Try Tracking!: The Puppy Tracking Primer by Carolyn A. Krause

Author:Carolyn A. Krause [Krause, Carolyn A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Training, Tracking Dogs, General, Pets, Puppies, Dogs
ISBN: 9781929242184
Publisher: Dogwise Publishing
Published: 2005-01-01T23:00:00+00:00

Annie the puppy succeeding at the Glove Game.

A LESSON PLAN FOR

YOU AND YOUR PUPPY

WEEK 1

Now that you understand the basics and the terminology, here is a detailed six-week lesson plan for you and your puppy. As you move forward, the lengths and layouts of the tracks will become more challenging and the age of tracks will be increased gradually.

During the first week allow the pup to watch the tracks being laid out and run the pup on all the tracks immediately after laying them-as little aging as possible. If you are laying the track yourself, you will need to tether your pup near the beginning of the first track. You may even have to tie him to the car door or bumper if no tree or bush is conveniently available. Some of my students tie their dogs to a corkscrew device that screws into the ground. If at all possible, try to have a helper lay tracks for you during these initial lessons. In any event, it is important that your pup see the track laid during early training sessions. The handler is not to talk to the dog while laying the track. You want your puppy's entire focus to be intensely on what is happening with the tracklayer (whether a helper or you) out ahead of him.

To help the puppy focus on the tracklayer, the handler is to hold the pup while the tracklayer teases the puppy with the word "cookie" or "treat" or whatever word means a food goodie to this dog. While laying the track, the tracklayer is to repeatedly twist his body back-but not move his feet-and tease the pup visually and verbally from a distance. This will help keep your puppy's attention on watching the goodies being placed along the track as it is being laid out.

Note that if you are laying the track yourself you will be performing this routine while the pup is tethered where he can watch you. Keep this routine up for the first three days, or longer if needed, to maintain your puppy's interest in the track.

Put the harness on the pup about eight feet behind where the tracklayer will place the first flag. If you have a helper laying track for you, after he finishes laying the first series of tracks as shown in the chart for that day, he should walk straight ahead for about 20 strides and get out of the pup's sight. If he can't get out of the pup's view, he should sit or crouch or lie down and not move or make any sound. At this point, you don't want your puppy visually stimulated; you want him using his nose.

Track the pup on a six-foot lead or hold the tracking line at about six to ten feet during the first week. This will allow you to keep him right on the track. This means right in those footsteps. Keep light tension on the line at all times. If the pup veers off the track, gradually increase line tension by pulling straight back on the line.

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