Step-By-Step Tracking Dog Training - "No Down Command Required" - Kris Kotsopoulos Australia

April 12, 2011 - PRLog -- No Down Command Required

Contrary to popular belief, your dog does not need any obedience to begin his introduction to tracking under this system. As with the teaching of anything new, is it stressful, hence learning is stressful, so article training should be introduced away from the track, where the entire concept can be properly conditioned. Once this occurs introducing it to the track is the next step. There are many ways for the dog to article indicate and I prefer the dog to lay down when indicating the article. It is calm, clean and an exact response, it also assists with containment exercises to come. I will be referring to the dog downing throughout the
process of article indication in this book.

You will require the following:

(a) Approximately ten articles that should be of different materials
(b) A flat collar
(c) A corrective collar
(d) A clicker
(e) It is also advisable for an assistant to video all your tracking sessions.

There are a few reasons for video taping your sessions:

• You can record and review all your article and tracking training sessions, enabling you to plan your next session in a proactive manner.

• The person recording can also be constituted as a judge, which helps the dog learn to work with other people close by. As the dog becomes experienced, you can add as many people as possible and progressively increase the distractions.

The corrective collar is necessary in case the dog needs a reminder to walk “slow,” not steer too far from the track, to not go over articles, and anything else that may be essential in guiding the dog. I very much believe in the methodology that any handler stimulus must
have direction, it is essential in animal learning, particularly when any form of negativity is applied.

Sniffing - not seeing - is also absolutely essential when tracking. You do not want the dog to make associations that are not intended, like the sight of an article on a track.

More information can be found on www.precisiontrackingdogs.com where you can buy this new tracking book.

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