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by VonIsengard on 05 May 2010 - 18:05
In the past, I have started my dogs in tracking as older puppies/adolescents. I've seen dogs start as old as two and do perfect, and I have puttered around in tracking with my 7 year old UD dog, I started tracking her at 5 and she does surprisingly well. Some years ago, I asked a trainer I know to be very talented with tracking how early you can start and his answer was, "as soon as they know how to down."
What age do you start your puppies? What do you feel are the pros and cons of starting the age you prefer? If you start very young, do you start on scent pads only or go right into tracks? Do you play games with your young dogs/puppies to teach them to use their nose and what are they?
What age do you start your puppies? What do you feel are the pros and cons of starting the age you prefer? If you start very young, do you start on scent pads only or go right into tracks? Do you play games with your young dogs/puppies to teach them to use their nose and what are they?
by hodie on 05 May 2010 - 18:05
"What age do you start your puppies?" - as young as possible, as soon as they are vaccinated....no later than 12 weeks. If safe environment, perhaps even at 8 weeks.
"What do you feel are the pros and cons of starting the age you prefer?" Teaching a work ethic from the very beginning. Everything done to establish a correct foundation when young can be a huge advantage in training, but it must be done carefully to do it correctly. Teaching the dog there is something interesting on the ground is a good thing to teach early on.
"If you start very young, do you start on scent pads only or go right into tracks?"
Scent pads for many, many times until I see specific behaviors. Then move to very, very short linear tracks.
"Do you play games with your young dogs/puppies to teach them to use their nose and what are they?"
They were born "knowing" what their nose is all about. But for fun, I might throw a piece of kibble here or there and tell them to "such" or "find it". In general, games are not necessary. One can also see a given dog using the nose early on if, for example, it is a fanatic about a kong or a ball. Throwing it into more and more difficult situations where the dog cannot see it and MUST rely on the nose is a good way to test a dog's desire to find something. Dogs who will work and work and work at this, trying to find that special object, make excellent detection dogs. I have a female who is very sight impaired from pannus and she will use her nose to locate the kong, even if other dogs have it. She can find it even in their mouth.....
"What do you feel are the pros and cons of starting the age you prefer?" Teaching a work ethic from the very beginning. Everything done to establish a correct foundation when young can be a huge advantage in training, but it must be done carefully to do it correctly. Teaching the dog there is something interesting on the ground is a good thing to teach early on.
"If you start very young, do you start on scent pads only or go right into tracks?"
Scent pads for many, many times until I see specific behaviors. Then move to very, very short linear tracks.
"Do you play games with your young dogs/puppies to teach them to use their nose and what are they?"
They were born "knowing" what their nose is all about. But for fun, I might throw a piece of kibble here or there and tell them to "such" or "find it". In general, games are not necessary. One can also see a given dog using the nose early on if, for example, it is a fanatic about a kong or a ball. Throwing it into more and more difficult situations where the dog cannot see it and MUST rely on the nose is a good way to test a dog's desire to find something. Dogs who will work and work and work at this, trying to find that special object, make excellent detection dogs. I have a female who is very sight impaired from pannus and she will use her nose to locate the kong, even if other dogs have it. She can find it even in their mouth.....
by Mystere on 05 May 2010 - 19:05
8 weeks, in as "safe" an environment as I can find, although you never know what idiot with diseased/disease-carrying dogs has been in the area. 
I just try to keep the puppy away from areas where I know dogs owned by irresponsible idiots who have had parvo outbreaks are likely to have been.
I just try to keep the puppy away from areas where I know dogs owned by irresponsible idiots who have had parvo outbreaks are likely to have been.
by LAVK-9 on 05 May 2010 - 19:05
I started Dar at about 10 weeks.I didn't care about the obedience at the time.I just made it fun and always rewarding no pressure.That way when he was older and was trained and could handle the pressure of any training it wasn't a problem on the track cause he understood it. We have fun now having friends go get "lost" and have him find them.
by wrestleman on 05 May 2010 - 20:05
The sooner the better. They learn very fast that when you tell them the tracking command to start, hell most pups with good food drive will sound like a hoover vacuum on the track. Here we do not have many plowed fields so its all in grass but I would love to start one in dirt one day and then rotate days between grass and dirt. Dogs that are taught on both surfaces seem to do much better in trials.
by GSDPACK on 05 May 2010 - 21:05
I start them when I get them. Some are puppies and I start them as soon as 7 weeks. They are so darn cute...
I have started an 18 mos old female and after 6 months she is up to an FH1.. so depends.
Why? because they got into my hands at that time. LOL
Pack
I have started an 18 mos old female and after 6 months she is up to an FH1.. so depends.
Why? because they got into my hands at that time. LOL
Pack
by sueincc on 05 May 2010 - 21:05
What age do you start your puppies?
When I get them.
What do you feel are the pros and cons of starting the age you prefer?
I start them when I get them because I really don't do much other training with puppies. So this also helps in bond development. Since we don't teach dogs/puppies to track, we teach them to obey and follow the scent of the track that we choose and indicate articles also in the manner we choose, it really is intense obedience if you think about it. I don't do much of any other formal obedience training with puppies anyway.
If you start very young, do you start on scent pads only or go right into tracks?
I do both right from the start. I lay good sized scent pad & a short track off of it, (both heavily baited) I might lay 3 of these short little tracks w/scent pads each morning.
Do you play games with your young dogs/puppies to teach them to use their nose and what are they?
I want it to be a fun game already for the puppy. I always tie my pup out where he can see me laying the tracks. I sing "what is this seek, seek, seek" over and over in a high pitched voice, which gets him excited, I continue to to sing the little song as I bring him to the track, every time. So it's also good for me that I start when they are small and easily controlled when they are amped!
When I get them.
What do you feel are the pros and cons of starting the age you prefer?
I start them when I get them because I really don't do much other training with puppies. So this also helps in bond development. Since we don't teach dogs/puppies to track, we teach them to obey and follow the scent of the track that we choose and indicate articles also in the manner we choose, it really is intense obedience if you think about it. I don't do much of any other formal obedience training with puppies anyway.
If you start very young, do you start on scent pads only or go right into tracks?
I do both right from the start. I lay good sized scent pad & a short track off of it, (both heavily baited) I might lay 3 of these short little tracks w/scent pads each morning.
Do you play games with your young dogs/puppies to teach them to use their nose and what are they?
I want it to be a fun game already for the puppy. I always tie my pup out where he can see me laying the tracks. I sing "what is this seek, seek, seek" over and over in a high pitched voice, which gets him excited, I continue to to sing the little song as I bring him to the track, every time. So it's also good for me that I start when they are small and easily controlled when they are amped!
by B.Andersen on 05 May 2010 - 21:05
We start our puppies after weaning playing hide and seek for their food. Not tracking but searching or hunting
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