Tammy.

It's the requirements/training that I need to have that worries me as well. I'm fine with first aid and I'm a pack mule, so carrying heavy objects doesn't phase me. (My husband outweighs me by 25 lbs. and I can carry him on my shoulders.) BUT, my survival skills are nill and the only thing I can tie is my shoelace. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Nancy.

One other thing I forgot to mention about the length of the track. We're limited because of my neighborhood. I'm in the suburbs and not everyone appreciates you laying a track through their yard (go figure). My trainer, however, lives on 5 wooded acres and he's going to lay a 1/2 mile track for me this week. If all goes well, we'll do a mile next week. (Such fun because it's hotter then the pits of hell in MD right now!)

I am sorry if you took offense...so many people don't understand the commitment that is involved and teams are flooded with people who want to do it because *they have a great dog*

I would be concerned with making a jump from 100 yards to about 900 yards (new distance) at one time in the woods (new terrain with different scents) in the summer (watch the time of day). I think you will have more success if you change only ONE variable on the dog at a time. Also, you will find handling a tracking line different in the woods depending on how heavy they are and stopping to untangle until you get the knack may confuse the dog. I do most of my stuff offlead but a friend gave me a biothane rein and I made a lead out of it and love it. There --- now that I KNOW is good advice.

We have started some adding some training in my neighborhood (I normally train at several state parks and a 280 acre tract owned by a friend) to work towards NAPWDA certification and recently ran an 800 meter problem on asphalt with 4 turns. It was fun and *different* distractions to deal with so you CAN do stuff in the burbs.....

Also, if you ARE doing sport tracking I would THINK you want to get that down FIRST then go to the TTD. That focus will come in helpful later, believe it or not.

Need to also realize the limitations on a young dog's attention span. Young dogs can do amazing things but I sure did not start seeing true consistency, focus, and reliability until my dog grew up.

Don't worry, I didn't take offense. It's actually quite difficult to offend me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I just didn't want you to think that I didn't understand the responsibility of SAR.

We have done some tracks in my neighborhood that have included concrete (the sidewalks), but we haven't tried asphalt yet.

He's not new to tracking in the woods. We've worked on my trainer's land before, so he is familiar with the terrain.

I do have to admit that I'm not very familiar with how weather conditions affect the track (other than rain, snow and wind). What should I expect with extreme heat and humidity? (It will be over 90 degrees with at LEAST 60% humidity tomorrow.)

Maybe we'll do 1/4 mile instead. (That will save me from passing out in the heat anyway.)

I would not work your puppy under those conditions. It is simply too hot (yes working dogs HAVE to, but to what end would you be doing this?) and if you do decide to try to do it as early as you can in the morning or as late a possible in the evening.

I would order a copy of "scent and the scenting dog" it is a classic.

Read the articles on this site AND

http://www.uspcak9.com
http://www.napwda.com
http://www.jonnijoyce.com

Figure out if you are going to track this dog or do trailing

Take some smoke bombs out to the woods and watch smoke under all different kinds of conditions and times of day (streams and drainages are particularly fun as are clearings) -- they are not identical to how human scent probably moves but it helps you visualize what the dog works through.

I feel there are to many people that are willing to discourage people from doing SAR work.I for one will say if you are interested in doing that type of work by all means there is always a place for a well trained team.I don't think we should not train for SAR because you will not be available 24 hours a day, every national emergency, etc.
I for one will train my new pup (Leerburg yet to be born)for this type of work. I have no experience in this type of work but I'm sure it will be worth the effort.
Concerning working your dog in high heat situations, I would work him for short times early in the morning & watch closly for signs of fatigue.

Thanks for the links!

Not working in the heat really isn't an option in the D.C. area in the summer. Unless I just don't train him at all until late October. (A couple of years ago we actually had about 40 straight days of temperatures over 90.) Even when the temperature is a little lower, the humidity is still pretty high. I am very careful when working outside in the summer though. I overheat easily as well. I make sure that he gets plenty of cool, fresh water. I also try to limit training time and do many short sessions, instead of one or two long ones. Finally, I frequently squirt him down with the hose before we begin our work. (He loves that part!) I do try to do longer training sessions after dark, but sometimes the heat is still intense at night. When I woke up this morning at 8am it was already 88 degrees! I also do some of his obedience work in the house or at an air conditioned pet store, but that's not a good option for the tracking work. (I actually had him at Petsmart for almost an hour today to do some obedience work. I though they were going to kick me out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Stacie,
If memory serves me correctly I read an article on keeping dogs hydrated through the use of glycerol which can aid & extend work time in warmer weather. I had mentioned this to my vet & she had never heard of it but was her belief that it would have no adverse effect on him. I never did try this so I can't testify to it's effectiveness.
Anybody else heard of this?