May 19, 2011
My dog tracks, but when I down him on articles, he’s always looking at to throw the ball and won’t restart the track. What can I do?
Full Question:
Hi Ed. My name is Bob. I bought a pup from you and many tapes. I need some help with the down on the article. My dog knows sook, but when I do it while training the down on the article he is always looking for the ball in my pocket that I free him with after I do the sook platz. He platz near the article, but he wont sook when I do this training any ideas and do I have to use food after he downs on the article?Bob
Ed's Answer:
Set up your training with this in mind:
Lay straight leg tracks (long ones) with a number of articles (10). Tracking is like everything else in dog training, only focus on one problem at a time. That's why we keep straight tracks without complications.
Initially do one or two tracks into the wind (to make it easier for the dog). When you lay your articles, lay food 4 or 5 feet past the article. Put a couple of food drops between articles.
By having the dog track into the wind he should be able to smell the food drop.
If these first tracks go well then switch to have the wind at your back. Now the dog will have to restart a track to find the food. If he does not re-start you can try a food drag away from the article (with the wind at your back).
Get away from the ball for the down use food. In fact I would try random downs, when the dog is down I would let him see me place a piece of food down on the ground about 10 feet from him. I would force him to down if he tried to get up. When I saw the drive build because of the frustration from being forced to lay down while he knows there is food over there I would give the "souk" command and let him go find it. This can all be done off the track.
Lay straight leg tracks (long ones) with a number of articles (10). Tracking is like everything else in dog training, only focus on one problem at a time. That's why we keep straight tracks without complications.
Initially do one or two tracks into the wind (to make it easier for the dog). When you lay your articles, lay food 4 or 5 feet past the article. Put a couple of food drops between articles.
By having the dog track into the wind he should be able to smell the food drop.
If these first tracks go well then switch to have the wind at your back. Now the dog will have to restart a track to find the food. If he does not re-start you can try a food drag away from the article (with the wind at your back).
Get away from the ball for the down use food. In fact I would try random downs, when the dog is down I would let him see me place a piece of food down on the ground about 10 feet from him. I would force him to down if he tried to get up. When I saw the drive build because of the frustration from being forced to lay down while he knows there is food over there I would give the "souk" command and let him go find it. This can all be done off the track.
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