Ok, new tracking thing happening. I take both dogs with me when I go tracking. I have never been really serious with tracking with the older bitch since we gave up schutzhund hopes years ago. Just now and then a straight line of weinies for fun, and she was fairly good but nothing like the itensity of the new pup. I always wondered if she just worked by sight instead of nose.
She's doing something new now, maybe a competitive spirit aroused by watching the pup? Or possibly now the track is harder for her, because now I just bring her along really so she doesn't feel left out. After I let Puppy man do his thing, I walk over the same box and tracks he and I just did and drop more weinies. I do this just to give her food and let her think she is doing what he does. I don't expect her to actually be tracking...
Now Princess is starting to "snuffle" like the pup, and she doesn't quit at the end of the track-she is picking up the spot where I jumped off and walked away, and following that. (Puppy is not doing this of course)
I'm very intrigued by this sudden improvement in her ability at six years of age. What might be happening and how do I encourage more of this?

Well, Don't bet the ranch on her tracking skills just yet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Look at all you have done by the time she gets there. You laid the track, puppy man ran the track, you went back and laid it again and added more food, so in essence this track is triple laid and single laid by her puppy man companion. If you want to give her a track, just set up another for her to run.... she may have changed her mind about tracking, but in all likelyhood she is just checking out where he was and eating the goodies as she goes.

Theres nothing wrong with running a dog more than once over the same track,people do it, it helps build confidence. Whatever it takes to get her to put her nose on the ground and follow the track is the right thing.I would continue to let her do that,just try to make sure your walking on the track when you track the pup so you dont have tracks everywhere.After she gets use to that and starts looking forward to it, start laying her own track.

I would add that if you are going to use the same track ( I never do..lots of tracking area in Iowa <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ) make certain you should run it isn tha same direction and Dont let the dog spin back on the track.

If you are having a problem with the dog keeping its nose down then dont run a track but do training boxes until a high nose is not a problem.

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

:rolleyes: I would add that if you are going to use the same track ( I never do..lots of tracking area in Iowa ) make certain you run it in the same direction and dont let the dog spin back on the track. :rolleyes:

I know better then to type in the dark! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Thanks everyone.
Deanna, your post made it very clear what's happening-the track isn't harder at all for her, it's easier...why that didn't occur to me I have no idea!
Just to make clear on the same track thing-only princess, the older bitch, goes on the same track-me and puppy man do a new one each time. I think I like the tracking box idea for her, though, who cares if isn't competitive material, I'll learn something. She is also better when I use some disturbed earth/leaf matter on the track.
Not so much tracking area here-I have one great spot under some power lines, with only the occasional tick riding along on me. There's the beach, but the dogs both start looking around alot. Now and then find a cool student-free spot on campus, but watch how quick people materialize "to pet the pretty doggies" when you're trying to work dogs on campus...in a tourist town to boot.