Want to get GSD into tracking (Liesje, any tips?)

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Want to get GSD into tracking (Liesje, any tips?)

Posted : 1/29/2010 1:03:49 AM

T-Bone has one heck of a nose. He always turns and waits for me when he's "too far", and resumes his trail when I am close enough. Sometimes I hide treats and tell him "go find it!" and he'll sniff them out, anywhere. He seems to be very focused and like he is enjoying his "job" when on a scent. I need some new hobbies to fight depression and I'd like to include T-Bone in it, it will make us both happy. Anyone know any good sites to get started with tracking? I've read some websites but they're all a little advanced for me (fring etracking, etc. No idea) He loves him some agility, but I worry it is too high impact on his hips at his young age and tracking could be a skill that could some day really be helpful to someone (you never know!)

Liesje, I believe Nikon tracks, right ? I'd appreciate if you can point me in the right direction.

Liesje

Posted : 2/11/2010 6:30:59 PM

Ack!! Sorry I missed this until now. Yes, Nikon does track, Schutzhund style. Kenya will be starting in the spring. At our club I help the new people and show them how to do their first scent pads and tracks, so I was thinking I'd just start fresh with Kenya and use her to demo.

Schutzhund tracking is far more stylized than AKC type tracking (we are SUPER picky about the dog's nose basically being pressed to the ground, the dog checking every footstep, very tight corners, article indication is always a down with the article between the front paws).

The first thing to do is use food on a "scent box" to train the dog to track your scent and crushed vegetation (there is some debate as to whether the dog is actually tracking your scent or the crushed vegetation).

This was the best site ever, but it went offline. However you can still get most of it on the Wayback Machine, it's just missing some pics and video demos:

http://web.archive.org/web/20071225033116/http://www.schutzhundtracking.com/