Early Tracking Training

[gerroa]

Hi everyone,

We are thinking about getting our youngest weim into some sort of tracking or field work. His buddy Austin shows and poor Leo has nothing to do.

Just wondering what are some training techniques that we could practice at home with him or at the park for say, Tracking. And is there special equipment needed, ie leads etc?

Thanks guys

Steve

[marjolein]

I think your talking about tracking and not bloodtracking?

[gerroa]

Yep, thats it Marj. I didn't even know about blood tracking til i started reading from this section of the forum. I'm still trying to get my head around showing.

Steve

[marjolein]

Ok, sorry, but can't help you with tracking. I do know somewhat about bloodtracking, but tracking is a different piece of cake.

[lizgundog]

Steve,
I think if you contact the NSW Canine Association you will possibly find a tracking club listed, we have one in Victoria, they are always helpful with training etc. If not try contacting Lisa Hope as I think she was looking into tracking some time ago.
If she is not able to help get Lisa to give you my email address and contact me directly, will on forward you to someone helpful.
Liz Harding

[fyreside]

Lisa Hope is tracking her dogs so she would be able to help you. Her email address is
[e-mail]

Marg

[gerroa]

Thanks for the tips Liz and Marg. I was talking to Lisa hope at a show yesterday actually. I totally forgot that she was into tracking. She did a tracking exhibition for us at the NSW WeiClub puppy picnic day last year. I'll have to pick her brain next week.

Thanks again
Steve

[rute_paredes]

Forgive my ignorance but how do tracking and bloodtracking work, generally speaking?
Do you leave a blood trail in blood tracking and another type of scent trail with regular tracking?
sorry if this sounds stupid, but I'm really ignorant of these things. \

thanks

rute

[marjolein]

With bloodtracking, you make a track with drops of blood. Your goal is to find that injured game at the end of the track as soon as possible, so it can be put out of it's misery. They're usually traffic victims.
When we practice, there is no dead animal at the end of a track, but a roe skin. We're doing this at competition level. Our tracks are 24 hours old (so there is a lot of distraction from wild animals crossing your track at night) and 500 mtr's long. They use 125 ml blood per track. There are 2 wound beds in this track. A woundbed is a place where injured game would rest during the night. He leaves some hair and blood and maybe even small pieces or bone or internal organs. You have to notice these woundbeds and tell the judges (three of them) you've seen them. If you miss them, you won't get high notes. They judge you on the cooperation between you and the dog, they judge the way the dogs works the track (in other words, how eager he is to stay on the track) and the woundbeds you mention.
We're training now for the 48 hour old track. This track is the same as the 24 hour track, but a day older. I'm sure someone else will tell you all about tracking.

[rute_paredes]

Thanks a lot Marjolein, it sounds very interesting, I think Iago would enjoy something like this. He loves to follow scents and look for things (we sometimes hide his toys and tell him to look for them during our outings and he loves it. I know it probably sounds all very silly to all you expert hunters and working-dog owners but that's what we've been able to come up with so far).
When we're out in the woods he always flushes rabbits out of their holes and birds out of bushes. In the park he does the same and once came to lay a poor sparrow at my feet. The bird was a bit dazed and startled but unharmed.

I used to be a bit squirmish about blood and dead creatures and all.
But since I have Iago I try and see things from his perspective and it does'nt impress me so much anymore.
I can see myself using dead birds to train Iago.

Also, I've gotten in touch with my local dog club and they're given me the contact of one person they think might advise me on training for field work. He lives very far away but except for him, all the other trainers they know of are the sort that request you turn the dog over to them.

Lets see what happens

PS - Can anyone complete Marjolein's comment and explain how tracking works, please?
Thanks in advance

rute