Tracking

[blacklabrador]

I am interested in learning more about tracking and I would like to give my pointer pup the best start. What kind of things should I be doing with him as a 14 week old pup besides basic obedience? He is VERY food oriented (as keen as any lab pup I've ever had).

I also have a 6 year old lab who will retrieve random items I hide for him after I've rubbed them on my skin and asked him to take them in his mouth for a second. He has a good drive for searching for a particular toy if I am throwing the "wrong" thing for the dogs to retreive. He will spend ten minutes searching and not partipating in the game until he finds the toy he wants me to throw. As he gets older his drive becomes more specific. Would be be a good candidate for tracking or would it be a waste of time?

Where are the tracking clubs in Brisbane area?

[speedy2]

I am interested in learning more about tracking and I would like to give my pointer pup the best start. What kind of things should I be doing with him as a 14 week old pup besides basic obedience? He is VERY food oriented (as keen as any lab pup I've ever had).

I also have a 6 year old lab who will retrieve random items I hide for him after I've rubbed them on my skin and asked him to take them in his mouth for a second. He has a good drive for searching for a particular toy if I am throwing the "wrong" thing for the dogs to retreive. He will spend ten minutes searching and not partipating in the game until he finds the toy he wants me to throw. As he gets older his drive becomes more specific. Would be be a good candidate for tracking or would it be a waste of time?

Where are the tracking clubs in Brisbane area?

Hi Pointeeblab,

All dogs can track. Whether they are taught the correct way, and are interested enough to follow the scent is another question, as is how committed is the owner.

Check out the various tracking club websites and their links pages -

http://www.trackingclubnsw.org.au

http://www.trackingclubvic.org.au

http://members.iinet.net.au/~mfmargot/tracking.html

Tracking is done in the northern area of NSW, around Grafton. How far is that away from you? I don't know about Brisbane tracking groups.

Nowadays dogs have to indicate articles - here's an interesting website - http://www.schutzhund-training.net/trackin...ngarticles.html.

You can start by teaching your dog how to indicate articles.

You can start very simply and very small. First off, work out for each dog what is the best reward. By the sounds of it your lab loves a particular toy. Or it might be food. It probably won't be the same for both dogs. Then that treat/toy should only be used for tracking. Start by hiding it, in the house, in the backyard etc. Work with 1 dog at a time. When the dog finds the treat/toy, go ballistic with it and get the dog really enjoying himself/herself. Make him/her really WANT to find that thing, and that's the only time he gets to play with it. As the dog progresses, attach a word, like 'track' to the activity. Make it gradually harder. If the dog fails, back up and make it easier.

Then find out when your local tracking club starts training (we generally only train in winter because of snakes).

However, this is a hard discipline. You will have to get up early, get wet, drive a lot, maybe get bogged etc. If you like to sleep in, don't try tracking.

[MrsD]

Blab check the back of your Dog World, they should be listed in there with the obedience clubs, here are the details I have for them. There are 2 in SEQld -

Evergreen Tracking Club

Contact- Mrs D Lamprecht

52 McCormack Road

South Kurwongbah 4503

(07) 3886 6452

&

All Breed Tracking Club

Contact - Ms Deb Sunners

24 Cremin St

Upper Mt Gravatt 4122

(07) 3349 2233

HTH.

Edited January 2, 2009 by MrsD

[Sallygirl]

Hello,

we start with the puppies and inexpert dogs in a field or in the wood, not in the streets ( city). We lay a t-shirt or other big clothes on the way and the victim provoke the dog with speciallyy food and nice voice. He runs 10-15 meters behind a bush or tree. The Mantrailer goes to the sniffarticel and says in the time where the dog smells on it the commando and GO!! Don´t say now everything, don´t run when the dog have much speed. Take the position for drive ski at big dogs, than you can not fall on the earth.