(all ready to go!)
I am so fortunate to have found a dog like Dieter. I have had such a great year with the little guy training in the sport of schutzhund. I have been to numerous seminars since the new year and each one I have attended, Dieter comes out always does his best and I have yet to be disappointed in his performance.
This past weekend we attended our first tracking only seminar being held just outside of Hamilton, Ontario - hosted by the Scentrail Ontario Trackers. It was a mixed group of CKC/AKC competitors and schutzhund competitors. There was a great variation of dogs ranging from GSDs, Labs, a Berner and even a Coton de Tulear - and last but definitely not the least, 2 Dobermans! Dieter and another red male. There was also an auditor present who recently imported a young dobe from California with the hopes of getting into schutzhund with her new pup.
At the scent pad
Mid-section of a serpentine track
Working well with the loose line (no more opposition reflex!)
Receiving our critique/recommendations
Anyways, the weekend was filled with great food, interesting people and great tips from Joanne on her methods of tracking. I was a bit nervous bringing Dieter out especially with how frustrated I have been with him the past couple of months, however his tracking was pretty good. He is still a novice and I did use bait on the track - however Joanne only had positive things to say after each one of his tracks. The only negative was my method of training of articles was not as effective as I thought :-S Soooo I am going to try her method. Now after only two sessions using her method off the track - there is already a marked improvement!
Waiting to do articles Off the Track
Initially standing at his side, rewarding him with food for looking at the article
Eventually standing over him dropping food
A few tips to share from the weekend:
- In training she never brings the dog straight up to the scent pad, usually on an angle to force them to figure out track directionality.
- Harness vs. Collar? Shouldn't matter, however less equipment is ideal (therefore collar).
- A focused tracking dog is calm and contained.
- No bad emotions on track - Just be NEUTRAL (easier said then done).
- Always vary where you hold your line and during which portion of the track.
- Always work young dogs with serpentine tracks - Not straight lines.
- Introduce different terrains early.
- Use low scent food in small pieces (freezing or low moisture foods help prevent ant swarms).
- Your dog will not starve - build food drive by missing a few meals or two
- Leaving the track and choosing to go to something more interesting is a "correctable offense".
(i.e. ground hog hole or if you have a male, going to pee on some brush).
- NEVER make assumptions
(Special thanks to Dianne for taking all my photos!!)
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