May 19, 2011

What kind of food do you recommend using on the track for sport?

Full Question:
My dog is not a great food hound. What kind of food do you recommend using on the track for sport when he only shows marginal drive to track?
Ed
Ed Ed's Answer:
This is not an uncommon problem. Use canned cat food. Dogs seem to like these small cans of cat food. They are easy to carry around and can be placed at the end of the track. They work especially well in the dryer climates where there are real problems with ants and bugs getting on the food that's left while the track ages. The can be set down at the end and not opened until the dog gets to the end of the track.

If a dog does not show a lot of interest in tracking or needs to be coaxed down the track. Then stop the track. Call the dog to heel, and heel him to the end of the track. Sit the dog a few feet from the cat food - go over pick it up and put it away. Then take the dog back to the house and put him in the kennel all day. No more work and no more food for the day. let him think about this.

Do not feed him the next day, take him out and put the cat food (or his normal bowl of food) at the end of the track. The dog will track when he is good and hungry. If he does not track that day, put him up again with no food. These dogs will remember this for the rest of their lives. This is a way of motivating the dog to track without using FORCE.

I am not talking about a dog that gets lost on the track and has difficulties. I am talking about a dog who does not want to put his nose down and hunt for the track.

100% (1 out of 1)
respondents found this answer helpful
Did you find this Q&A helpful?
Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes
100% (1 out of 1)
respondents found this answer helpful

Did you find this Q&A helpful?

Recommended Products
Scroll to Top