May 19, 2011
What is your opinion on using food to train a sport tracking dog?
Full Question:
Ed,I am interested in your video, "Training Competition Tracking," but I have a few questions for you. I've read most of your articles on tracking and find the Drive Tracking method quite interesting. I haven't begun training my puppy in tracking yet because I just am not comfortable with what I've been told to do.
My puppy is almost 6 months and is in Schutzhund training and I was told to lay a track using a piece of food on every single footstep. Later, corners are taught by putting a pile of food at the corners and food is tucked inside the articles to get the dog to "indicate" the articles. Finally, somehow, you have to wean the dog off of the food so he can be in a trial, which does not allow food.
My puppy (GSD) has a strong food drive and ball drive, but she also has a very strong prey drive. At 4 months, she barked and went nuts for the puppy tug during training and shook it wildly when she was allowed to catch it. Now, at almost 6 months, she's started biting the puppy sleeve with incredible drive for her age. For this reason, I would like to consider using her prey drive to my benefit for her tracking training. Or, if I can't get her trainer to agree to offer her a bite at the end of the track, I'd like to at least use a ball or toy at the end of the track. I really don't want to get started with this food business---especially as I've been instructed, placing a piece of food on EVERY footstep. I can't imagine the resulting frustration (of both my dog and myself) when I'd have to wean her off the food!
What is your opinion on food training, specifically placing a piece of food on every footstep? Also, your articles speak of the Drive Tracking Training (using a bite or toy as reward) for POLICE DOGS -- what about for Schutzhund? What do you think about having my husband laying the track and then hiding at the end of the track to praise her for finding him as a method for track training?
Nancy
Ed's Answer:
If you are going to train your dog in sport tracking you need to use food for a period of time. Sport tracking is more of an obedience exercise than a tracking exercise. People new to the sport do not understand this.
When you have a dog that is a prey monster (like yours) you will cause nothing but problems by using prey drive in your sport track. The dog will become hectic and track too fast, when the exercise requires a dog that tracks methodically and slow.
Training a dog to track fast is easy; training a dog to track slowly requires a trainer who understands the exercise and the training steps to get there.
I do not agree that a dog should have food in every step (at least not for very long), nor do I agree with your description on the articles and turns. I already have an article on training turns.
When you have a dog that is a prey monster (like yours) you will cause nothing but problems by using prey drive in your sport track. The dog will become hectic and track too fast, when the exercise requires a dog that tracks methodically and slow.
Training a dog to track fast is easy; training a dog to track slowly requires a trainer who understands the exercise and the training steps to get there.
I do not agree that a dog should have food in every step (at least not for very long), nor do I agree with your description on the articles and turns. I already have an article on training turns.
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