also the articles have some new ways of doing them since I learned  many years ago....look up Phil H and maybe he will get you a new Schutz handbook...to borrow .  If you are not going to compete  , the Barwig book is great....

I live in NE Florida, the grass here is horrible too. And the ants!! You can put your dog off tracking real quick if you end up with ants all over your bait.

The best places I've found to lay tracks are the grassy areas at Park N Rides, and little areas in nicer apartments or home communities. Usually that's St. Augustine sod. Some parks have nice areas that aren't used frequently. Office buildings usually have nice areas too.

I always track in the early mornings, before the sun burns all the moisture off the ground.

Jackie

Hi,

Thank God I have never had to track in Florida!  If you google Phil Hoelcher that will give you the best idea of who he is and where to find him.....   he used to be with UScA....  Also google OT Vitosha.  that is Ivan Balabanov's Kennel.  He is in Florida as well.  I think they do ALL kinds of training - SchH, ring, protection, pets, SAR,  www.germanshepherddog.com is the USA website and you can find club links there for a local club. 

there are so many different things to do with tracking(like any training) that I don't think we can do it justice here....  I don't always track in the am, but I don't have Florida heat.   or fire ants. 

the only suggestion I have is to not let the dog do trailing or air scenting before you teach the footstep tracking.....

Best wishes and I hope you get some more advice from others here.

Darcy

Hi Dog Trainer:  Go to Preston Heller's Schutzhund Tracking site:

http://www.schutzhundtracking.com/

It's a great site and will probably jog your memory and get the juices flowing for you.  Also if you have questions and email Preston he will get back to you. 

Hi,  early am has never worked for me so I track my girl when I can ( which isn't often). Good practice for when you get the last draw in the trial and have to track in the noon day sun(our first trial). Don't need to stomp in the track in fact shouldn't.

I'm in Central Ca and we have a minute in time every year before everything turns to brown foxtails and/or hard concrete like dirt. So you learn to track on park grass or college campuses, see if any sod farms will let you on, in orchards and vineyards etc etc. You might also want to check into doing variable surface tracking. Much tougher but if the dog can do that then grass and dirt should be a piece of cake. Might work better for you since done on pavement and concrete initally ( wet socks, spray bottle to assist scent etc).

My bitch is also my service dog and I have a mobility disorder. I have relied heavily on the kindness of friends to lay tracks for me. A couple pointers for you re trialing. Even tho Sch1 is supposed to be a handler laid track you can request that someone else lay the track ( I brought a friend with me). A bit tougher on the dog but should be easily doable. Also most people forget that the rules give you options re articles. The trick is you ahve to choose one so what I say when I report in is my dog will pickup the article.  Since Remy is my service dog and retrieves she also retrieves the articles on the track. Gives them more opportunity to ding you as the dog is also judged on the quality of the retrieve but it is more consistent for the dog. Plus the dog then must go back to where it found the article and resume tracking. I was lucky - Rem figured out that part all on her own.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Try Tracking Dog Theory & Methods by Glen R Johnston. His book has a 7 week programme covering pretty much everything and is against stomping the track which may suit you better.  http://www.dogwise.com/  and searh the above title. It gives a review and table of contents.