"Tracking"

rosemaryninja · 11-01-2007, 09:25 AM

The word 'tracking' is in inverted commas because I'm not really setting my beagles loose in a field of rabbits - I'm just trying to teach them to pick up their brush.

So, I started them with "find the treat", which their houndsy noses picked up on very quickly. They can find treats that have been placed under towels or under identical cups. Now I am getting them to recognise the brush. I put the brush in front of them, say "Where's the brush?" and when they sniff the brush, I treat.

They're pretty much okay with this already. The tough part is getting them to pick the brush up. Once I can get them to put the brush in their mouths, getting them to come to me shouldn't be a problem...I just can't seem to communicate to them what I want them to do! They very rarely chew ANYTHING - even if there's peanut butter on it, all they'll do is lick. They will only chew things if there is food INSIDE it, like a Kong.

Any tips?

Shaina · 11-01-2007, 11:50 AM

I don't have any tips, but am hoping other people do...I'm attempting to do the same thing: getting my pooch to pick up and bring me her leash when asked. You're not alone, lol.

digits mama · 11-01-2007, 12:05 PM

I have been teaching my Puddles to track for wildlife in Buildings marked for Demolition. Or in piles of rubble to be picked up. I am totally new to this and have been searching the internet for better ways of teaching her. Right now I have to keep her on leash while working because her recall isnt up to par just yet (were working on it) I am finding that commands are way better for her when I tell her specifics..Such as "get the kitty" regardless of what she finds. I do work on the gulf coast that went through hurricane Katrina and the feral cats are running rampant. There is nothing worse than positioning your trackhoe bucket on a building to start to rake it out and cats run out like you hit an ant pile.Kind of puts a damper on my timeline. So far Puddles had sniffed out 3 adult cats and 1 litter of kittens. I dont deserve any credit for her efforts becasue she is a tracker by breed and that is what she loves to do. I went to a hunting section in Cabelas and bought her a squirrel pawn. It looks like a sock filled with cotton and supposedly smells like a squirrel. That works the best. I can hide that thing anywhere and she will find it. Only thing we have to work on is her trying to destroy it before she gets it to me. Good luck with your pups! and if i find any better ideas Ill let you know and please do the same for me!

TooneyDogs · 11-01-2007, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosemaryninja

They're pretty much okay with this already. The tough part is getting them to pick the brush up. Once I can get them to put the brush in their mouths, getting them to come to me shouldn't be a problem...I just can't seem to communicate to them what I want them to do!

Work backwards. Teach the hold first. Have them hold the brush in their mouths. If they drop it, put it back in the mouth and keep one hand under the lower jaw...pet and praise. This is a great time to teach the Give command. For the Find, put a small dab of peanut butter of the brush handle. At this point, they should be comfortable with picking it up and bringing it to you. If they drop it (looking for more peanut butter) get them to pick it up again and immediately start walking away encouraging them to come to you...with the brush, of course!

rosemaryninja · 11-02-2007, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TooneyDogs

Work backwards. Teach the hold first. Have them hold the brush in their mouths. If they drop it, put it back in the mouth and keep one hand under the lower jaw...pet and praise. This is a great time to teach the Give command. For the Find, put a small dab of peanut butter of the brush handle. At this point, they should be comfortable with picking it up and bringing it to you. If they drop it (looking for more peanut butter) get them to pick it up again and immediately start walking away encouraging them to come to you...with the brush, of course!

Impossible! They will not pick up anything unless they can eat it. If I put peanut butter on it, they lick it off.

TooneyDogs · 11-02-2007, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosemaryninja

Impossible! They will not pick up anything unless they can eat it. If I put peanut butter on it, they lick it off.

Teaching a reliable retrieve is not easy for some dogs but, it can be learned. That was without a doubt the hardest thing for one of my dogs and it took almost 3 months of training. My other dog, who loves to carry toys around, learned it in a week.

There is another way to teach it but, it's not as reliable. You can try waving the brush around, make it exciting, grab their interest and then throw it a few feet. Tell them to get it, still making a big deal of it. Sometimes, this results in a 'kill' when they grab it and they often drop it after it's 'dead' (not a good thing in the obedience ring)! The hard part again, is getting them to bring it all the way back to you.