The tracking articles are the foundation for the body language in your tracking dog. It is easier to read a motivated dog on a track. This is a small glimpse of the begining sequence for a strong tracking foundation

Snowmageddon Tracking Dog Willy the australian shepherd

Great opportunities abound lately to track in the snow with your dog. You can see what your dog is tracking and r reward your dog for making good decisions. Additionally it is rewarding to the tracklayer when NO FLAGS or MAPS needed!

Are you seeing what your tracking dog is scenting?

In this short movie you will see Will's body language change as he "experiences" the track. Just as important is the handler's stop, wait and walk behavior.

Tracking Practice at Happy Dog Farm in Flemington NJ

It is amazing to me how the dog sport of tracking can be so simple in its premise and yet be so complicated for we handlers on the end of the leash. Dog's are born knowing how to do this. The handler after showing the dog with training what he wants the dog to follow must now learn the dog's body language in order to follow the dog on the blind track  presented at a tracking test. Subtle things the handler does when following the dog in a practice track in  training often signal the direction of the track to the dog othertimes the dog simply lacks the confidence to follow a track in the correct direction if the handler hesitates or stands on a turn.  

While learning to read a dog's body language while following behind him on the track, pay attention to the dog's speed traveling on , to and over and off the track. Notice if his head is low, middle height, high . Is his nose touching the grass, mouth open or closed, tail high or low or half mast?  It all in the details. Snapshots can really catch the body language. Combine that information with the details of the track such as where is the article in relation to the dog' s position, where is the turn, and  where is the footprint path of the track. Other information such as weather , wind, temp, terrain etc are influential but as a handler you  need to read your dog while he is tracking and concentrate on what the dog is telling you.

Good luck and keep on tracking!  

Me and my girl

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Congratulations Laurie and Willy on their AKC TD Pass at TCV Oct 11th 2009!

Today in Vermont, Will and I got his AKC Tracking Dog title! It was 37 degrees this morning, warmed up a little at 9:30 when we were told "this is your track" by the 2 Judges.

 You have to wait until the dog is out 20 feet of your 40 foot tracking line to follow. Yikes, looks like a MILE away. I was so happy to see alfalfa and higher grass in the field, because it's what we practice most often on.

 It was so pretty, the leaves are gorgeous in the nearby mountains. The sun was shining, and Willy powered out! Then...he stopped to eat grass on the second "leg". Does he hate me?!! I understand when I get nervous he eats grass.. but still-just go Willy!

 So I took a very deep breath, waited a minute, then told him to "find it". And off we went again. It felt like forever, but I thought we were getting close when suddenly Willy dove down, grabbed the glove, and pranced up to me with it!! Oh my gosh, I cannot tell you what that felt like! All those practices in the snow, rain, mud..it was all good looking at him with that glove in his mouth.

 I promise you I could not have done it without all the tracks people have laid for me, and of course, my friend, Lisa Pattison, who has taught me everything I know about tracking, and always encouraged me.

450 yards, 4 turns, ahhhhhhh.

Laurie

Australian Shepherd Squeek takes off at the Start Flag while practicing for her ASCA Tracking Test. Here she is attending a Tracking Training Session at Hopewind Farm in Lafayette NJ where an ASCA test will be held in Nov 2009