Teaching Articles - Page 1

Bump..

Off the track with a clicker for correct indication. Then early, early, early in the dog's tracking career! Why does everyone wait so long????? Shouldn't the dog be tracking for the articles in the long run?

It depends on what your goals are. The first rule of tracking is "you cannot quit". If you want competitve high scores the articles must be taught as an obedience exercise.  The dog must have some conflict when OFF the article. Most trainers believe that tracking is natural. It is not in the way we want it. Having said this I use another trainer to do the heavy hand work. When it is clear to the dog I move back up the line to help the young dog get over the stress. This avoids a lot of handler stress and the exercise moves along much faster. I just made arrainments for this work with my young dog when the snow goes. After trying many different ways this to me is the quickest way to get the dog through. Another GOLDEN RULE is do no other work with the dog as you are teaching this.

I don't think it would occur to either of my dogs to quit. Why must they have conflict off the article? Can't you just make the track harder   so that the article becomes a place to rest up, rather than a safe haven?

How about throwing articles randomly on the ground letting him/her go to them on their own,the minut they sniff it ask them to platz then reward with food?Then fine tune from there....

The thing for me at least is  I don't want my dog to pick up or touch an article (ever), so I tend not to want to do something if I think I am going to have to work to change a habit I started.  I am such a goof I have to do enough of that as it is, let alone knowingly do it!!!!

I start articles off the track.  I have an article in one hand & bait in the other (hidden).  I don't do this until my dog has a fast platz.  I have the dog on a table standing, put my hand open palm with the article just in front of his front paws, command "platz" he lays straight down, I give verbal reward, then bait reward from other hand.  I do this a lot.  Then when I can see he is automatically laying down when I bring the article in front of him I progress to a short track with many articles but start where I can "help" him in the beginning by verbal "platz" & leash pop & so on.  I too eventually add corrections and a little pressure.

I fail to see why it is necesary to introduce conflict into article indication.

The dog learns that by indicating the article in the way he has been taught he will be reinforced with the appropriate reward..................

Perhaps I am dim.

Well first of all I am talking about articles for Schutzhund Tracking.I have seen people place food on top of the article,under the article,using tupperware containers with food in them,etc.
Not only am trying to have a good thread going but also trying to see what has been the most successful method overall.