Gracie tracking

[trackermom]

Gracie attended her first tracking practice this morning and boy does she seem to be a natural... These kids love to use their noses. Its feels great to take a 8 yo dog out and show them a way to exercise their brain. Right now my ADD senior is actually asleep from todays events.... I'm one proud foster momma. MR I tried to get picts. but it was raining, i'll try to snap some at pracite on sat or thrus. She is very meticulous about keeping her nose in the footsteps which is great for AKC tracking..

[MontanaRott]

What a great thing to do with Gracie! We may have to keep that in mind for Stevie, since his vision is impaired but his nose is not!! Tracking is so much fun for them and for us. How long a track did she run? Did you use treats in each step?
I hope you are able to get some shots of her the next time.
Give her a good scratch from me when she rises from her nap.

[trackermom]

Originally Posted by MontanaRott

How long a track did she run? Did you use treats in each step?
I hope you are able to get some shots of her the next time.
Give her a good scratch from me when she rises from her nap.

Just a short "puppy track" it was about 20 paces, with food in everyother foot step, she kept her nose down sniffing the entire time and even tracked me back out from where I laid the track when their was no food in the foot steps. This Gal is really something. Cross your fingers it doesn't rain and we'll get some good shots. I think Stevie would LOVE it. Any dog that is food motivated will "track" with the method of putting food in the foot prints, its taking the food away that shows their real interest and ability.

[MontanaRott]

Guerin is finally running a 350 yard track with no food, some turns and just his article as a reward. Phil is thinking of going for their TD after they finish their CDX.
We will have to lay a short track for Stevie who is VERY food motivated and see what kind of reaction we get from him.
I bet Grace was thrilled to engage her brain! WTG!

[trackermom]

My tracking club just held our 10th anniversary TD test this past weekend. 6 out of 8 dogs achieved their TD. I would have tried for Spoilers unfort. our ILP paperwork has not come back yet... So next year we are hoping for our TD title

[MontanaRott]

Originally Posted by trackermom

My tracking club just held our 10th anniversary TD test this past weekend. 6 out of 8 dogs achieved their TD. I would have tried for Spoilers unfort. our ILP paperwork has not come back yet... So next year we are hoping for our TD title

6 of 8 is pretty darn good! I suspect Spoiler will have that TD in no time. They do a VST test around here now and then and we always go and watch, talk about INTIMIDATING!

[trackermom]

Originally Posted by MontanaRott

6 of 8 is pretty darn good! I suspect Spoiler will have that TD in no time. They do a VST test around here now and then and we always go and watch, talk about INTIMIDATING!

I'm heading off to a VST seminar in acouple of weeks, I can't wait, it's put on by one of the judges that judged our TD.

[work-n-show]

Originally Posted by MontanaRott

Guerin is finally running a 350 yard track with no food, some turns and just his article as a reward. Phil is thinking of going for their TD after they finish their CDX.
We will have to lay a short track for Stevie who is VERY food motivated and see what kind of reaction we get from him.
I bet Grace was thrilled to engage her brain! WTG!

If you are thinking about going for a TD you need to get your dog used to tracking on a harness. If you've been tracking on just a collar, it's definitely different.

[MontanaRott]

Originally Posted by work-n-show

If you are thinking about going for a TD you need to get your dog used to tracking on a harness. If you've been tracking on just a collar, it's definitely different.

Chris we do use a harness and a 40' line. He has been to numerous tracking classes and we are just keeping him in practice until they are ready to give it a go.

[mferg]

Originally Posted by work-n-show

If you are thinking about going for a TD you need to get your dog used to tracking on a harness. If you've been tracking on just a collar, it's definitely different.

Hey Chris. I am planning on doing the TD soon, so I did some tracking on the harness with Ruby. You know, it really didn't seem to make a difference to her. I probably won't track in it but one or two more times before I do the test. Otherwise, it'll be the collar.

It very well might have to do with the way she tracks. She is slow and methodical and doesn't drag on the line. I actually track on a fairly loose line. If she was really leaning into the line, I could see it making quite a difference switching from the collar to the harness.

[BostonRott]

Why a loose line? I've always been taught to keep the line tight, it is a way to tell whether the dog is on or not, by how the line feels. Both AKC and SchH have emphasized a tight line. Just curious.

[trackermom]

Originally Posted by BostonRott

Why a loose line? I've always been taught to keep the line tight, it is a way to tell whether the dog is on or not, by how the line feels. Both AKC and SchH have emphasized a tight line. Just curious.

Yes, the strength of the pull at the other end of the line should show you the dogs commitment to the scent and the direction in which the track leads. If you do not keep the line tight you will also not know when the dog is crittering vs tracking they will be sniffing in the same manner but the commitment to the scent will be different. A tight line also gives your dog the confidence that you are there with them and trust them in where they are leading you. If i loosen up the line on my girl she will pick her head up and look back to me like aren't you coming?

[MontanaRott]

We keep a tight line as well, but Guerin always lets us know when he is working by a very pig like snuffling noise he makes. No pig noise no serious work. The feel of the tight line is just one more indicator for us.

[mferg]

I should clarify that I have a snug line most times, but there have been plenty of times when the line is on the ground. It's just the way it worked out for us. I would love for the dog to drag me down the track, but she just doesn't. I don't know if it is lack of drive for it, or what, but that is how it is. If I was to create a really tight line, I'm positive that it would pull her off. I know, everything I've read says the line should be tight and the dog should be really pulling into it, but that's just not how it's worked out. She tracks very slow, also. She is very methodical. She is also, generally, very precise. I know that everybody that sees her track is impressed with her work. (Both newbies and international level competitors.)

I'm sure I created this tracking style along the way and this is how it is going to be. I'm not going to be able to drastically change her method, but I don't want to. It's working for us. But, yeah, she doesn't have the classicly tight line while tracking. My relative novice interpretation of the tight line is having to really clamp down on the line and having marks in the hand by the end of the track. The dog is trying to drag you along. Perhaps my interpretation is skewed and I really do have a tight line.

But, I completely agree with everything said about keeping a tight line. Except maybe for the crittering. I think keeping a good eye on the dog's body language would be a real indicator of crittering. And, that is what I do. I'm constantly watching and reading the dog. As I said, it's just how it worked out for us. I never said it was the best way to go. (And no, I'm not getting defensive. I recognize the deviation from the norm that we are.)

[fbkeays]

Marlene,
When you come out to the coast this fall, I will show you what a "tight" line is. Fizbin's 33 foot leather line is now nearly 36 feet.
Tracking can be very addictive. It is a great sport for the older dogs as they pick the pace that suits them.
The weather has finally broken so I am going to do our first VST tracking practice in about 6 months tomorrow. Based on how Fizbin does, will enter a test in December.
My understanding with both AKC and ILP registrations, if you haven't gotten the paper work back from the AKC, you can put "'pending" in the box for registration and as long as the name is exactly as you put on the registration paperwork, you can enter AKC events.