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Indoor Tracking Part Three

Welcome to the third part of our indoor tracking project. Tracking during the lockdown of 2020.
In this episode we introduce you to the art of designing your first indoor track. Previously we introduced you to the remarkable reasons to try tracking, invited you to make a map of one floor of your home and introduced you to some basic parameters that will help you become a good handler. Now it is time to think about where your first track will be situated in your home and what shape it will be to assist your handling skills.

The video is quite long (sorry about that!) and unfortunately there are a few interruptions (dogs scratching and me coughing) apologies for that too. The video begins with a recap of the first two blogs that deal with practical issues and then you will be talked through the things to consider in designing your track pattern and deciding where to place it. Please don’t get too hung up on HOW you will lay the track (that means how the scent of you or a track layer walking will be set out), you won’t be surprised to learn that that will be the subject of our next instalment.

If you know a little bit about track laying already and are looking at your space and thinking it will be tricky, please don’t worry, it will be fine. Our experience in tracking for missing animals has informed us about tracks in what looks like a ‘dead end’, please don’t worry. Similarly, if you are on your own, no problem. We’ll cover track laying for one or more people in your home.

Kettle on and we hope you find the information in the video interesting.

2 Responses

  1. Hello Pat, thanks for putting your time and energy into this! Can tracks route around items of furniture like beds and free-standing cupboards? Thank you

    1. Hi Bryony,

      In the video we explored a possible route around a table and discounted it during the very beginner stages because of the possibility of an under draft, or, the dog remaining sighted of the track layer, and in both situations the dog being tempted to move from tracking to searching (i.e. relying more on other sensory inputs than sniffing). However, as you progress and the dog is very clearly tracking and more and more confident with tracking, then yes! Go for it. Lay the track around furniture and other safe obstacles.

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