Tracking In The Snow Question ?

[ACERSMOM]

This past Sunday I decided to try our first track in the snow. It was so great for me because I could see how straight (not) that I walked and could really follow every footstep made and know exactly when my boy was on. The problem I had is my guy is very visual and looks for the easy way to track. When we first were starting out he learned to follow the flags or any other marking that I layed down for my benefit.
The same happened with the snow tracks. He figured out right after the first leg that I just can sight in on the footsteps and do not have to put my nose down except every couple of steps or so. I tried not moving forward, until he put his head down, but he moves really fast on a track and it seemed to mess him up to where he thought he was wrong and then started off on the cross tracks.

My question is do I not track in the snow, because this is getting him to raise his head and just look a head and follow the actual footsteps ? Should I use more bait to try to slow him down and keep his nose on the track? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[samanthac]

I had this issue with Disel. My suggestions would be as follows:

Try bait in every footstep for now. Make sure your bait is not too smelly like hotdogs or cheese tend to be...try kibble as it smells, but not as strong... it pulls their nose down and they have to work harder to find it. Also, make sure the dog cannot see the bait in the track...another thing kibble is nice for as it tends to blend in better and makes it harder to see. In order to do that, try pressing the kibble down into the footstep with your foot...they have to work harder to smell it that way and it naturally brings their nose down. When he works the track without lifting his nose as all, then try skipping footsteps with bait and gradually removing the food if you so desire.

Also, be very aware of where your breeze is. If the breeze is coming at him on the track, it will blow the scent of the bait into his face and pull his head up to air scent as is natural for dogs. If the breeze is to your side, you may find he will side track a few inches to the side of the track. I usually do not make too much of an issue of this as long as his nose is down and he does not go off more than a foot either way. He usually stays within a half foot. If the breeze is towards your back, it blows the bait scent away from him and almost naturally keeps his nose down as he can smell it but has to work harder for it.

Also, Disel used to track very fast. You need to set the pace of the track. I tried using two collars and two leads and worked him like a plow. I walked very slowly and controlled the pace. Now he tracks much slower and more methodically.

I hope this helps. I have been tracking for a year now, but perhaps there are others that have done it longer that can provide more info/suggestions.

[Miabella]

This thread is quite timely for me! I just signed up for an AKC tracking seminar in January, and I'm awaiting the arrival of some tracking books. Can't wait to get started, I will have time over the next few weeks to do some foundation work. I guess my only question is, is there any reason why our first tracks can't be in snow? We have a mix of snow and grass on the ground now in DC, but I'm also hoping to do some work when I go up to Massachusetts before the holidays. Lots of nice fields available, but they WILL have snow on them!!

[DNeff]

Another thing that may help the head up during tracking is letting the track age a bit more. Many times, the scent is still quite strong and there is no need to put their head down to smell it. Try aging the track a bit longer and see if it makes a difference in his posture.

Laurie- Riven and I had our first tracking seminar in the snow. It is fine to practice in the snow, plus as mentioned before, it makes following the track so much easier for the handler. :)

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[Miabella]

Great! I've been feeling stymied by the icy conditions over the past few days, haven't gotten in any jumping practice since last Wednesday. It will be nice have something we can work on in the ice and snow, I bet we're going to have a very white winter on the East Coast.

[ACERSMOM]

Will the scent be stronger with the snow ? We currently age the track at about 45 minutes now, which we have progressively lenghtened. He is currently tracking with about 5 turns and maybe around 500 yards. I am tracking with a harness and a long line, but I used to just use a 6' lead. I was thinking maybe I should switch back to the short lead so I would have more control.

If I slow him down he thinks he is wrong, which he is not, and then he starts to cast about. At this point I do not want to go back to bait in every footstep, which we have not done for months. I usually use bait after the start and then sporatically on the track. I also use articles with bait after our turns ( 5 paces) as a reward for the turn. This has worked well for us and kept his interest in the track until we had the snow. I think I will try the kibble rather then hotdogs and see if that helps as it will be harder to find and should keep his nose where it belongs!

[DNeff]

Tracking in the snow can be easier on some dogs. Check out this article. http://www.basset.net/craig14.html

I would definitely try aging the track longer and see if you can get his head down.

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[samanthac]

Great article Dawn!

[Miabella]

Hey Dawn, is there a Versatility title in Riven's future? :)

[DNeff]

Originally posted by Miabella
Hey Dawn, is there a Versatility title in Riven's future? :)

You bet! I really want his VX and his VCD2. Here's hoping. :)

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[ACERSMOM]

Thanks so much for the help and the article. After reading the article and comparing the conditions, you are right, I should have aged the track longer. This was very early in the morning and the air was very dry with little wind so the scenting was quit good. I had never tracked in the snow before and did not have any information as a reference. The crosstracks were more interesting to my boy than ususal, just like the article stated. Very often where I go to track it, I do have to deal with a lot of cross tracks, so we are getting lots of early TDX experience.
I have found that with learning about scent and tracking conditions it helps to be part meterologist. :D

Thanks againg, Becky

[lblax]

Originally posted by DNeff
Another thing that may help the head up during tracking is letting the track age a bit more. Many times, the scent is still quite strong and there is no need to put their head down to smell it. Try aging the track a bit longer and see if it makes a difference in his posture.

Dawn + Osa
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CDX OAC OJC OGC OAJ NA TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

there has been several studies done and becayuse of the dogs height and line of site they really cant see the footprints(unless of course its deep enough that you are making a trench to follow) in soft wet snow i let mine age about 45 min. and i also use less food in the snow.but like the advice above let it age

[excellrott]

At what age did you guys start with teaching tracking? Did you start at home, in a class setting or where? What book do I need to start my young dogs? (7m & 19M)

[Judi W]

Although I no longer track, when I did, we usually started the babies at about 12 weeks.......... hard on your back, but it really gets them going.

[ACERSMOM]

I did not start my guy until he was @3 and at first I just bought a couple of books on the subject, and worked on my own. At that time I did join a newly formed tracking club, but the club never developed and just disolved. I was not really serious just played around with it when I could find the time. I then heard about and took a 6 week course with an AKC tracking judge and that has inspired me to get out and work at it harder, because she gave me such compliments on my guy and his abilities. It is hard for me to find the time and a place to track with all of the other things that I do. Plus I am better when I have the dscipline of an instructor to help me, although with my guy I can not track too often because I need to keep his interest up as he can become bored with things too easily.

I wish I would have started earlier because it would have been great to do when I was waiting for him to develope and grow up enough to show in breed. It is a wonderful way to work your dog and I feel that they really enjoy it and find it rewarding.