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dgrracing

SE Michigan

SH
Posts:59

08/06/2008 9:16 AM
I'm seeking some advise on track training.. Currently my 9 month old pup wants to track down wind of a track covering 50 yards in about 3 seconds. I need to slow her down for NAVHDA testing.. She''ll cover a winding track and locate the bird however I'm sure it won't be to the judges "liking" as she'll do it at "sprint speed". My thoughts are to put her on the checkcord and make her slow down. Perhaps adding a treat or 2 along the track to make it worth her while to stay on track. One issue is that we're having to do most of our training in short grass, perhaps longer grass would slow her down. It's either mowed grass or chest high grass swatting at 5000 mosquito's here in Mi. So currently I'm going with the "mowed grass".. Any advise would be appreciated.

Trey

SW Iowa

MH
Posts:516

08/06/2008 10:43 AM
No, do not put her on a checkcord and slow her down. She is doing exactly what she should be, a dog with a good nose does not snuffle down the track with it's head on the ground. There is no need to change anything for an na test, trust me the judges know whta they are looking at. I do very few tracks with dogs before na (and most are drags) I just want to be sure they understand when I say the command for track (sniff) it is a track and I don't want a field search. PS. I would do a drag or two with some turns, with the wind at her back, just to make sure she will slow down and concentrate when she needs to.

dgrracing

SE Michigan

SH
Posts:59

08/06/2008 2:50 PM
Thanks, I've never participated in NAVHDA before and wasn't sure what the expectations were. According to the test rule book (pg 12) a dog that follows a track deliberately and slowly should be scored higher than one that speeds forward with little accuracy. My pup will follow the track for about 30 feet then I presume due to lack of patience attempt to wind the bird or track. She'll cut the corners of a right angle track if she catches other scent and if she gets wind of the bird she'll ignore the track entirely and bee line directly to the bird, scented dummy etc. I guess I was under the impression that the judges would want more a "blood hound" type of track, nose to the ground and never deviating from the actual track..

Trey

SW Iowa

MH
Posts:516

08/06/2008 6:55 PM
should be scored higher than one that speeds forward with little accuracy. With little accuracy are the key words here. No dog that runs with a high head and follows the track (direction the bird moves making forward progress. The test will be set up so she will not wind the bird without tracking for enough distance to judge her tracking, nose and ability to concentrate on the task at hand. No this is different then aimless running around the field and lucking into the bird after little to no tracking. I would suggest you do some more difficult drags with turns and curves to make sure she will concentrate if she is the impatient type. Very few dogs we see in navhda do the nose to the ground bloodhound type tracking, thank God, they don't need to!

dgrracing

SE Michigan

SH
Posts:59

08/06/2008 7:56 PM
Trey, Thanks for the advise. I tried it tonight. I laid 1 track/drag using a harnessed pigeon so the wind would be from her backside, with a right turn to it. She follwed the downwind leg closely but when it came to the turn she went past the turn by about 3 yards then turned. I guess she wanted to be downwind of the track. The second track/drag went through the woods around trees etc. for about 75 yards. Again she stayed close to the track path when the wind was to her back side, if she veered off course she'd double back to pickup scent. She'd aways go downwind of the actual track on the turns whenver she could. I presume she gets better scent being 8 feet downwind of the actual track.. I guess she's just smarter than her owner. Overall from what you're telling me and what I observed tonight I think she'll do just fine.. Thanks again for the advise

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