Laying Your Own Tracks

Here is a subject that folks have taken their sides. We have the side that it should never happen to the other side- I do it all the time. 

I am a -I do it all the time.

And, so far, I have not seen it hinder a team's progress. I have done it since my first trailing dog. My experience it helps the team. 

How?

Easy to train for one- you can go out and train without finding someone to lay tracks for you. 

You know exactly where the track is- keeping your dog on trail is crucial for beginning puppy trails and later it helps you try new trails with your dog. Yes, you can try new trails with other subjects as well, but here again- you know exactly where the trail has been laid.

It teaches the handler how to lay a good trail.

It gives you the opportunity to watch your dog, learn from your dog without the stress of where the trail maybe.

It simplifies the training so you can get multiple reps in a shorter amount of time.

It builds the team- just you two out there together! Reward comes from you!

Why? Well, the above reasons as well.

How do I lay my own tracks? The same way I would lay them for anyone else.

Now, this method would not work if you were training your dog in the Kocher Method to start - you can't do runaways for yourself. It does work how we start pups here because we shuffle our feet and leave treats on the trail to bring the dogs nose to the ground. Our goal is to have the dogs use as little sight and as much nose as possible in finding the trail.

I have done this with all of my trailing dogs. I lay my own trails for them throughout their training. It has never been an issue and helps me work through their foundation and other trailing lessons as we go along. Yes, I tell everyone that Alice gives me a look when she sniffs to find out who she is trailing to say- "wow, how many dirty socks can you lose in a lifetime?"

So, here is your next question- don't you mess up the trail walking on it after you laid it? Your dog is smarter than that- it is part of their training, it is a game to them!

Does it mess up the dog going for the hottest scent? That is what they are supposed to do, right? And wouldn't that be you? The best way, I have found to explain this is it is part of the training. They learn the game, handler is here so I am following what is left before. This does not make them not take the hottest trail finding someone else. 

Your trails will not only be you- and the dog will follow the hottest scent when it comes to other subjects. As long as you train for it!!! The experience of other subjects is part of the foundation as well. My experience with dogs taking the older scent is not from working handler's own trails, yet dog being pushed the wrong direction. I believe the same for jumping tracks, but that is whole other subject!

What do I do at the end if they run a trail I laid? If you have taught them to find articles you place an article at the end. If not, you can leave their toy or food at the end of the trail. Here we begin with the food and transition to toy or article.

What about subject loyalty or the big reward at the end? The reward comes from you playing with them- you telling them they are amazing! Subject loyalty can come into play or needed for some dogs, I believe the biggest pay needs to come from you! If the dog knows what they are doing is appreciated by you- what more could they ask for?

We start dogs with treats, toys, and articles at the end of the trail for many of our trainings. Even when we work another person's odor. This keeps the dog's nose to the ground or on the trail without catching the subject's odor and air scenting a portion of the trail. Yes, to find the subject or the end is the ultimate goal. Yet, to do this we must find the start and stay on trail. And in the end, I do welcome dogs to use all their techniques in finding the person- you have more air scent then I say go for it! But, before all that happens- I want the handler to be able to read what their dog is doing, know what it looks like on trail, trust the start, understand what to do when the dog loses odor. All of this is learned by watching your dogs on trail and working known trails. And, once again, I believe all this training can be done while laying your own tracks.

Since 2019 we have over 100 dogs started with handler running their own tracks. I have not witnessed a dog struggle with it yet. Last spring, I watched local law enforcement teams start their dogs the same way. Over the last 20 years- I have started, worked, and encountered many trailing teams work trails as we do here and all I see are the benefits to building a strong foundation.

Building the team to be successful as a team, just not a great trailing dog is my goal. Laying your own tracks is part of this team building exercise. In all our work we are training pieces to stitch together in the end. As in all our training work one puppy step at a time for years of success in the future.