Category: Tracking

The Sieger Show Courage Test — Origin and Purpose

Taken for granted in almost all WUSV-member GSD clubs worldwide, and with similar tests in other breeds, the courage test that makes up about a third of the activities at the annual BSZS (Bundessieger Zuchtschau, or German Sieger Show) is treated differently according to country. Some countries’ national breed club require the test at every specialty show, some at just the major shows during the year, some just at the “annual national” show. And in some countries, clubs somehow manage to hang onto WUSV membership despite the facts that they ignore the mandated test or are forbidden to use it, by their nation’s government-run or government-pressured all-breed club.  (Read more...)

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Training is its own reward : Tracking

In a small wood belt to the south, bordering a dry creek, a flock of songbirds sing in praise of the coming sunset. Orange and blue are the primary colors, with long, wispy clouds that draw the eye and the heart towards the heavens. Between the trees and the tilled field, just to the north, the tall grass rattles in the light breeze.  (Read more...)

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Only the NOSE really KNOWS Part 4

Restraint, tapping, sniffing, platz, reward.Be sure to maintain the restraint part of the set up. Handlers sometimes get a little rushed and let go of it too fast.  (Read more...)

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Only the NOSE really KNOWS Part 3

Part 1&2 of this article was a discussion of the fundamental concepts of tracking and teaching tracking. I'd like to focus part 3 on a crucial part of Schutzhund (or VPG) tracking, articles.  (Read more...)

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Only the NOSE really KNOWS Part 2

I call this my colored dot concept. Let me be clear here, this is totally made up and only an aid to help people understand things a little better.  (Read more...)

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Only the NOSE really KNOWS Part 1

Tracking books, videos, articles, and seminars have one thing in common. They are written, produced or taught by people.  (Read more...)

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General Aspects of Behavior by Lost Persons

People who are lost may experience differing types of reactions. They may panic, become depressed or suffer from "woods shock." Panic usually implies tearing around or thrashing through the brush, but in its earlier stages it is less frantic. Most lost people go through some of the stages.  (Read more...)

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Trial Handling Tips for Rules as of 2004

Why are some people good handlers? This question is asked all the time. Some people are more coordinated than others, some do many tasks at once, some people can see mistakes or problems and correct them at any given notice or through training, and some people retain more knowledge. All of these things and more make any one person a good handler. Here are some hints on successful trialing.  (Read more...)

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GETTING STARTED TRACKING VARIABLE SURFACES

You take your dog out of the car, attach his harness and approach the track. The dog takes the scent from the bandanna left at the start and, nose down, begins tracking along the edge of the parking lot.  (Read more...)

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Scent - Pheremones and Odor

Compare the canine's nose Inside) to the human nose--it is much longer. The olfactory lobe of the canine is many times larger. Therefore, his brain's ability to register different smells is many times greater than ours.  (Read more...)

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Theory of Scent

Under ideal conditions, a track footprints) across a nice grassy field with a sufficient delay in time to allow bacteria reaction on the soil causing a good odor is probably the best type of track to have.  (Read more...)

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Dogs able to sniff out cancerous melanoma

Specially trained dogs can detect melanoma in moles on people. Dogs can detect by scent changes in moles.  (Read more...)

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Serpentine Tracks

All the existing literature on tracking introduces tracking by beginning with straight line tracks with a reward and/or article at the end.  (Read more...)

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