Laying regulation tracks

In trial, a stake is used to indicate the beginning of the track. To the right of the stake the tracklayer makes a scent pad by trampling the ground in an area approximately one yard square. He then proceeds to lay the first leg of the track in a straight line. When he reaches the location of the first turn, he pivots 90 degrees right or left (according to the judge’s instructions) and proceeds without hesitation in the new direction. The tracklayer should walk the track at a normal pace and with his normal step. He is very careful to drop the articles directly onto the track. In a trial, the judge normally indicates where he wants the articles dropped and where the turns are to be.

^{Susan Barwig walks “Quella” carefully down the length of the track, holding the pup to a slow pace and using a hand to point out each footstep.}

^{We make the search game more difficult by moving out into the yard and scattering the baits across an area of short but dense grass. (Andy Barwig and “Dux.”)}

^{The importance of the start on the track cannot be overstated. Here Shirley Stadjuhar’s dog begins to work slowly and surely.}

Tracking: Schooling the Dog

The primary GOAL in Schutzhund tracking is to teach the dog to footstep track. Only a dog that puts its nose into each footstep and works carefully and determinedly can receive the full 100 points in competition. Accordingly, we must teach the dog to follow track scent, not air or body scent. We do this by associating the tracklayer’s footsteps, and thus the track scent, with small bits of food.

GOAL 1: The dog will work a short, straight track slowly and precisely.

The first step is to teach the dog to follow a straight track. We break this skill down into a number of simple concepts.

The vast majority of Schutzhund dogs begin their schooling in tracking when they are still very young, at perhaps ten to twelve weeks, and therefore much of the following information is described in terms of puppy training. However, the reader should be aware that we use almost exactly the same techniques to begin older pups and adult animals in tracking.

Important Concepts for Meeting the Goal

1. Searching on command

2. Taking a full scent at the start of the track

3. Taking scent in each footstep of the track

4. Correcting the dog back to the track