Tracking bait - Page 1

I use hot dog chunks for my tracking, any body have any brain storms on how to keep the ants down to a minimum or not at all... This summer there terrible.

Hi Bob,
Freeze your bait and that will allow a little more aging on the track.
                 Jeff

Sometimes I  microwave boneless skinless chicken until it's cooked completely, practically dry as jerky, shred it, stick in a baggie and toss in the freezer.   Works great as tracking bait and doesn't attract as many ants as hot dogs.  Also sometimes I use Natural Balance rolls.

One of the reason most trainers use hot dogs is dogs do not chew them as they pick them up this way they do not do stop and go motion ., as for ants you can put them in the bag with crushed fresh garlic or cook them  with garlic as long as theydo not get hard .

Hey Bob,
I freeze mine and it gives me about 20 minutes before the infestation begins.   I also use little meatballs that I freeze and they take a little longer to thaw out.  I also have a tool that digs a plug of grass out of the ground and leaves a small hole.  The hole is just a little wider  and deeper than a 35 mm film canister.  I can put a larger piece of hot dog in a 35 mm film canister, put the lid on it and drop it in the hole.  The hot dog is sealed in the film canister so bugs can't get in.  The dog has to use a deep nose to find it and actually has no trouble smelling the bait.  The plugs which I drop off the side of the track serve as markers to mark the track and have no human odor to distract the dog. 

To teach the dogs the technique I leave the lid off the canister for the first few tracks.  I do wash the canisters with water and bleach before using them and after and let them sit out after rinsing to dry.

Just a thought.  Like any other good idea I have, someone else invented it.  I think it was a guy in Arizona to avoid scorpions and fire ants.  We have fire ants here and they can be a real pain in the ass.

FWIW,

Jim
 

Freezing works good.  Also frozen Bil Jac.  You can't get this stuff on the west coast, but if you live in a state where it is sold, give it a try.   I used to get it at WalMart in the regular frozen food section when I would go back to Oklahoma.  

I use cubed Natural Balance rolls. You can also freeze it if you like. Attracts less bugs than hot dogs, and healthier and longer lasting.

I always use Liver treats that you get at any local pet food store. They are usually about 4.00 a bag . Aweo=some for tracking K-9's. They come in a Lil blue bag. personal fav is petco. They are the size of a thumbnail. and I've never found ants to be a problem with them...

I tried to use apples once. Bad idea.
Leftover dineer meat, seasoned with garlic, cubed and frozen, works best for me in the warm months.
a lot of my dogs view ant-covered bait as negative reinforcement.

Apples, huh?