Post by DogGoneGood on Jul 16, 2008 19:35:25 GMT -5
STARTING THE DOG ON GROUND SCENT FOR ARTICLES
Have someone drag a dowling with scent on it, twenty feet away (using small steps). Do this a few times to get your dog to use their nose, then increase the size of your steps, but do not increase the distance of the article. Always return to the handler using a circular path.
Remember wind should always be blowing towards your dog when you start. Don't worry if there is no wind. This exercise is continued until your dog is finding articles by using their nose without any problems. Next, make it a little more difficult by hiding the dowling in the grass behind a stump, etc. and let your dog work to find it. Once you have your dog finding articles by using hsi nose and not his eyes, you can start throwing your dowling into the grass short distances. Command your dog to "find" it and, using a long line, encourage him to find it. When he finds it, always let him know he has done a good job with lots of praise. As your dog starts finding an article from some distance, start using two articles, and then three, using a zig-zag pattern.
At each corner, have an article for your dog to find. You can also leave these articles partway between tracks rather than on corners so that the dog doesn't associate the corner with an article. If the dog zigs when he should zag, correct him. This is your way of finding out if your dog is cheating. Once your dog is very successful in finding three articles, you are ready to increase the distance between them, using five or six intervals, and increasing the distance up to 150 feet.
The next step is human scent, using flagging. Start by going in straight lines. When your dog is working well in straight lines, begin putting in some 45 degree corners. Use your flagging on the corners, using two pieces to indicate to the handler where the turn is in order to proof your dog. If the dog misses teh corner or is playing games, correct him and put him back on track. He will soon learn that he cannot fool you as he thinks you will always know where the corner is.
Next you can begin putting in 90 degree angles and increasing your distance. Remember to use your flagging to indicate the track so the handler can proof it.
When your dog is finding people with no problems, then start to introduce articles along the trail.
When your dog is tracking in straight lines with 90 degree corners, you can start to introduce cross tracks, and then gradually increase the age of your tracks from fifteen minutes to over night.
Enjoy tracking time with your dog! You will not train your dog to track in just one or two weeks. It takes time. Don't try to teach too much all at once as you will only succeed in confusing your dog and will have to start at the begining again. Try not to be impatient and keep in mind that you are both learning.
Scenting and Tracking
Canada West Canine Centre
Have someone drag a dowling with scent on it, twenty feet away (using small steps). Do this a few times to get your dog to use their nose, then increase the size of your steps, but do not increase the distance of the article. Always return to the handler using a circular path.
Remember wind should always be blowing towards your dog when you start. Don't worry if there is no wind. This exercise is continued until your dog is finding articles by using their nose without any problems. Next, make it a little more difficult by hiding the dowling in the grass behind a stump, etc. and let your dog work to find it. Once you have your dog finding articles by using hsi nose and not his eyes, you can start throwing your dowling into the grass short distances. Command your dog to "find" it and, using a long line, encourage him to find it. When he finds it, always let him know he has done a good job with lots of praise. As your dog starts finding an article from some distance, start using two articles, and then three, using a zig-zag pattern.
At each corner, have an article for your dog to find. You can also leave these articles partway between tracks rather than on corners so that the dog doesn't associate the corner with an article. If the dog zigs when he should zag, correct him. This is your way of finding out if your dog is cheating. Once your dog is very successful in finding three articles, you are ready to increase the distance between them, using five or six intervals, and increasing the distance up to 150 feet.
HUMAN SCENT
The next step is human scent, using flagging. Start by going in straight lines. When your dog is working well in straight lines, begin putting in some 45 degree corners. Use your flagging on the corners, using two pieces to indicate to the handler where the turn is in order to proof your dog. If the dog misses teh corner or is playing games, correct him and put him back on track. He will soon learn that he cannot fool you as he thinks you will always know where the corner is.
Next you can begin putting in 90 degree angles and increasing your distance. Remember to use your flagging to indicate the track so the handler can proof it.
When your dog is finding people with no problems, then start to introduce articles along the trail.
When your dog is tracking in straight lines with 90 degree corners, you can start to introduce cross tracks, and then gradually increase the age of your tracks from fifteen minutes to over night.
Enjoy tracking time with your dog! You will not train your dog to track in just one or two weeks. It takes time. Don't try to teach too much all at once as you will only succeed in confusing your dog and will have to start at the begining again. Try not to be impatient and keep in mind that you are both learning.
Scenting and Tracking
Canada West Canine Centre
