Question about Tracking...

[mamamia1]

I have started to look into what kind of training is available for working dogs in my area and have found my choices are pretty slim other than basic obdience.:( But I did find a Tracking Club that is relatively close. I'm thinking that this would be a blast and would really fit with my girls love to search for things.

Question: Once I start this kind of training, will I ever be able to get her nose off the ground again?

[mamamia1]

DRATS! I just found out the club I thought was close is 4 hours away. Can anyone suggest any training clubs for working dogs in Southwestern Ontario, Canada??????

[IJF1]

Originally Posted by mamamia1

Question: Once I start this kind of training, will I ever be able to get her nose off the ground again?

Yes, nothing to worry about.

Like the other areas of training, there is obedience connected to it. Your dog tracks when you command it to.

Same as training a dog to scale 6ft - does not mean your dog will be jumping over your fence!

[brunie's mom]

I'm in the same shoes as you...no tracking club near me...too hard for me to do a days drive and be away from the boarding dogs for a day also.

I've been having fun on my own...and using my tracking book. I am hoping to make it to a tracking seminar next month that is only an hour away.

You give your dog the command to track...and they learn to keep following the track...so I don't think you will have any problems to keep her nose off the ground.

I would also suggest you go to yahoogroups and join the CKC- Tracking forum.
If you post there you may be able to find some experienced members in your area that will help you along and give you some pointers.

Gina

[mamamia1]

Thanks again for the advice!

Gina: Where are you located? It really sucks having no good venues close for working or even training our dogs. But we do what we can.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by mamamia1

Thanks again for the advice!

Gina: Where are you located? It really sucks having no good venues close for working or even training our dogs. But we do what we can.

It's a PITA...having nothing much around. I want to do so much....but with limited stuff around it's hard.

I'm in the Collingwood area....two hours north of Toronto. Not much dog stuff around here....mostly rural people, or retired people.

I would suggest you order 'Enthusiastic Tracking' The Step-by-Step Training Handbook by William (Sil) Sanders You can order it on-line from Chapters or Indigo. This is the book that the CKC tracking group suggested to me.

Gina

[fbkeays]

I didn't join a tracking club until after Fizbin earned his TDX. It is possible to be sucessful in tracking by yourself. It is best if you have a tracking buddy to keep you motivated and get out on cold mornings. My first tracking buddy had even less experience in tracking then I did and I didn't have much.
We both got the Glen Johnson book. We got some advice from a mutual friend that had put a couple of TD's on dogs years before. My first tracking test that I went to was the one that I entered. I would not recommend doing that!
AKC had a list of tracking judges on-line- does the CKC have that? If so, I would contact the nearest tracking judge and ask them if they know of any tracking people in your area that might be willing to help a new person out. Tracking people are fabulous. Ask them if they know of anyone holding classes too.

[IJF1]

Originally Posted by fbkeays

We both got the Glen Johnson book.

That is a great book IMO.

[mamamia1]

Thanks for all the info... I'll check it out. Word out to any trackers in my area looking for a buddy.