Quote:
Originally Posted by red_dobe_syd  Questions:
1. How do you approach the square? Do you heel the dog to it and then make a command "search" once you get to the edge?
2. Is there an order of searching the dog should do? like: Closest to furthest side of the square? Do you make a correction if she skips a few pieces or point them out?
3. When the food is all gone, she still was adimently looking for more, sniffing deep in the grass, when/how do you make her stop? Just pull her out, make her heel, reward with a treat from you hand and congratulate her?
So after one session she seemed to make the distinction between trampled and regular grass. I plan on sticking to the square for at least a handfull more times and reducing the food quantity so she has to really search for it and learns the boudaries of stomped grass and regular grass and then venture for a short track from there.
Any suggestions? |
As Elly stated there are many ways to teach SchH tracking - sometimes one
way does not fit all dogs...even of the same breed. SchH tracking is definitely a mixture of obedience and tracking combined.
I did not use the "square" with Zane, but I did with Coda. The best method to approach your track or square IMO, is to train according to what the rulebook states - saves alot of headaches later if you teach the "procedures" right from the get go. Sometimes I don't have anyone to report into - so I just pretend that there is a judge there - I also carry a small radio and put it on a gospel station - so he gets usta hearing voices and strange sounds while on the track
If the dog is already showing the drive to track of course. The rulebook (SchH USA) states that first you report into the judge, with the dog at sit/heel position. Dog must already be ready to track soooooo if you are placing a line under the dogs right/left leg or between their legs - it must be done BEFORE reporting in as points will be deducted for not going directly to the track and fixing the line after reporting in. As "tracklayers" (for SchH2 and SchH 3) will approach from different directions to lay your track - I stop approx 3 ft from where the flag (square) is directly in front, from the right side, from the left side (alternating everyday) and give my command to track.
As for the order - no one ever specified an order to me, until it became an actual normal size scent pad. As long as your dog is not raising his head, becomes distracted or bored and stays in the square - he's doing a great job! I've seen people point out the food and I've seen others just walk their dogs away once they appear done.
In a square when the dog has found all the food - I just give a heel command - I'd of course be outside the box. I report out to the judge and then I reward like crazy.
Just a suggestion....I would definitely keep a written log (book) of your progression....it really comes in handy. I usta do it with my police dog, did not do it with Coda and I regret it but I've been keeping one on Zane. It helps when you run into a snag in training.
I consider myself very lucky as a member of our club has titled numerous dogs to FH2 (one from a BH directly to FH1 and FH2, then went back to get his SchH titles) - he is also a retired SchH USA Judge - Floyd Wilson who judged many many FH and SchH tracks. I hope you can find someone with experience, to assist you.