Hi all, I am not new to tracking, having done CKC TD, TDX and also SAR certification... however I am new to Schutzhund tracking! I am looking for pointers on laying a good Schutzhund 1 track. I know how to get my dog to track, and how to fix, or avoid many problems, however I have not trialled in Schutzhund tracking before and would like to know more about it.
Please, I'm not interested in a debate about training methods! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Just some good pointers on what the judges do and do not like to see!
Thanks in advance!
Tammy

HI Tammy

Any judge I've seen or trialed under has been pretty lenient about how you stomp in a SchH I track. I'd do a slighly rounded corner (five steps for the completion) When the judge says to turn or drop the article, raise your hand to let them know you heard them, but you dont have to turn immediatley or drop the article. Pick your spot if there are obstructions etc.

The one thing that I'd be sure to do is practice in groups that simulate a trial like condition.
I had near perfect tracking when it was just me and my dog, but when we added twenty people on the side lines and the judge walking nearby we weren't nearly as good :-)
Be aware of the little things,
Laying out your line and preparing your dog at least 6 feet before the scent pad
No obedience commands once you approach the scent pad
Mild praise at the article, only after you've picked up and shown the article to the dog.

Don't reel in the line if the dog comes back

Hope this helps

Thanks Thomas, those are helpful tips! I do encourage people to follow me on the track (from SAR training days) so that the dog learns to block out the "static". I'm curious though as to your comment about not reeling the line back in?? Since I prefer tight line tracking, I automatically adjust line tension, so my dog doesn't get the line tangled under his feet. Please comment further.
Tammy.

Just as a question here, I have sen tracking done by our guys onbase, and have watched SCH competitions, but my area of experience with tracking is completely from a hunting dog point of view. Is there alot of difference? I have worked with Luke some, mainly making sure that he would track my children through the woods if need be. He has done ok, I used the child with a treat and a head start to where they were going. He has even went as far as maybe a 1/4 mile now, without any problem. This has been mainly ground tracks, with him lifting his head for the air currents at the end. Is this similar to what you are doing?

you wrote:

I'm curious though as to your comment about not reeling the line back in?? Since I prefer tight line tracking, I automatically adjust line tension, so my dog doesn't get the line tangled under his feet. Please comment further.

>hi Tammy,

>You can adjust the tension by stopping, but if
>you reel in the line, you can lose points.

Thanks Thomas, but wouldn't there be a potential to lose even more points if your dog came back, then got all tangled in the line again??
I suppose I just have to train myself to allow my dog to methodically go back to track and gently work the line while she does so! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Just can't see that in SAR training! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Kevin, I haven't trained or been around trained hunting dogs, so from my standpoint I couldn't tell you how they are similar or different to any other type of tracking! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Is there a better topic to post that question??

So, I'm getting the idea that the judge directs you on the track while you're laying? Where is your dog while the track is being layed? Obviously not on a down/stay... Really people, Schutzhund tracking is completely NEW to me!! I haven't even had a chance to watch one!! I don't forsee and opportunity to do so before I have to trial either! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Also, since my husband and I have the most tracking experience in our club, we may well be the ones laying tracks for others... don't want to screw that up! :rolleyes:

Looking forward to more input! Recommended reading, watching??? Again specific to Schutzhund tracking would be helpful!

Thanks!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

you wrote:


So, I'm getting the idea that the judge directs you on the track while you're laying? Where is your dog while the track is being layed? Obviously not on a down/stay... Really people, Schutzhund tracking is completely NEW to me!! I haven't even had a chance to watch one!! I don't forsee and opportunity to do so before I have to trial either! Also, since my husband and I have the most tracking experience in our club, we may well be the ones laying tracks for others... don't want to screw that up!

> Hi Tammy,

>The dog will be in the car/van while you lay the
>track and is brought out after the track ages
>(1/2 hour for a SchH I) Usually you'll do some
>kind of impartiality test, either before you lay
>the track or before you run it. Sometimes the
>judge will do the impartiality test for all the
>dogs, at the same time, one after the other.

>As far as tangled lines. If the dog starts to
>circle over the tracking line, probably the best
>thing to do is just let the line drop on the
>ground. I'm not totally positive, but I think
>if you reel in the line and the dog comes all the
>way back to you it might be considered a restart?

>I would not be overly nervous about your first
>track. All the judges I've trialed under have
>been pretty good about helping new handlers.
>Of course when you do your SchH II and III you'll
>be expected to know the rules. :-)

Tammy,
Ed has a video "Handler Training for a SchH I" with Tom and Holly Rose, video 113.
The video was current with the 2001 rules, but things have changed a bit since then.
The video does show what is expected out of you as a handler for a SchH I trial, and for someone inexperienced, I think it'd be worthwhile.

The video does a good job showing how a judge directs a handler to lay their track for a trial ( The handler lays his own track in SchH I, a designated track layer lays the tracks for the SchH II & III dogs, along with the FH's )

Tammy,
Yes, the judge will give you instructions on the distance and direction to lay your track in, and some of them use a whistle to tell you when to turn. You dog should be crated in your car during the track laying, and remember, a track has to age, so even more waiting is involved.


I watched a WDA trial a few years ago, and the tracking was done in 24" high grass - Ray Charles would have been able to track in that stuff. The judge actually sent a new handler *back* to his track before starting to have him stomp down the track even further ( yes, the guy got to lay his track *twice* over the same track ) Not surprisingly, that handler owned a dog from another WDA judge, who was our club president and a friend of the residing judge. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

That level of crap ethics contributed to my leaving the WDA, needless to say. :rolleyes:

Thanks all! This is helpful stuff! I'll recommend to the club that we acquire this video! We have 20 BH's for August, so there will be (hopefully!) LOTS of 1's next year!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />