Hopefully these give you a rough idea of how to use the chain collar for tracking.
(note: Danke was playing in the hose earlier, so she's wet in these pictures)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/Uncle_Sams_Kid/100_2380.jpg

Notice how the leash is clipped on the underside of the dog's neck, and the leash lays across the chest. This forms a sort of harness, but any pressure the dog generates is directed towards the back of the neck, so it neither chokes, nor encourages to the dog to life his head:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/Uncle_Sams_Kid/100_2381.jpg

I couldn't get anyone to come hold the leash, so I tossed the excess slack over her back. Normally, with a beginning dog you'd hold the leash about 5 inches from the elbow.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/Uncle_Sams_Kid/100_2385.jpg

The leash is clipped to the collar like this:
(Note, the collar is not fed through itself, the leash clip is what turns the chain into a collar.)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v397/Uncle_Sams_Kid/100_2388.jpg

Thanks!!

She's such a pretty girl

Excellent description and pictures. Hmm...I am seeing a future of Myracle puppies and training forums for young teens and adults who are trying to break into Schutzhund. Hmmm?

Circle Track
This may re-confuse things a little, but it's really worth considering. I started Billy very similar to what Alyssa explained except I used scent pads only in the beginning laying three at a time and didnt add any actual tracks until he was clearly working the edges and showing no interest in leaving the scent pad. The first tracks are then added only to the third scent pad and then all three with a progression of adding the challenges like corners to the third one.

Then I watched Sue Miller's video of her puppy using this circle track. I've now done this 4 times with Billy and I'm amazed at how it works. We were at a point of doing three scent pads and a 20yard straight track on the third the first time I tried this so he had experience at going forward on a track but I don't believe Quinn did.

The basic idea is we create our own tracking problems with how we do the foundation. Rushing the dog out to where we are tracking, going from crate to track, play, back to the crate, etc. This is meant to teach the pup to enjoy the whole track, not just a reward at the end building even more speed to get to that end.

The first time I did it I thought for sure he would follow a mower track and keep going so I held the line so he couldnt really leave. (In the video you take him to the track and let him go) The last couple, I let him go and stayed silent. He would leave the track a couple of feet but come right back to it. He would go back and forth a little without leaving, and then he would just circle it 2 or 3 times, deep nose, slow steady pace, picture perfect. I'm not sure what the progression is from this foundation work, but I'm sold on this part.

Pronouncing such in print? How about sook? Or Sue-k?

i think you have to chhkkk the ch. German is gutteral at times.

Yeah, you're supposed to add the the scraping sound.
Like the letter Cheit in the Hebrew Alefbet.

GREAT post, Steve!

Circle tracks are wonderful for building a foundation in tracking -- the "track" teaches the dog with no influence from the handler. I have been amazed watching puppies work the circle track -- and as a handler you learn alot when it comes to reading your dog's behavior on the track by just standing back and observing.

I do ~200+ pace circle tracks with Ellie occasionally just to let her enjoy the scenting experience without the "pressure" or obedience of indicating articles.

Happy tracking!

Steve, I believe you can do the circle tracks in conjunction with also starting the three scents pads and serpentine links etc.

Katie

Edited by Katie O'Connor (07/29/2009 10:34 AM)
Edit reason: answer Steve

I really have to do this with Qashmir.

By the time I heard about circle tracks, Danke was too far along in the tracking, to count it as foundation work.

I'd like to see what a pup started on circle tracks does, vs introduced later.
Should be interesting.

Thanks Katie. I would let Danke do it like Katie does with Ellie now and then Alyssa. It's amazing how calming it is for them. Billy is on a track for close to twenty minutes.

I triple lay it and bait it heavily. Speed has killed me twice in trials so watching Billy track so intently is pretty cool.

I have two dogs that track at very different levels, and since that original post, I have watched the video several times and put both dogs on a circle track. It has helped both dogs in different ways.

Steve and I chatted about it in PMs, but the premise is that it allows the dog, mature in tracking or not, to “clear” his mind and concentrate on nothing but the track. Like your Danke, Quinn is a spaz on the track and can’t/won’t relax. Try holding HIM back and you will end up grass skiing behind a monster (I also do weight pulling with him, so he knows how to pull for real!). Without going into how I slowed him down, the circles would have achieved much the same thing for us, but with him figuring it out instead of me showing him. If he rushes, he is not going to get anywhere but back on himself. He slows down and tracks for the fun of it!

I seriously recommend anyone that is into tracking check out this video/method and try it out. It is not a new tactic, but one that seems to not be utilized as much as it should in the world of Schutzhund and can show you the dogs strengths and weaknesses, while introducing the dog/pup to wind changes, terrain changes, working independently, and tracking the trail and not for the end of the track. I would not hesitate to put a mature tracking dog on a circle track.

ETA: I have started incorporating serpentine tracks that end up circling back on them selves. Fun to lay and keep track of! But they are a great mental work out for the dog and REALLY show if the dog is doing his/her job!!