Tracking - Make it fun and your dog will love it!  Teach your dog to be a tracking leader.

"It’s all in the journey" – B. Moore

 

Check out my Rally Web Page www.k-9rally.com 

New book
Handy size 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" - Spiral bound with laminated covers

This Tracking Book covers training needed for TD TDX and VST tracking along with answers to many of the challenges along the way. 

Available now!

$19.95 plus s&h (California State Tax applies to Calif. residents)
$5 of each sale will be donated to CARDA http://www.carda.org/AboutCARDA.aspx
CALIFORNIA RESCUE DOG ASSOCIATION

Contact me, along with your Zip Code, and I'll send you an invoice for your order.

 A little about myself….                                                                

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed teaching and working with many aspects of AKC Tracking since 1994.  I have handled two of my dogs to earn their Champion Tracker Titles and have attended several AKC and other Tracking Seminars (one VST seminar given by Barbara Adcock and myself), and have also attended over 50 tracking tests – (about 30 of these being VST), and have personally seen how many handlers and/or dogs fail and how some handlers and/or dogs pass tracking tests. 

 I highly recommend attending as many tracking tests as possible – not only to support your fellow tracker, but to learn!  Attend them when you are not entered and you will probably learn much more from watching others.

Having been involved with training dogs since 1984, my first obedience dog, Au, earned an obedience Utility title. After Au, came my second Golden Retriever, Ember, who became a Champion Tracker, and has a Utility Dog and a Rally Novice title.  My third Golden came from my litter.  Ember was bred in 1997 and I kept a pup from the litter and named him Journey. Journey is now a Champion Tracker and has UD, RAE NAP NJP VCD1 JH  CGC & TDI titles. Journey has also earned his International Championship and Golden Retriever Club of America  titles of WC CCA VCX. Journey has helped with successfully tracking two lost dogs in December 2000 and December 2001 who escaped from automobile accidents on major highways in California .

Both Ember and Journey have CGC and Active Therapy Dog International titles - having more than 150 visits to Senior Day Care Centers and Assisted Living Alzheimer’s units.

I had a Rescue dog for 3 years who lived to be 16 ½ years old.  She earned her Canine Good Citizen at age 15!  My dogs have all been my home companions!

My tracking lessons are held year round.

Bea Moore
San Jose , CA
www.k-9rally.com

CT Int'l-CH Lone Hill It's All In The Journey UD RAE NAP NJP VCD1 JH CCA VCX WC CGC TDIA
Max Illusions of Santa Clara CD RAE CGC TDI
      Max is new to my home as of January 2008.  He is 7 yrs. old


At the Bridge:
CT Janus N Flashfire 's Hot Ember UD RN CGC TDIA
Au UD
Zia CGC

 “The important thing is to wait when your dog has a problem and allow him to work it out on his own.  Also, taking water breaks at this time can be helpful.  It settles him down and wets his olfactory (sense of smell).  I highly recommend a water break at every article, as well as a difficult area.  Sometimes, in a difficult area, the dog will begin to continue and then break off a few times.  That's definitely a sign that it's time for water!”

January 2007

 

 

 

 

Highlights from book: 

 

Detailed Basic Tracking Instructions

 

Yard Comparison Chart for Tracking

 

Discussion on TD TDX & VST Training

 

Tracking - What You Will Need

 

How to Lay a Track and Run a Track – for Beginners

 

How to Lay a Track and Run a Track – Advanced

 

Tracking Hints

 

Advanced Questions

 

Tracking Test

 

 Article Indication and Retrieve

 

The Challenges of Variable Surface Tracking

 

Appendix I.      Sessions for Beginning & Advanced  Tracking

 

Appendix II       Introducing VST Transitions

 

Appendix III      Drawing Maps

 

Appendix IV     Training Sessions for Specific Problems

  • Serpentines

  • Turns

  • Starts

  • Corners

  • Restarts

  • Article Indication

And More - Many questions answered!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to lay a Beginner Track – Day 1 

When first laying tracks, let your dog watch you by crating him, or tying him to a tree.  If you are with another person, that person can hold your dog, but should not distract or talk to the dog.  If you are with your instructor, your instructor will lay your track.

 

Decide where you want to lay a track, which direction you want the track to go.  Short field grass or mowed grass is preferred.

Find a place that is open and preferably flat with vegetation that is relatively level.  No trees, bushes  or fences nearby.  If windy, lay the track into the wind.

Put start flag into the ground on left side of left foot.  Look at the dog, wave article and get the dog’s attention on you.  Place the start article where you are standing.  Look at the dog, wave article and get the dog’s attention on you.  You will stand at the start for a few seconds.  This causes more of your scent to be concentrated at the start.

If your trainer is laying the track and you are near the start with your dog on a leash, make sure you do not talk to the dog at this time.  Let the tracklayer get the dog’s attention.  No corrections or commands.  Let the dog be excited about the tracklayer who is getting his attention.

Focus on a target in the distance to walk towards.

Target – an object to focus on when laying a track in order to walk straight.  Most people tend to list to the right or left.  Focusing on a distant target helps you to walk straight.  This target will also aid you later when the dog is tracking.  Targets can be trees, fence posts, lamp posts, signs, telephone poles, roofs, bushes, tall weeds, flowers, etc.

