Article methods - Page 1

Since we are about to start articles with my daughter's dog, I figured it would be constructive to talk about specific methods.

I had to each articles FAST on my last dog, so I did not teach it in what may have been the most effective way. While she indicated well and passed her tracking with a lovely 94, I felt she saw the articles as a neccesary evil, "oh damn, another one of those things I have to lay on before I can track some more".

This time around, I'm in no rush, and have been collecting ideas. I'm curious about specifics.

If I am adding an article on to the track with bait under it, how far on the track are you laying article when you introduce them? Do you put them on straight line tracks only when you start or is laying them on a track with turns right away ok?  Do you lay extra articles in the beginning to help the dog figure it out? When I titled my last dog I did not teach articles on the track at all, rather, I taught them separately and added them later. Do any of you do that? What do you find to be most effective?

I do have several brilliant colleagues I go to for advice, but I figured why not make a useful topic that can be a learning experience for more people than just me.

With my current dog I taught them off the track, instead of on the track like i had done previously and I thought it was a lot easier.   So I did it off the track, probably like everyone does, then when he was real solid with that, I put articles on a short straight track, but a lot of articles, like 6 or 8 articles, each maybe 15 feet apart.  I would be up with the dog and give him a lot of verbal handler help & leash pop at each article, then bait and praise at each article.  Each time I would do a short article track like that, then a normal track but with no articles on it.   Then I could see he was downing on his own, I started putting the articles on the regular track.  One thing I did wrong, that I am correcting now:  On the regular track, when I came up to  the article, I was rewarding with bait from my hand, so my dog started to turn slightly and look at me after he downed at each article.  My training director had me change so that what I do now is I come up to the article and tap it and then put bait down without the dog seeing it come from my hand, and this is working, he is now watching the article instead of looking back at me.

I will  teach article indication on the track.  Heavily baited straigt track with 10-15 articles  You MUST know exactly where each article is.   As soon as the dogs nose touched the article thell it to platz with a mild correction.  As time passes if the dog starts to down do not correct but reinforce with food.  After the dog has got the idea I will reinforce off the track with a small area search and give food rewards when the dog indicates the article.  I try to keep all my tracking things as motivational as possible

First and most dog has to know Platz and second not to put the bait under article he might flip the article and learn to play with it  I do it by putting 5 articles about  10 feet apart in one line  and planty of bait on top of them and then just walk the dog without any command on 6 foot leash as he reach and eats food go to his side  have more bait in my closed hand hold it on the top of article and ask him to platz then give him food and alot of praise then go to next one  till he plaz and wait for me   and then go on on other steps of tracking all this is done away from track till he masters the articles then bring it to track  .I have a very fast and crazy dog  . she learned the article before turns to calm her down  .Also no correction on tracking you can pull the leash down to help him to Platz but No pop or vebal correction .Article has be most  happy area of the track  so he will look for that REST AREA .

Good point euro I forget to put that in my post the dog need to know platz first..

I agree with the methods posted here, excellent advice.  I have also incorporated a clicker into the article training to mark the platz and indication.  I teach articles off the regular track, with a straight track with several articles spaced about 10' - 15' apart.  The dog already understands the track command and the platz command when I start articles.  AS the dog approaches the article, I will give the platz command and a quick pop downward on the leash.  I am next to the dog when I do this.  When the dog 's nose touches the article and starts to down I will click and then reward.   I feed and praise calmly at the article, making the article a happy place.  I wiil put a piece of food on the ground just after the article, to cause the dog to stop.

I don't bait the track directly after the article, I find the smell of food will make some dogs bolt from the article to get to the next piece of food.  It also distracts a highly food driven dog when at the article.  I will pet the dog at the article, feed and remove the article.  I then praise and feed some more.  When I am ready to restart the dog, I will cover it eyes quickly with one hand as I praise and toss a piece of food with the other hand about one foot in front of the dog on the track.  It is a "slight of hand" move, the dog starts to track and is immediately rewarded with food, but prevents bolting from the platz like a race horse out of the gate. 

To proof the articles I will pick up a rock, twig, or pine cone, etc.  I will carry it briefly then add to the track as an article.  If the dog understands that it is supposed to indicate on anything with Human odor, it will easily indicate on a rock or twig.  I have had my police dog indicate on twigs smaller that a match stick, the flower from a dandelion, dimes etc when doing area searches.  There is no doubt I could pick up a blade of grass, hold it for a few minutes and drop it in a field and my dog will go and search and lay down with it between his front legs. 

I don't recommend using rocks or sticks very often for SchH dogs, just every now and then to proof the exercise and impress your fellow club members.  Oh, and when you are out tracking and realize you forgot your articles, sticks work well.

FWIW,

Jim

Great point on not laying food after the article, Jim.  Habanero, I had my last dog doing area searches for articles well before I ever put them on the track itself. I found it made the articles on the track very easy for her. I really think my old way would have woked very well had I not had to rush it, but this time I will try introducing them on the track, just for something different.

Now, at what point do you discern the dog is ready for articles? Length? Age? number of turns? Amount of bait? At what point do you say "we're ready for articles?"

For me I introducee when the dog seems comfortable with the track.  One good track is not a good enough indicator but after the dog is doing more consistantly decent tracks I will introduce the articles,  Also after I run a track  that I use compulsion I will tray to make tthings as fun as I can at the end.  Play ball food etc. Maybe alternate with a motoational  track or two.  

Having said that if you are able to catch my brother at a trial where he is judging he really has a much better handle on the tracking and is pretty relaxed about sharing a few thoughts 

I have heard of people who keep their articles in closed baggies, and never handle them, they take them out with tongs.  Why is this?

Hmm. I handle my scent articles for AKC Utility work with tongs, but not tracking articles. I'd be interested in that, too.