Beginning HITT Tracking

Urban Tracking - Start Right to Finish Right: Steve White

Laying the track on asphalt

Cathy and Bev

Using our own "planting" method of laying the kibble on the track.

:*D
(A passing motorist stopped and asked if we were killing ants!)

.....and learning from our mistakes

Jennifer White: 

Why are you NOT using a garden sprayer? My goodness, a bottle like that would take forever and a lot of squeezing! Just go spend $12 and get a 1.5 gal sprayer and dedicate it to non-chlorinated water for HITT tracks only. Dump & refresh the water every week. 

Okay, gals, there are a few problems with the above approach. Remember, even though we are primarily building a classical association between the water and the treats, this is an exercise in TRACKING. The ultimate association is the human scent component. Therefore, only ONE person should lay the track, both water and treats. And in one direction only.The water line needs to bisect the track-layer's steps. You don't want the dog being conditioned to look for human scent to the right of the steps.   

Shortcuts do not make good training if they miss the mark! Do you have the HITT video?

The dogs aren't broken.  Everyone had a good time.  And we'll do it right next time!

Learning Nose Down

Monty's Very First Track

Monty and Bev

Even more impressive than Monty's nose on the track
was his focus even though Cathy crossed the parking lot to give directions
to a lost driver.

Roo and Cathy

Lily and Bev

What I learned from doing and watching.................

(and re-reading!)

Remain silent!

 

Move forward with your dog

Let the dog learn what works........and what doesn't

No tension in the lead

Neither

let the dog wander more than a lead length off the track

Nor

back track for missed treats

Just as he gets to the last 3 or 4 treats gentle sidle up to him with treats in your off- hand

lure him up and away from the end of the spray line

before he starts trying to figure out where the rest of it goes.