Kind of scared to post this in case VC pins my ears back <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />but here it goes - I have the TTD DVD and am currently making a stab at training one of my Alaskan Husky to track. Don't worry - we have NO interest in SAR or that type of thing - just want something with some kind of training benefit to do in the summer, and have thought that training her to find a wayward husky(or my husband) might be handy.(I used to use my old leader for this)
Things are going pretty well except for the speed thing. This dog takes off at a flat out lope and keeps going that way. Most of it is due to being a sled dog and having the harness mean "pull hard" and "pull harder". Also we use various harness styles including one that is very similar to a tracking harness for sledding. I know the idea is to get to the end of the track as soon as possible but this handler is having a hard time staying on her feet period.
She (Poppy) blows past corners and does circle round back to them which I know is handler error on my part but I have a hard time watching her, staying upright, handling the line and registering the track. I kind of look like a drag-chute behind a fighter aircraft. We have aged the track 4 hrs+ and it still doesn't slow her down any. We are still doing only simple tracks with one corner of about 500 yrds approx. I use my husband to set the track and he and a bag of weiner bits are the "quarry". Poppy is a 3 yr old Alaskan Husky and is very drivey and high attitude but has pretty good obedience,likes to please,"quick study" to train, she is also the smallest dog I have that shows alot of inclination for the work,(the other two that might do well at it are bigger and stronger). My questions 1. Is there any other style of tracking harness available- one where they can't get as much pulling leverage? 2. I have access to an abandoned gravel/rock quarry. Poppy does slow down when she has to get her nose down and work harder, is it ok to use the quarry? 3. How long is too long when beginning tracking to age the track?
Sorry if these questions seem really stupid but this is a whole new area of training to me as I have only done sled dog training before.
(Lynn dons her flameproof suit and waits for VC and Ed to broil her)

I'm not going to get out the napalm just yet.


An easy fix, if you think it's the equipment that's driving the dog, is to just track in a regular collar.

Thanks, I will try that <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />!
Trying for a land speed record in tracking is kind exhausting... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

If you wanted to slow your dog down, would it work to back up training and put a piece of food in every foot step? This would take a while if you are laying long tracks, but would this help your dog slow down? Would he go slow enough and check each and every foot print to find food or would he skip over a lot of the treats? It's just a question that I thought of while reading your post.

What about this style of harness...

http://www.canineoutfitters.com/dog_harnesses.htm

***Note*** I'm not recommending this harness or business, I'm simply showing you a style of harness*** <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Some things that you can do to slow her down....

Add more corners. 500 yards with only one corner...no wonder you're dying out there!

Blowing past the corners and circling back to them is a natural part of TTD. There is no handler error on your part. She is giving natural negatives when she loses scent and is working to re-establish the track. Pretty nice actually!

Add articles to the track. First teach her off the track to indicate on them and then start adding them to the track. When she finds them on the track give her a good round of play with them. I place the articles in the middle of a leg on the track between the corners.

If she is truly doing well with straight tracks, you can add serpentines. This will help to slow her down as well because she must concentrate a little harder to keep on the track.

With TTD, the goal is for the dog to work at a trot.

Hope that helps.

Natalie
http://alikamalinois.tripod.com
http://eklypsevanarek.tripod.com

A prong collar would be your friend in this case. Track the dog on a prong and give rapid, light corrections ( almost like a "pulse" of tugs ) for pulling. If done with the correct application, you can slow down most any dog ( I did this with my GSD male as he was dragging me down the track, it cleared up fine with this method )

Will is correct- fact is a dog can only track as fast as you allow it - another way of saying this is can only track as the speed you desidce you are going to walk. So the issue is not tracking speed the issue is pulling on the track and a prong collar along with teaching the dog the meaning of the word SLOW is the slution

I know a person very popular in the schutzhund world that had a fast tracking dog. This person broke thier foot and had to wear a cast on it. They continued to train and by the time the cast came off the dog was tracking at the ideal speed.So it just goes to show that if you are consistent at keeping a slow pace the dog will eventually accept it.