elisabeth

I was just wondering if anyone does Schutzhund and/or tracking with their dog?

Stark and I have been tracking since he was about 10 weeks old and we are newbies at Schutzhund.

Just looking for others to share our experiences with.

We are also training in Obedience and getting ready to take our CGN in another month and to do some Rally-O in the spring (March-April-ish).

Mikey

Share away-we're definitely interested in hearing!!

I know Scenthound does tracking. We did an intro tracking course-and loved it-Mikey seemed good at it. We would like to pick it up again in the spring maybe

elisabeth

Oh you should definitely pick it up again!

Actually if your okay with being cold and standing in the 'wet' grass or snow then you should start tracking right away!

Mositure increases the scent so it makes it "easier" for the dog (and in the snow you can actually see where your track is laid, which makes it easier for the handler).

People WISH for rain or snow on trail days.. lol.

fawkese1

i'm interested in teaching some tracking in the future... right now my goals is for fun, but who knows... we may be good at it and want to get serious...

i'd love any "getting started" tips/ games to play tho..

ScentHound

I train mine hounds to track for fun.

fawkese1

lol... i'm sure you do! if it wasn't fun you wouldn't do it... but i meant more like i wasn't interested in competing in anything...

you should start a thread about how to train for tracking some time tho... it would be super...

ScentHound

I know, I never was interested in competition. The first dog I trained was in my early 20's. She was one of my mutts and I trained her to track blood trails.

Dog love to work, and tracking is a way for both owner and dog to interact.

elisabeth

I started doing it because Stark's dam (and sire - Schutzhund) tracks and I watched her one day before she was even pregnant (have been talking back and forth with my breeder for a few years), and I was amazed! I loved it. Her tail wagged the entire time and she was SO happy when she found the article.

Stark is so natural, he tracks everything. I don't think I have seen this dogs nose off that ground for more than a few seconds since he was 8 weeks old.

What type of tracking do you do? SAR (trailing)? Tracking for titles?

ScentHound

I used my beagle to track up game for pictures, and to let her use her god given talent. I will let them catch a scent and then I will check the tracks to make sure it isn't dangerous. My new coon hound will be the same way once I finish her training. I also run obstacle tracking to keep the girls in practice and for fun. Cleo is retired now, but she enjoys the time on the trail still. I have always thought that competition tends to brings out the bad in people, so I just let my dogs do what they are good at without the pressure on them or me.

Technically, Since I don't hunt anymore there is no need to train my dogs this way, but they really enjoy working for the attention.

elisabeth

I guess it is all who you compete with.

I like belonging to a club and hanging out with people who enjoy working their dogs - it seems that competiting just comes along with it.

I am lucky and have a great group of people who help one another and encourage one another and the dogs. No nasty "hockey Mom's" here.. lol.

They definitely enjoy doing it, any task I give my dogs there are so egar to just GET IT DONE!

It really allows their mind work and body to release some energy.

I would love to know how you train!

I use the food in the food steps method, although Stark has now graduated from that. I found it was the easiest way to keep his nose to the group and it has worked wonders for us.