Do you know what the purpose of tracking is, from your dogs point of view? The simplest answer is to find or avoid a track layer. If you’re a dog you can track to find your mates or track to find your dinner (especially if dinner runs), you can even track your own self in order to find your way home. And the flip side of that is that a dog can also locate the tracks of those who are frightening, threatening or smell ‘dangerous’ and use this knowhow to avoid contact.
At Dogtaggs we keep this thought, that ‘happy’ tracks are inviting tracks, front and centre. From the very beginnings we will support your track laying development, smooth out any bumps and equip you with all you need to know at each progress point. We’ll help you turn out as the track layer that every dog is motivated to follow and find.
How do we go about that? Well, in addition to teaching technique, helped by a good smattering of laughter most human track layers can also muster a happy excited stress state called eustress. Eustress state results in confident track laying and tracks of the invitingly smelly kind.
And the canine track layers, how do we encourage eustress in them? Take a look at the picture. Badger waits with increasing anticipation……. then when he’s released he jumps down and runs across the field setting a wonderful track (and no galumphing human in tow!), just a neat tidy track, laid by a happy dog that should be inviting for most tracking dogs to follow.
Badger waits with increasing anticipation…..before running across the field to set a track.
If you would like to learn more about the Dogtaggs approach to tracking, the foundation course, Get Cracking With Tracking, is booking now. 6 x 1 day sessions or 3 x 2 day sessions. Payment plan available at no extra cost. Go to Courses and Bookings and click on Get Cracking with Tracking.
