Just started scentwork on my own - any tips not to go wrong?

Louilou

I've finally managed to get going on some scentwork and tracking with Grey (16 month old srhp). I'm doing it on my own so far as I can't afford sessions in time and money at the mo. I did do a couple of sessions a few weeks ago with a trainer who had experience of tracking training, but not sure this is the same approach as would be taken for an hpr.

The basic stuff I've been doing is dropping the object for him without him seeing and sending him back for it. Is this a trackback? Sorry, not up on the terminology.

I also have managed to have him sit and stay while I walk out and drop the object.

He's bringing the object back and dropping it at my feet, where I click and treat him. I anticipate some of you might think this is bad? Because it should be to hand? I'm quite happy though at this juncture because it's such an improvement from not coming back at all! And now we have a routine, he's so much more connected with me and will also come away from other dogs etc for the chance to work more on this.

So is it possible to work alone training this type of thing? Or do I need a trainer or a group or at least a partner? I tried tying him up at one point so I could go out and hide the object. Is this a bad thing?

josie

You can definitely work alone Lou, but you'll need to research things, read up on them, ask questions on forums etc.

For example, what you describe sounds like a blind retrieve - nothing to do with tracking.

And I definitely wouldn't be clicking him for dropping it at your feet, if it has already left his mouth when you click. Because you are then clicking him for releasing it. You should always click whilst he is holding it, or you are rewarding him for dropping it.

There are many retrieving resources plastered up on this forum - I think Mike put some stickies at the top of the board - including Shirley Chong's clicker retrieve. If you want to use the clicker with the retrieve, you need to spend time reading and re-reading that.

BritAnnie

Books haven't worked for me - I'm a see it and do it type of person, can't visualise from the written word so I would recommend finding a friend to help - doesn't need to be a doggy one so long as they do what you tell them.

Louilou

See I thought I would be all muddled already! Very Happy

There's a surprise.

I had a little look through the sticky on the retrieve with the GSDs which has videos, so that's a help. I'll stop the click when he's dropped it then and perhaps work on a separate breakdown of the clicker retrieve as per Shirley Chong.

The 2 tracking sessions we went to he had a harness and line on and the trainer laid a track for him to follow, so I guess that was scentwork?

Perhaps I can keep this rabbit tug toy as his special play thing that has more relaxed rules about and work more formally with a dummy or dumbell? This way I don't lose the gains we've had outside in his interest?

josie

Oh yes, that was tracking - sorry I got confused when you said "is this a trackback?". No - it's a blind retrieve.

You can definitely use a tuggy toy (IMO - not everyone will agree with that), but don't play tuggy with retrieve items themselves - tuggy is a reward which comes afterwards. You can click and then whip out the tug toy for a reward, for example, instead of food.

Louilou

Thanks Josie. Grey doesn't like playing tug outside anyway. He turns his head away and won't engage. I just use the rabbit thing as a retrieve object never tugging now.