Tracking - Page 1

Sorry, just want to start some training topics. 

How many of you guys use the two line method?

What led you to go to this?

Did you try anything prior to going to 2 lines?

What do you like about it?

Why don't you like it?

yeah,Don!!!!!

Never heard of the two line method, or seen two lines being used. Of course, I'm mainly familiar with CKC/AKC style tracking, not schutzhund. Could someone please explain?

i use 2 lines, esp for working article indication.  2 leashes attached to fursaver collar (i put one on the dead ring, the other on a link about 3 links away from the first leash.  turn the collar so that both leashes hang in front of the dog.  one leash goes under each front leg.   handler holds one leash in each hand.  looks kinda like driving a horse.  very good for allowing corrections that don't pull the dog off the track.  i very much like the strong contact with the dog that this arrangement provides; i can feel quickly any changes in the dog.  i suppose you could 'steer' the dog with this method, preventing him leaving the track, but that is not one of my purposes.

Yay Don!

I have not tracked w/2 lines-  I have seen some folks do it with one line on a pinch and the other on either a harness or the deadlink of the fur saver.  In my opinion It seems a little like a milder version of "forced" tracking but also a reasonable way to address some issues in an adult dog.  I'm just getting started with my first sch dog so my experinces are limited and my skill level novice, but I'm interested to hear what others have to say.

No 2-line or forced tracking here.
 I have been using Enthusiastic Tracking by Sil Sanders, and Tracking Dog by Glen Johnson. (You can adjust the methods a bit if you want Sch style--Adding food-drops for every footstep.)
For myself, this seems to be working very well. I am willing to give up a few points to have my dog doing it on her own.
--Mary

This is my husband demonstrating how to use plow lines. He doesn't usually use them, but they can be helpful for puppies and slowing down an over-eager tracker.  This is from a newspaper article that featured a story about a Schutzhund seminar we attended. The dog is Brago.

I use Plow Lines almost all the time (thanks for teaching me this method, Dean!).  Both on dead ring of fur saver, and under each front leg as shown in the picture above.  Helps with straight downs, corners, control, etc..  Mine are very thin leather, approx 15 feet. long.  Obviously these are not for trials.

With a previous dog I used one line on dead ring of fur saver and another on the pinch, but this is not the same as Plow Lines because the line on the pinch is used more for correcting,  than for directing, you don't keep the same pressure on both lines.  This in no way hurt my dog nor did it dimish his drives when tracking, it did "check" his ass and reminded him to be correct.  This is not forced tracking either. 

I have no problem with forced tracking either, I just am not skilled enough to do it.

I am confused by the  comment  about liking "having the dog do it on her own", and here is why:  It seems to me, what our dogs are judged on in  tracking is an obedience exercize, demonstrating our dogs will track what we want, when we want, how we want, as long as we want, and will indicate what we want in the manner we choose.  I  guess I need help in understanding how anything about tracking, other than the fact that the dog is using it's nose, (which has nothing to do with us), in any way is the dog "doing it on her own".

Thank you sueincc for giving an outline of what the differences are.  I'm really liking the sound of the "plow line" technique & would love to learn more about it.

I've tracked with a dog that needed considerable pressure on the tracking line to slow her down. Sometimes I did track her on the live ring of the choke collar. It was either that, or get pulled right off my feet! She had so much drive to track that the occasional correction with the choke wasn't going to put her off her stride.