I was shown two basic methods of starting to train to a dog to track.

Method one was to have a friend kicking a "V" pattern with your heel and drag his/her feet for about 10-15 yrds at the end of this short trail kicking another "V shaped scented area.
Before you start the dog on the trail you play fetch with him using a kong/ball. Let him bring it back a couple of times. Then have the dog turn its back, throw the kong to the helper at the end of the track. Bring the dog to the beginging of the "V shaped" scented area and say "find it or something like that". As the dog/puppy starts using his/her nose "tell it good dog", then be quite. At the end of the trail, tell him/her good dog really make a big deal out of it, you or the helper bring out the kong and tease the dog, then have him fetch it.

Method 2 was the same except you place serveral peices of hot dogs in the "V shaped area" and one every yard on the trail. Praising still in the start and the end, until the dogs gets the handle on what you what it to do. As they get better only at the end of the track.

This second method is in question, because its said that you are training the dog to track food instead the scent. The other argument is that the dog, progress is faster with this method, but as the dog gets better you have to gradually take the food out of the training process.

I find these solid foundations to grow from, but only the tip of the ice berge. Tracking is pretty intensive study, for the dog and you.

Sounds like a "how to do tracking statement" but this is really a "is there anymore question", at the basic level to add to these starting procedures.

Uhhhhhh, never mind. Check out Ed's tracking vids. Great place to start. Solid information with sequential steps for foundation building and advanced tracking. Vid gives you the literal abilty to rewind and see / listen to whatever you might be missing. This "v" thing is new to me, but I don't know everything, either. What is your goal for your tracking efforts? Footstep to footstep is the foundation for all tracking, advanced sport, SAR, PSD.

I think the V he is reffering to is a scent pad in the shape of a triangle.

Pretty soon I am going to have to be promoted to board translator!

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

You say Potatoe and I say Potato, lets just call the whole thing ....

I could talk about field specfic terminology like "dimensional processing arrays" which is just a area in memory that stores data at various X-Y co ordinances. But that won't help us communicate.

Thanks, Snauzer girl or Deanna, the "V" step I was talking about could be a triangle with out the closing 90 degree plane which looks like a "V" to me. As mentioned in another thread, I'm now working on air scenting but step tracking is something that I want to know how to do.

az trooper
Uhhh, What do you mean by that? Was it that far off track. I've watch puppies/dogs learn how to use their nose using these methods. What are the starting methods that you have been taught?

By the way I have about six of Eds tapes and 3 involve tracking one at the basic level, one tracking over hard surface and the other is Canadian Mounties tracking with drive tape. A lot of this information is beyond me, but the basic tape was studied and added to what I was shown.

The two methods that I spoke of are methods that were shown at one of the basic tracking seminars and at another time method 1 was shown by a Deputy sheriff K9 handler. I do understand that K9 handlers are not neccessaryly professional dog trainers.

You Professionals & Career dog trainers need to stop taking what I write as a statement from a
"Pro Trainer or a person that think he knows", I'm learning. I throw these thoughts out for the think tank to brain strom and give me options and ideas to improve upon.

Isn't that one of reason for this forum???? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The video you need to training a sport tracking dog. The video's you have are for police dogs.

Mike the basic tracking video is for any starting puppy/dog that you want to do foot step tracking.

As I mentioned the other 2 tapes are impressive and well beyond me or most people just starting out tracking skills. I have them for future reference.

Thanks for being observant. The other tip you gave for nippy worked great.

I have to assume that you are talking about a young dog (6 months to 12 months) that is to be track trained. The methods you describe are not methods I would recommend to train a dog to track. I do not have time to go into the reasons other than to say that they are not sound methods and there are much better ways to start young dogs.

Tracking young dogs (not adults being trained in Tracking Through Drive TTD) are trained with food. This is either a food drop or a food drag. Which you use depends on the temperament of your dog. Dogs that are a little hectic work better with food drops with very little food at the end of the track, dogs with a clear head do better on a food drag with the daily food amnount at the end of the track.

It's a mistake to not use food in your young dog track training and anyone that is telling you not to do this needs more training.

I make this very clear in my training video Training a Competition Tracking Dog

Enough said, I'll note that and continue my research for more data. Thanks for the input,
I am of course a fan, having viewed and readed, not studied alot of your tapes and information on your site.

Yes I was talking about a young puppy or dog 3 months to 1 year old that has never had his nose down when asked to search.

This is a very informative BB, especially if you want to know whats right and just how wrong you are. That is good, progress is progress.

Thanks again <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />