Problems tracking INTO the wind - Page 1

Hello.  I have a young dog who has difficulty tracking INTO the wind.  She is fine with the wind and can manage cross winds just fine.

Why could this be?  If it is not INTO the wind her nose is down and she can track straight.  When she goes into the wind it is like she is totally and completely confused, she goes back and forth, looks TOTALLY lost and circles and circles and can't seem to find the track.

Why is this and what can I do to her train through this problem?

 Kmaot,

When you track INTO the wind, remember, the scent is blowing toward the dog and into its' nose. Most dogs will lift their head because of this and that then makes them cast about more looking for the SOURCE of the scent. I don't recommend your doing into the wind with a young dog. Wait until the dog is well schooled and does really good and consistent tracks with the wind at your back first, and later with some slight angle cross winds. As the dog gets older, and more secure and the work ethic is to keep the nose to the ground, it is likely that you can go back to into the wind now and then with better results.

Too often, in my opinion, people try to rush ahead and do things differently before the dog is an experienced and sure tracker with ALL conditions just right. Once you begin to change things and add more difficulty, only change one thing at a time, or, if weather is difficult, let that be the change. In other words, don't rush through this process.

Good luck.

Thanks Hodie.  I am sure that much of her problem IS experience.  But that being said, she is not quite "that" green.  She "should" know by now (in my humble opinion).  She does have her Sch1. 

I am not trying to rush per se.  Assuming that conditions are right, that no extra challenges are put in...."how" can I reinforce the "head down" with into the wind?  More bait?  Less bait?

thanks again!

Tracking into the wind  does in alot of dogs causes the nose to go up . Your dog however is showing alot of  confusion  IMO

Start with an easy track 1 leg   use food  in each print stay close  she will try to rush ahead, cast  etc   due to the fact the wind is now full of food scent  . I would play it save and stay right by her head , show her the food in the print  for a few steps the withdraw your hand   IF she picks up her head or rushes ( which will  happen )   voice correction and point back into the print .   If the dog tracks with tracking lead between front leg only   hold lead right by the elbow  to keep her close , If dog  tracks line between all 4 legs   hold the lead right where her rear ends  NO SLACK   pull your left hand back to keep her from rushing use your right to point  now you will be walking sideways  in a cross steb but thats only in the beginning .

Do a few tracks like that show her what you want   she soon will figure out  that the same concept applies when tracking into the wind as it is wind to her back .  Do not loose your patience and do not over correct  because she might just give up and say the hell with it  and that is to be avoided :))

It is real hard to evaluate or give advice not seeing your dog 

Try it  and let me know :))

Pia

or you can let the track age longer.  give the air scent a chance to blow clear so your dog will remain focused on the track.  i had to do this with crosswinds.

pjp

More good ideas.  Thank you.  I will give it a try....not so windy today however :)  FTI I am aging about 20 mins for most tracks.

Let's see if we can reduce this confusion!!