I'm new here. Love to read through the posts, but I have to admit that I'm a freshman learning from the masters. Most of what you all say is over my head, and I'm doing my best to catch up slowly but surely.

With that said, I'm interested in training my 10-month-old Rottweiler and 3-year-old Shiba Inu in tracking. The Shiba is definitely the best candidate for this because the boy has a nose, and he follows a track step by step all the way until the end. At least, he does it with prey (stray cats).

Anyway, would anyone be willing to help a beginner by explaining some things for me? What is "Tracking Through Drive?" How do you determine which route you want to go with your dog's training? Sport, SAR, etc.? Don't they require different training methods from the beginning? Or is there a basic level that they must all begin from?

Please forgive me if I'm being too basic here. Just trying to learn and get involved.

Thanks.

Brita--

There is just one simple decision you need to make here, and that is what kind of tracking work you want your dog to do.

SAR and advanced police tracking involves tracking through drive (TTD). In TTD the dog learns that there is always a person at the end of the track, and is motivated in various ways to run the track just as fast as he can--it is often difficult for the handler to keep up over long distances. Also, no compulsion is used when teaching TTD. The handler is not striving for a "pretty picture," just to find the suspect or lost person as quickly as possible.

The other kind of tracking is sport tracking (also known as footstep tracking), which is what trainers teach for both Schutzhund and AKC tracking. With this technique, the dog learns to track slowly and methodically with his nose to the ground. Appearance is important, as is accuracy and consistency. The dog also learns to down when he encounters an article.

Ed has a lot of good Q&A stuff on both methods of tracking here .

Pete

Pete,

Thanks for taking time to reply. I guess I'm going to risk sounding uneducated about this subject, but here goes -- no question is too dumb right? I read the hard surface tracking article that Ed wrote, and I'm seriously thinking about ordering the video today. This is really what I've always been interested in since I live near Baltimore and D.C. However, I'm neither a policeman nor a SAR member, so I don't know if that's a reasonable goal. I just think it would be fun and enjoyable for me to train in. That is if my dog enjoys it too. What are your thoughts on this? If it's a stupid goal, then I'd have to say my second option would be to train for the ScH Tr title.

I've only taught tracking to one dog so there are lots more qualified to answer but I would not start out with hard surface tracking. It's difficult even under good conditions. The dog needs to start out slow and easy. I learned FST method. and for me(I had a good dog) it was easy. If your doing it for fun, I don't know which method is prefered or easier.

Your goals are whatever you make them, and what you are willing to work for. Enjoy your dog do what makes you both happy.

I'm experimenting with HST right now with a young dog. But she has an insanely high drive to track--there is nothing she would rather do. I believe Ed has noted elsewhere that if the dog does not possess this kind of drive for tracking, HST is probably beyond its abilities. The dog might be able to pick up the basic concept, but it also needs the drive to work with very low scent loads and still concentrate enough to finish the track.

Pete

Brita
You also mentioned your Shiba tracking stray cats. The one dog I taught to track was my Border terrier. They are very slow starters when it comes to hunting so I taught him human tracking for fun until his hunting instincts kicked in. Once he discovered natural prey, his human tracking went out the door. It would be interesting to see how the Shiba does considering he tracks cats now. If he has accidentaly made a kill, it will almost be impossible,IMO.

I might demur, Oldearthdog... this bitch I'm working had almost definitely made a kill (rabbit or squirrel) before I got her and her hunt drive is right off the scale--I've seen her bag mice and moles and she pops 'em right down.

But she will gladly track humans too. It's the ACT of tracking that she enjoys. I think we're going to have a problem teaching her to avoid the scent of game while training tracks, but the hunting instinct does not seem to have inhibited her drive to track human scent or her enjoyment of it. I'm not sure how typical this is--just thought I'd throw it out there.

Pete

With the Rottie, she's got an insane drive for tracking. At least from what I can tell. She's always nosing the ground and scurrying a scent trail somewhere. I take her out late every night to several fields (I rotate to keep them interesting) and parking lots, and she'll sniff and "track" (I use that word lightly)for 2 hours! There's nothing she'd prefer to do! So that's why I was thinking of doing something like HST, plus it would be fun. Are there any applications to the real world for HST for non-policemen?

For the Shiba, he's also a determined "tracker," and I think he passed on his love for the nose to the Rottie. She learned the enthusiasm from him. He's caught a cat (I rescued it before he ate it), and I know that he's in prey drive when he's tracking something. I've heard various Shiba owners tell me good things and bad things about using them for tracking. Most Shiba owners are into the show ring, so they don't care about it, and I don't know if I can take their advice. The few who do train them for sport tell me that the prey drive and desire to get off track on a cross-trail can be overcome.

Anyway, let me know about the HST applications and further info. You've taught me a lot so far, and I appreciate it.

Brita,
A suggestion! Get Ed's tape on Schutzhund tracking first! It will give you the fundementals of tracking and theroies which you will need!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Second, get Ed's tapes on tracking tape 1 tracking on soft terrain by the RCMP this will give you a more rounded view on tracking (ALL)types, then get tape 2 hard surface tracking, this tape will show you what is required for you and your dog too succeed.
I have all the tapes and I have used them with much success <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I have also trained my Giant Schnauzer for SAR as well as Schutzhund. I have been tracking and LEARNING scents 83 and I learn something new every week in some form or another in regards to dog training from people on the board or local trainers ask a lot of questions it never hurts.
Remember you must have a solid foundation in all your training if you get ahead of yourself you could be opening the door to disaster! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> You don't start reading a book in the middle that goes for dog training the begining.
Take your time be patient and remember to praise your dog for the littlest successes. And have fun! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Be Safe!
Lewis and Argo/Riley