$7.99 Flat Rate Shipping
$7.99 Flat Rate Shipping
Conditions apply. Learn more.
Wishlist
May 19, 2011

My new police dog lifts his leg all the time on the track. My voice correction does not seem to phase him. What should I do?

Full Question:
Dear Mr. Frawley,



My name is Matt Fisher and I am a new K-9 handler for the Wooster Police Dept., in Wooster Ohio. My department purchased my K-9 from a "dog trainer" in Ohio and needless to say I have been less than impressed. My dog Ringo is about two and he has needed some serious overhauls. We've had to overcome a serious sleeve fixation and I am currently working on changing his tracking from footstep to tracking through drive.



Luckily for me my friend Doug Hunter a K-9 for the Wayne County Sheriffs Dept. has turned me on to your web site, videos, and way of thinking. Ringo seems to be responding well to the tracking through drive. His body posture is getting easy to recognize and he pulls well in his harness when he has scent. We have done approximatly 50 training tracks and the last 25 have been unknown. He seems to run these tracks well and always gets to the end. The problem I'm having is that he stops to pee at almost every tree he finds. I always get him out to go to the bathroom before we start, but this constant peeing is slowing us down considerably. I've watched your videos on tracking and never give him a line correction, but I do give him a calm phooey which isn't seeming to deter him. I'm worried that if I over correct him he will lose his interest/drive in tracking and I'll regress in my progress. However, it seems that this constant peeing is really slowing us down. I would really appreciate your advice.



Thank You,
Matt
Cindy
Cindy Cindy's Answer:
Go back and use a 10 to 15 foot leash in tracking. This keeps you closer to the dog while he works.



You need to experiment with stronger voice corrections - or you can go to your dog and correct him with a slap in the butt or grab him and shake him a little. This needs to be done very carefully. If you have a soft dog this could shut him down. So you must be careful.



If you do start doing this - then you also need to move up and down the line to praise the dog as he tracks. You do not want him to get defensive or shy away from you when you approach him on the track. For every time you correct him you need to move to him and praise him 3 times.

100% (4 out of 4)
respondents found this answer helpful
Did you find this Q&A helpful?
Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes
100% (4 out of 4)
respondents found this answer helpful

Did you find this Q&A helpful?

Recommended Products
Scroll to Top