Tracking Training

The club offers an Introductory tracking courses each year.

The course commences in March or April each year.  This allows people the oportunity to train their dogs to a stage where they could enter the June Tracking Trial conducted by our club.

An Intermediate course will commences in July each year.  This would allow people to continue their training ready for the club's September trial.

You don't have to be considering trialing to undertake tracking training.  It can be just a fun thing to do with your dog, and no pressure will be applied to trial, however I will warn you that it is rewarding for us as well as our dogs and you may find yourself enjoying and you may want to trial to test your dogs nose skills as our dogs just love using their natural skills

 

Next Training Course details:

The club is about to commence its second and final intake for tracking training ahead of our the trial to be conducted in June 2011

Commences:       26th June 2011     start delayed to 3/7/2011

Time:                    12.00pm (midday)

Location:             Churchill Park

Cost:                    $20 (for members)

                              $55 (for new members)

What to bring:     to start with just some special treats (eg cut up sausage/cheese) and a happy dog

                              We will provide information on things you may need as the course progresses if you express interest

Week Date Aspect Covered
1   Introduction - getting your dog started with a short straight track etc
2   Follow-up
3   Moving on to a banana shaped track
4   Introduce turns, long lead & harness, talk on lead handling etc
5   Follow-up
6   Longer tracks, talk on tracklaying reading maps for trials etc
7   Follow-up
8   Talk on what happens next weekend. Long tracks and general Q & A

If you are unsure what this is about, and curious you are welcome to come down to Churchill Park on Sunday  27/6/2010 to see a demonstration.  This does not form part of the training, but is intended to see if tracking may be something you are interested in trying.

For those who want to go on and trial there will be a tracking trial 11th & 12th September, and this training course should prepare you to be able to enter this if you wish (there are additional Canine Association membership requirements).

But you don't have to trial... Tracking is such a fun thing to do with your dog

 

For those interested, please let us know at training or contact us

 

Main aims of the Tracking course
  • To teach the dog to follow a selected trail which has been marked out by leaving scent on the trail.
  • Progress toward your dog being able to follow a specific scent to the exclusion of distractions, and to clearly indicate any articles or property that are found on or next to the track
  • Understand equipment and how to use appropriately
  • Understand how to plot & lay tracks
 
Things to bring or have to go Tracking
 

1.     Your dog!

2.     Fixed collar or a car harness if you have one (No slip chains)

3.     A lead at least 750mm long up to 2 metres long.

4.     10 to 20 small pieces of food. (cook up some sausages and slice about 5mm thick. 

         Devon or similar can be cut up & may be less greasy)

5.     A reward for your dog. (their favourite toy or small container of food)

6.     3 socks or gloves. (a good way to utilise those odd or holey socks)

7.     A tether or something similar so you can leave your dog to lay a track. If you have a friend

        or member of the family with you, you could put them to good use to hold your dog

8.     A positive attitude and the ability to have fun with your dog.

 
Safety when tracking
  • Sturdy footwear with grip is advisable as you may work in areas that are slippery
  • Be aware of terrain when in the bush
    • Snakes (avoid the snake season if you plan to work in the bush)
    • Water/rivers/dams can easily go unsighted when you concentrate on your dog
    • Trees and overhanging branches can be a hazard – be aware
  • Keep your dog on lead at all times
  • Reserves may be adjacent to properties with electric fences (so be careful)
  • If you go tracking on your own, it’s a good idea to let someone know where you have gone & when you plan to return
  • Keep a small first aid kit with your tracking gear in case of little accidents
  • If you have a mobile phone, its probably a good idea to take it with you in case you get disoriented or need help
 
Your dog already knows how to track (or search) for things based on scent
  • we are trying to learn how to communicate with our dogs to track things for mutual rewards
 
Tracking is ALL positive
  • always reward good things and things will go well
  • Get excited when they find articles or the finish
  • Have a nice reward at the end of the track eg food or toy that they REALLY love
 
Use “Articles” to help reinforce     when the dog is on track
  • Usually clean socks are put next to our bodies eg under a jumper or inside your shirt. This allows the socks to get your scent on them
  • In training you can put a soft treat inside the sock. It will be an extra reward for finding an article
  • Be excited when they find an article
  • Help your dog get to the treat but let them think they have got the treat out themselves
  • Encourage your dog to sit or lie down when they get to an article. 
  • In a trial they will need to clearly indicate that they have found the article. 
  • Get your dog to sit or drop while you help them get their treat out of the sock (article)
 

 

 

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