Schutzhund? Tracking?

ScentHound

I use my own step method.

Step 1: Teach them basic commands

Step 2: Scent recognition, Several bowls with toys/treats until they know the track command, and to sit when they find the proper bowl

Step 3: Straight line tracking with treats every 5 feet

Step 4: Curved line tracking with treats every 10 feet

Step 5: Obstacle tracking for one treat at end.

This article is similar to what I do after the Scent recognition stage.
Training Articles - Teaching your dog to track

Teaching your dog to hunt one type of animal is much easier, but it requires a carcass of that particular animal, or some store bought scent.

Mikey

rofl I'm fine-I have gear rated to below 50-C Mikey gets cold though-we have booties and sweaters and we still do the dogpark even though we live in Edmonton Theres no grass here for sure lol

What we're working on first in the house is 'go find daddy' or 'go find mommy' and then in the spring when we can stay at parks for a long time we'll work on the tracking. It's not really the cold but the light. Here right now it's sunset at 430 which is when I leave work. June in Edmonton we don't have pitchblack-we could do to the park at 11pm and it'd be find but right now we just don't have any daylight or warmth to work with

I'm definitely not into competing-I hated shows when I rode horses but I do love doing new things with Mikey. SH gave us some super tips for getting started on our own. We'd also like to join this agility group who are here in the city-we have some equipment we built ourselves and he loves it

oliwa

I'm going to start training Snickers to track so I'll try to post updates on our progress. I threw some treats in the yard the other day and her tail perked up and nose went into high gear. Who knew Bassets were born sniffers?

ScentHound

I have heard Bassets referred to as miniature Bloodhounds.

A little write up on Basset Hound history.
History of the Basset Hound

alfi

I caught this a little late lol.

I really love doing such things with my dogs but mostly for fun!

Though, my father is much more into it! If he could handle a PC he would be definitely stuck here to share his exp with you!! LOL!
We have a 4-5yo Doberman Chico with many titles IPO1, IPO2, Brevetto 1, 2 & 3 Schutzhund Equivalent for Italy, AD, BH, and equivalent titles in ATIBOX tournaments which is very popular in the Scandinavians (Sweden etc) and North Europe. He is currently training for IPO3/Sch3 title taking part in 2010 trials. My father is very very proud of him!!...me too lol!!

elisabeth

That is so awsome!

I would love to meet your Dad!

My Dad was really into Agility with Beau, which is what got me hooked on competitive dog sports - so much fun!

I am definitely more into SchH, Tracking and OB though. We do agility, but I don't know if we will be going anywhere with it. We will see though, he does enjoy it.

Do you have any photo's of Chico? Of your Dad and him working together?

alfi

Yes I do have some pics not much and not in the ring cause he travels alone with Chico all over Europe and US for trials and there is noone to take pics while he is on the ring lol!

I'm hoping with my new camera which is easy to use my mother will follow him and take some pics. I'm really waiting to finish a project in my other pc to upload some pics from all my dogs. Though, you may find some pics in the original sites of the trials...I don't know

My dad wants to ask you in the SchH/Tracking you teach your dog just to lay down when finding an object or bring it back to you?? (both behaviors are acceptable...I'm sure you know that tho ) my dad thinks that it is more impressive to bring the object...and to say the truth here in Europe this is very rare.
Also, do you combine the "stay" command with a "sit"??
(I'm sorry my dad asks a lot! )

elisabeth

Haha.. No problem!

When teaching article identification, I have them indicate the article with a 'platz' which is a 'down'. Our club teaches this way so I just went with it.. haha. Seems to work for us. I find that if I was to have him bring it to me, we would get off track or he would become distracted. I like that he just drops and then I pick it up, indicate I have the article and we are off again.

And yes, my 'stis' and 'platz' commands are meant that you do not move from those positions until otherwise asked. A 'sits' or 'platz' means you stay put until I give you the release command.

Stark has been very easy to train, once something is asked of him he does it until I give the other command. Easy breezy so far. LOVE this dog!

Beau, well, she is a stubborn old women.. haha. She was very much a "hmmm.. let me think about that command before I follow through" kind of girl. Still is in some ways but we let her slide a lot because of her age... lol.. she could probably get away with a lot more if my Dad was around, she has him wrapped around her paw.. lol.

Back to tracking - in SchH, you aren't allowed to air scent, Stark is very meticulous in his tracking. I have never needed to really "work" on his style. He naturally sniffs out EVERY foot print on his own, which is amazing to watch. I will try to get a video this week of us working and post it here.

Does your Dad train for every foot step or every other/few? I have seen it done both ways.

What I did to reinforce this when Stark was a puppy (we started with scent boxes at 10 weeks) was put food down in every foot step, worked like a charm to reinforce that natural instinct he seemed to have.

Sorry for all the writting, as you can tell - I LOVE to talk about this stuff.. lol.

dogshowkid

We compete with our GSD's and our Mastiff in Schutzhund. Skye(Mastiff) recieved her SchBH on the first try in the tail end of a hurricane!

elisabeth

That's awsome!

So, any words of wisdom for a newbie?

Hahaha..