Can a person train a dog to track with only 1 day a week available? Will this cause a dog to not be "true to the track?" as I have been told. Comments greatly appreciated

Of course you can; just expect progress to be incredibly slow. It may seem like each session starts back at the same place the last one did, due to lack of any practice time.

Sch3FH2, I will have a similar problem. Maybe a greater problem.
Question: I will be able to work with pup for 14 consecitive days. Then no work with pup for next 14 days. As you posted to VVG, will this time of inactivity hurt or just slow down the training?
Question: At what age should I begin the training? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

The greater problem will be myself not ever training a pup to track. Pup will most likely do better then I!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

When to start is easy: today. I start mine the day I get them at 8 wks. Actually your schedule of 2 wks on and two off is better than just one day a week. If you track every day or at least 10 of the 14 days, you'll see significant progress. Just be mentally prepared to accept a little backsliding at the start of the next 2 wk stint.

sch3FH2, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Thanks, will begin this afternoon. I have no problem with 14 days, I understand about the backsliding due to stopping the training.
So not to overdue it, how long of a session should I do? I understand start with very short tracks, any other info greatly needed.
Thanks again.

VVG, Just out of curiosity why only one day a week?

Is it because of lack of grass? Or is it more because of lack of time?

Both are not that hard to solve unless you live in the desert or enjoy sleep. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Even 3 days would be better. You don't have to find a 30 acre field for every track. Especially in the begining.

I am spoiled. I walk out my door onto 22 green acres. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Only problem is laying tracks when the coffee is brewing and not being able to tell one patch of grass from the next when I go back out.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> They all look so different when you are laying the track, but write stuff down, you will be amazed what 30 mins and some coffee will do to your memory...

My first step is to teach an association between the word "such" and the promise that he will find food if he sniffs. Starting with small pieces of a VERY GOOD treat, I hold the pup by the collar, let him know that I have something special for hiim, then drop it in the grass about 12-18" away. "Such" and release hiim to find it. I increase the distance a bit over a couple sessions of this so he can't just jump right on it; he has to search for it with his nose.

When I track him, I find a good quality grass field, cut pretty short and work with a tailwind, not headwind. I never double lay a track, only single lay it, and it's toe to heel with food in every footprint. And I do turns right from the first track. The pup is only following a food scent anyway at this point, and with food in every print, he's going to find it. When I bring him to the scent pad, I do the same thing as the paragraph above in order to start him. Hold him just outside the scent pad, drop a piece IN the scent pad (where there is already several pieces), then such and release. As he searches for the one piece he saw you drop, he discovers there's more and you're in business. With an 8 wk old, first track might be 15 paces, turn, 10-15 paces, jackpot (NOT in a headwind!). I increase this fairly quickly IF the pup shows intense food drive. ANd I include multiple turns fairly quickly also.

Sch3FH2, Thanks again, <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> one advantage is that like Deanna, I only have to walk out the door. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Thanks SCH3FH2 and all.
Deanna, will try to do more than 1 per week, of course, but we do a long day and Xmas around the corner makes it tougher. I have parks but by the time it's sunlight now, they already have people and pets walking everywhere. and then I'm at work. Dark when we are done now.
Have started the "find it" command at work, and he knows what this means. Have many strange looks from customers looking in the window at us. Just thought I'd mess him up not doing it enough. If it takes longer, thats ok.

Butch
You know, with your work schedule, the new girl is going to bond with your wife, then try to eat you when you come home. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />