TRACKING

 

View Current
Class Schedule

~ Obedience ~ Agility ~ Rally ~ Specialty & Special Classes ~
~ Dogs Can Dance™ ~ Advanced Competitive Obedience ~

For your dog: To teach the dog to recognize his tracking command and to indicate an article left on the track by the track layer. We want him to associate his tracking harness with this work. The only time he will wear his harness is when he is tracking. Motivation is important; the dog must really want to find that article. We will make him think that finding that article is the best thing he has ever done. To create this enthusiasm everything will be made very simple and easy in the beginning. THERE ARE NO CORRECTIONS. As the dog becomes more proficient, the tracks will gradually be lengthened, aged and turns will be added.

For You: Successful training necessitates knowing exactly where the track has been laid at all times. You will learn how to walk a straight line, accurately judge your distance over varied terrain, find landmarks, etc. to be able to remember exactly where your turns are, and by the time you are up to more than one turn to draw accurate maps of your track. You will also learn line handling so that you don't get tangled up, distract your dog by jerks, and maximize his tracking performance with a taut line.

THE DOGS WILL HAVE FUN IN THIS CLASS. HOWEVER IT IS DIFFERENT FROM AN OBEDIENCE CLASS IN THE TIME COMMITMENT IT TAKES. YOU WILL LEARN A LOT MORE IF YOU REMAIN FOR THE ENTIRE SESSION (WHICH COULD TAKE TWO - THREE HOURS OF THE MORNING). STEPS WILL BE COVERED EACH SESSION THAT ASSUME YOU'VE HAD FOUR OR FIVE PRACTICE SESSIONS BETWEEN EACH CLASS. IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT, YOU MIGHT CONSIDER AUDITING THE CLASS AND THEN PRACTICING WITH YOUR DOG ON YOUR OWN TIME FRAME.

To learn more about the sport and competition: 
www.akc.org/events/tracking