Tracking with Dieter has been absolutely awesome. I have been tracking with him since 8 weeks of age at least 2-3 times per week, more if time allows. He has superb food drive, great focus and incredible drive for the work. He is currently easily working through 200-300 paces (still with food dispensed randomly) with multiple left and right turns and with only a bit of "help" on articles. He has worked on a variety of surfaces and although he does best on grass, he seems to willingly work through any other surface. Here are a couple of photos of tracking on a weekday afternoon in a community park.
Working very well through grass cut only recently. The field also had multiple sets of tire marks thorough out. Neither the grass clippings nor the tread marks phased him at all.
"Articles" were initially introduced on the track using metal tins with some high value food rewards in them. After Dieter got the idea that he had to lay down to get those, I gradually moved on to the standard schutzhund articles of fabric, wood and leather. However he still gets a tin of tasty treats at the end of each track he runs.
Way to go Dieter Bop!!
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