May 19, 2011
My dog has a problem keeping her nose to the ground, she is more interested in prairie dogs and coyote scat. What can I do?
Full Question:
I've watched your three videos on tracking. I don't think I am doing everything correct. What should a beginning track look like. Where to locate? How long? Various markings? etc. Suzy wants to air sent and get to my son really quickly and not work her nose into the ground. She is interested in the prairie dog holes and coyote scat. At the end she is not interested in her rabbit fur toy but would rather go of and investigate the surrounding area. How do I find a prairie dog free or wildlife free area.Your friend and follower in Colorado,
Mark
Ed's Answer:
There are a couple of issues here:
1. The dog must be 10 to 12 months old to do TTD.
2. The dog must have the drive for this work, not all do.
3. His first tracks must be straight leg tracks, away from the dog, that the dog sees the helper as he runs away (500 to 600 yards).
4. It is not important that a dog track with his nose to the ground, it's only important that the dog find the person at the end of the track. This is not sport tracking where the dog is graded on a nose to the ground. This is practical tracking where only one thing counts - find the person at the end of the track.
5. If specific items in the environment distract your dog, you need to find places to start the training that does not have this distraction. Not having access to an area is not a dog problem; it's a handler problem.
6. You need to find what motivates the dog at the end, maybe it has to be 1/2 a can of Alpo that the tracklayer takes with him. It just needs to be something that trips the dogs trigger. This is a handler's job to figure it out. Again, if nothing does then you may be trying to do this work with the wrong dog or it's too young. The RCMP flunk 50% of the dogs that start their program and these are dogs that they selection test before they start.
1. The dog must be 10 to 12 months old to do TTD.
2. The dog must have the drive for this work, not all do.
3. His first tracks must be straight leg tracks, away from the dog, that the dog sees the helper as he runs away (500 to 600 yards).
4. It is not important that a dog track with his nose to the ground, it's only important that the dog find the person at the end of the track. This is not sport tracking where the dog is graded on a nose to the ground. This is practical tracking where only one thing counts - find the person at the end of the track.
5. If specific items in the environment distract your dog, you need to find places to start the training that does not have this distraction. Not having access to an area is not a dog problem; it's a handler problem.
6. You need to find what motivates the dog at the end, maybe it has to be 1/2 a can of Alpo that the tracklayer takes with him. It just needs to be something that trips the dogs trigger. This is a handler's job to figure it out. Again, if nothing does then you may be trying to do this work with the wrong dog or it's too young. The RCMP flunk 50% of the dogs that start their program and these are dogs that they selection test before they start.
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