Tracking age

[annie]

Hi,
I am just starting tracking training aiming ScH trial,someday...Have just read one article from Mr. Kerr (winner of two world tracking trials,thats what i understood..) stating that tracking should be performed only after abilities of protection and obedience have been proved to be ok..
Any comments on that ?
Is there an appropriate age for tracking ?
Regards,
Annie

[trackermom]

You can start to lay the basework with any puppy, there really is no right age... Even if your dog does not work out in Sch, you can compete in AKC tracking or even search and rescue. To start puppy tracks lay out food close together on the ground in your footsteps, the puppy will sniff along the ground to find the food, this lays the basics when "starting" a pup... But i'm sure you've done some tracking research as your looking into a Sch career for your dog.

[fbkeays]

Fizbin really was my first tracking dog. I started training him when he was about 9 months old- only because that was how old he was when I got laid off from work and had the time. Now that I know what I am doing, my next puppy will start tracking as soon as I get her. With all training, the younger the better to lay a foundation.

[sherri]

I started tracking my puppy the day after he got off the plane at 7 weeks. Don't be afraid, but try to find someone who can show you how it's done. It is very hard (if not impossible) to convey everything you need to know over the net. Good luck to you and your puppy.

[poohbearsmom]

Tracking behaviors can be imprinted very early. 6 weeks or so.

We had a seminar in town when my youngest was 11 weeks old or so. We used him to show how to lay a track, and teach a dog. It was amazing.

In other words, I don't believe you have to wait until the obedience and protection are under way.

Tracking is the one phase of SchH that you don't teach a dog. Tracking is instinctual. Dogs track because it's a survival instinct. Track well, eat well.
We only shape the behavior to our needs.

Have fun.

[Muckdogs]

Originally Posted by annie

Hi,
I am just starting tracking training aiming ScH trial,someday...Have just read one article from Mr. Kerr (winner of two world tracking trials,thats what i understood..) stating that tracking should be performed only after abilities of protection and obedience have been proved to be ok..
Any comments on that ?
Is there an appropriate age for tracking ?
Regards,
Annie

At first, when I read this I thought "What a stupid thing to say" but I think that I may be looking at it in the wrong context. If what he means is that you should not waste your time teaching a dog to track that is early on determined to be weak nerved, environmentally insecure, etc. etc. which would make the dog a poor candidate for work in protection and obedience. I agree. Find another dog. But if what he is saying is that a dog should not be tracked until the dog proves itself in ob and protection, I say that's a huge waste of training time in tracking that has been missed for the very young ages. Tracking is fun, although when training time is constrained, it is usually the first to get pushed aside. It is fun to watch little pups track and they should be encouraged to do so long before ob and protection even appears on the horizon. That's my .02.

[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

This is one exercise you can start a very young puppy on, unlike some others. I started my puppy tracking when he was 10 weeks, he is getting very good. He has great drives, especially food. You can really have some fun with tracking.

[damp]

I will go so far and say, the sooner you start tracking the better!

[lblax]

Originally Posted by damp

I will go so far and say, the sooner you start tracking the better!

yep as soon as they can sniff although i wait until the 1st couple of batches of shots are done if you will be practicing where racoons and such may have been

[Diane Heller-Vaccaro]

Good point about the shots. I think my puppy had 2 shots before we started and I was still very nervous taking him off my property.

[blackandtan]

I feel that tracking is one of the things you can do right away. A lot of time people do too much obedience and protection too soon. But I feel the earlier you start tracking the better.

Lay puppy tracks. Keep it fun and short. You can also stamp out a 1 yard by 1 yard square with tons of footprints and put food in many of the footsteps in the square. Helps train the dog to keep his nose down and to use it. Point out the treats if they miss some.

But tracking is an art and is one of the hardest things to master (for a lot of people). Thats why you see a lot of hard biting dogs that dont have SchH titles at times. It takes a lot of work and some dogs simply don't have the genetics on that one aspect.

When you get to the more advanced stages of tracking, I would highly recomend you work with someone who is experienced. After a while its just repition and experience for the dog.





Vasko Vom Eschenhagen
SchH III, AD, BH, RTD, CGC
www.teamvasko.com

[BostonRott]

I agree, tracking with a young puppy is certainly "do-able." Its fun, positive and something that comes naturally. It will give you an easy way to start building the working bond early.

In SchH, puppies are started on scent pads. In AKC tracking, they are started on puppy tracks. They already know how to use their nose, they simply need to learn how to follow a desired scent (the one on the track).

Some things to be careful of: dogs lose a lot of moisture when tracking, if you're in a very hot environment, be sure to have plenty of water around. If you have fire ants in the area, do not use a very moist bait, no sense in the puppy having a bad experience early in life. Finally, remember to keep it all positive, not even negative voice corrections with a puppy.....allow the pup time to work through the problem and be successful, then the lesson will really stick in their head!