Take one step and drop food in front of your foot.

Food – use very tiny pieces of food (no larger than your small fingernail) and crumbs.  For beginners, footsteps can be anywhere from “baby steps” (heel to toe) to a natural step of about 18 inches.

Take another step and drop food in front of your foot.

 

Walk 10 steps towards that target making sure you are walking straight.

Place food drops in front of each foot step.

At the end of your track, put a glove in front of you with several treats on/under or inside glove.

 

Walk through glove and place a final flag 5 steps after glove. Continue to walk straight for about 15 more steps.

Direction of wind helps you to decide the distance you walk after laying the final article.

Turn going downwind taking about 15 steps (in mild or no wind) 30 steps (on windy day)

You do not want your scent to be blown towards the track on your return.  Do not return upwind.

Turn again paralleling the track back and beyond start flag and get your dog.

 

Read “How to run a Beginner Track – Day 1”

 

AKC Tracking Regulations - 
Tracking Regulations - June 2005

 

Tracking - What You Will Need                                              *A must for beginners

 *Harness

 *Paper & pencil

 *TD - leather glove, leather wallet and a piece of cloth for laying tracks.  VST will also include metal & plastic articles.

 *Food (tiny pieces of favorite treats, dry kibble, dry cookies, veggies. I discourage uncooked hot dogs etc. - smelly food attracts bees & ants.

 *6’ leash (eventually you will need a 40’ line)[1]

 *Water & water dish – use a very small plastic/metal dish (cat dish/camping cup) preferred over folding cloth dish.  

*Plastic bag for picking up dog’s potty

 landscaping flags in bright colors at least 30" tall – preferably orange & pink – they show up best in the fields.

 Clothespins with bright colored tape attached (again, preferably pink & orange – white is good too)

 Rain gear for rainy weather  

Waist Pack that can carry 2 waters & tracking line & harness.

 Watch

 Small seal-proof container for ticks (with cotton and alcohol inside). This is used when taking ticks off of dogs in parking lots after tracking.

 Tweezers – use only if tick cannot be removed by hand.

 For tracking in San Francisco Bay Area County Parks[2], it is preferable to use an orange vest purchased at Army Surplus Stores. 

Tick Prevention:

I use Preventic collars when tracking in the fields.  Follow directions on the box.  I also use Frontlne on my dogs. Both of these do a wonderful job of discouraging ticks from imbedding onto your dogs. I also use the bug repellant below. This is good for both dogs and people.

 Rattle Snakes:

Tracking in the fields after the rain starts in the fall and before it gets too hot in the spring is generally safe. Snakes like the warm weather and come out to bask in the sun in the early spring through early fall months. 

 If your dog gets bitten by a Rattle Snake, he must be treated with an anti-rattlesnake venom.  Make sure you know the closest vet that has this available if you are hiking or tracking where rattlesnakes might be present.  

Another method to guard your dog against Rattlesnake is to take them to a Rattlesnake Avoidance Clinic.  Your local Tracking clubs or an Internet search can give you more information.

 Fox Tails

Dry foxtails in the fields and are dangerous to our tracking dogs.   They will go up their noses and get in their fur (especially feet) and imbed into their skin.  This is another reason not to track in fields in the late spring, summer & early fall months.  Foxtails have sharp points at one end, and microscopic barbs, so that they easily move in the direction of the point, but not the other way. They "work in", but they don't "work out". They can become imbedded in your dog’s hair, especially the paws and ears, and in nostrils and even eyes. As they work their way in, they cause infection, and if not treated can sometimes be fatal.

 Thoroughly brush and inspect your dog’s coat if he has been in a dry grass area with foxtails.  Also check feet and ears.  If you think your dog has a foxtail somewhere in it’s body, get to a vet IMMEDIATELY.  The longer you wait, the deeper the foxtail will travel and be more difficult to remove.

 Flea, Tick, Mosquito, Fly, & Bee Repellant

Ingredients are full strength oils: Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Sweet Orange Oil, Pine Needle Oil, Rosemary Oil, Sage Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Peppermint Oil, Citronella Oil.

Directions: Mix 2-3 drops each with 16 oz. Water in a spray bottle. Shake before each application and spray lightly over entire body.

Directions for spraying lawns to prevent bees: 16 drops each/1 gallon. In hot days, may need to spray every 6 hours.

Directions for dog shampoo: Mix 4-6 drops each with 32 oz of any natural shampoo and you now have a natural flea shampoo.

Repels fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies, and bees. Spray lightly on dogs and blankets and also makes your van smell great. Use before going into the obedience ring for sits & downs to repel bees, or for tracking or fieldwork to repel ticks. Some people have used it on golf courses and camping to repel mosquitoes. This stuff smells great.

A health food store in your area sells these.                                                                   

[1] Long Lines:  A 3/8” climbing rope is good for larger dogs.  Have someone sew a clasp onto one end.  A nylon parachute line is good for smaller dogs.  Sew a small clasp onto one end.

[2] Permission must be given by most County Parks to be off trails.

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