Kori Bigge wrote 12/16/2007 08:45 AM How do you teach a dog to track someone #168931 - 12/16/2007 08:45 AM
Kori Bigge Webboard User Reg: 10-08-2007 Posts: 611 Loc: Kansas Offline	or in our case, play hide-n-seek? We have all been stuck inside quite a bit lately due to icy/snowy weather, and I thought this would be a good time to teach Kodee to play hide-n-seek with the kiddos. I don't know how to teach him to find someone. Also, what it the actual command you'd use for tracking (even though we're playing a "game", I want to use proper commands for everything I train him to do). Thanks!
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Guest1 wrote 12/16/2007 08:56 AM Re: How do you teach a dog to track someone [Re: Kori Bigge ] #168933 - 12/16/2007 08:56 AM
Guest1 Webboard User Reg: 07-17-2002 Posts: 860 Loc: Iowa Offline	Quote: We have all been stuck inside quite a bit lately due to icy/snowy weather You have glaciers physically blocking your exits or something?
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Rob Bruce wrote 12/16/2007 08:59 AM Re: How do you teach a dog to track someone [Re: Kori Bigge ] #168934 - 12/16/2007 08:59 AM
Rob Bruce Webboard User Reg: 11-26-2007 Posts: 169 Loc: Foothills, Alberta, Canada (ex-UK) Offline	At this stage I'd focus on keeping it fun. We play a similar 'game' with Teagan, hiding her retrieve toy or putting a treat under one of three flower pots. Depending on how good your sit/stay is, show KB the treat or toy, hide it - not too hard to start with - then say "Find it!" (or whatever command you prefer). Keep a line on him too. Loads of praise when he does. Then get the kids to hold a treat when they 'hide'. I'd keep it a fun game as he's learning to seek and use his nose. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will point us both in the right direction! Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought.
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PeggyBayer wrote 12/16/2007 09:05 AM Re: How do you teach a dog to track someone [Re: Kori Bigge ] #168937 - 12/16/2007 09:05 AM
PeggyBayer Webboard User Reg: 08-14-2006 Posts: 308 Loc: CA Offline	Hi Kori, To Teach the Hide & Seek Game - 1) put your dog in a sit/stay and walk to other side of the room and call your dog to "come" - treat, praise 2) again put your dog in a sit/stay and walk just outside of the room and call him enthusiastically to "find (your name) and reward when he comes to you. 3) Choose a more difficult hiding spot such as behind a door and call him when your settled in your spot. 4) Once the dog understands the game you can make it more difficult by walking into several rooms before you choose your hiding spot and he should start tracking to find you. Note - haven't tried this myself, just purchased a book on training different dog tricks and this is how they explain to teach it. Good Luck,
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Kori Bigge wrote 12/16/2007 09:11 AM Re: How do you teach a dog to track someone [Re: PeggyBayer ] #168940 - 12/16/2007 09:11 AM
Kori Bigge Webboard User Reg: 10-08-2007 Posts: 611 Loc: Kansas Offline	No, Steven, no glaciers. But with 2,4,and 6 year olds, I can't be taking them out in the ice and snow too much with the dog, so I'm haven't been outside nearly as much as usual with the pup lately. I thought it would be nice to have some indoor games/stimulation for the pup (and the kids, for that matter). Thanks Peggy and Rob - we are going to try this out today. I can't wait!
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PeggyBayer wrote 12/16/2007 09:34 AM Re: How do you teach a dog to track someone [Re: Kori Bigge ] #168944 - 12/16/2007 09:34 AM
PeggyBayer Webboard User Reg: 08-14-2006 Posts: 308 Loc: CA Offline	In all fairness in the game of hide in seek, the dog should get a chance to be the one that "hides", so the kids can find him. The trick is picked up easiest by toy motivated dogs. Get the dog excited about a game of fetch then - 1) Choose a large object he can hide behind. Show him a treat and tell him to "go hide" as you toss the treat behind the object. Praise him and toss his toy out as a reward, note the treat is to merely to used to cause him to go to the correct place and tossing the toy is his reward. 2) Wean him off the treats as you just tell him to "go hide" and point to the location. Your dog may only go half way there, in that case you walk toward him as you keep pointing and cueing. Don't reward him with his toy until he is in the correct spot. 3) Once he has that location down, you can start using other objects for him to hide behind, like a tree, corner of a building or ??? Have fun,
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Bob Scott wrote 12/16/2007 02:57 PM Re: How do you teach a dog to track someone [Re: PeggyBayer ] #168968 - 12/16/2007 02:57 PM
Bob Scott Moderator Reg: 06-14-2002 Posts: 7417 Loc: St. Louis Mo Offline	If you have a dog with a lot of toy drive, simply have one person tease the dog while it's being held by someone else. Have the first person run just out of sight. The holder gives the command "Find" "Search" whatever and turn the dog loose. The "hidden person rewards the dog with the toy. Slowly add to the difficulty of the first person hiding, and time of releasing the dog. You can also teach the dog to sit and bark for the toy when it finds the hidden person. This method is one of the basics of teaching SAR dogs. old dogs LOVE to learn new tricks
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Kori Bigge wrote 12/16/2007 08:14 PM Re: How do you teach a dog to track someone [Re: Bob Scott ] #169020 - 12/16/2007 08:14 PM
Kori Bigge Webboard User Reg: 10-08-2007 Posts: 611 Loc: Kansas Offline	Cool - thanks, Bob! That sounds like fun!
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Geoff Empey wrote 12/16/2007 08:26 PM Re: How do you teach a dog to track someone [Re: Kori Bigge ] #169022 - 12/16/2007 08:26 PM
Geoff Empey Webboard User Reg: 02-07-2007 Posts: 596 Loc: Ottawa Ontario, Canada Offline	Quote: Kori Bigge Cool - thanks, Bob! That sounds like fun! It is fun, that is how we started off our girl. I had the kids take turns hiding all over the house. They'd hide under the bed, in closets, in the dryer, under piles of laundry etc etc. Then you can hide favourite dog toys, even the dog's meal. The best part of it is you can take this game outside when the weather is better, and as 'earth dog' Bob said you may create a SAR monster out of Kodee in the process.
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Bob Scott wrote 12/16/2007 09:34 PM Re: How do you teach a dog to track someone [Re: Geoff Empey ] #169038 - 12/16/2007 09:34 PM
Bob Scott Moderator Reg: 06-14-2002 Posts: 7417 Loc: St. Louis Mo Offline	Korie, in retrospect(and a pm from someone with better sense then me), you may want to have the dog find toys rather then the kids. Teaching the dog to chase the kids could be to much if they are to small to control the dog themselves. I didn't realize how young your kids are. That can make a huge difference with a highly drive dog. old dogs LOVE to learn new tricks
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