I own a West Highland Terrier, about a year and a half in age. I know they were bred to sniff out rats and stuff in the trenches but is there a technique to teach them to track certain things? Like smells and stuff?
If so, could you tell me how?
NOT "…..rats & stuff in trenches……"!!!!!!!!!!!!! =locate ,get down to & WORK FORMIDABLE QUARRY IN-GROUND!!!!!!
Any breed can "track"….some are better than others.
WHAT do you want to "track"???????????? Makes a huge difference in training.
&….it’s West Highland WHITE Terrier,dear.
Tags: west highland white terrier, Westie, west highland terrierTags: west highland terrier, west highland white terrier, Westie
NOT "…..rats & stuff in trenches……"!!!!!!!!!!!!! =locate ,get down to & WORK FORMIDABLE QUARRY IN-GROUND!!!!!!
Any breed can "track"….some are better than others.
WHAT do you want to "track"???????????? Makes a huge difference in training.
&….it’s West Highland WHITE Terrier,dear.
References :
It’s really a little to involved to give you the iformation here, but I suggest you visit http://www.dogwise.com to find lots of books and DVD’s on tracking.
Any dog, any breed can track. Also, check the AKC website and see if you can locate a local tracking club. Sometimes these tracking clubs offer a "learn how to track" seminar. It’s actually quite interesting.
I did it a long time ago with my mixbreed. The way I was taught was by using food. When the dog is just learning, you place a small piece of hot dog at every step you take. The track should just be a straight line, not to long, just real easy. At the end should be a glove with hot dogs inside it or underneath it. Once the dog gets the idea of sniffing the ground, you then put a hotdog piece at every other step and instead of making the track straight, you make on left or right turn.
Eventually, you lay a track, let it sit a few hours and go out there with your dog and track. Ideally, you want virgin ground (ground that has not been walked on by people).
How the dog tracks, depends on lots of things, weather conditions being one. How strong is the wind, what direction is it coming from, what is the temperature outside, is the ground wet? dry? etc.
You’ll want to keep a journal when you track of just that: weather conditions, ground conditions, an drawing of the track you laid, how old the track was when you dog work the line etc.
Keep in mind the heat makes scent disappear very quickly and that moisture (rain, dew) keeps scent close to the ground. Also, if there is a breeze or wind, the scent will move, so the dog may not be exactly on the line.
One thing to remember. Always trust your dog.
**Almost forgot, your dog will need to be on a harness, so you don’t want to tug at his neck and make him think he’s being corrected. You’ll always want a long line, maybe a 15 or 20 foot one.
The AKC (American Kennel Club) and ASCA
(Australian Shepherd Club) offer tracking tests. You can earn tracking titles thru these venues. In an AKC or ASCA tracking test, a stranger (the judge) lays a track the day before. You will use a glove or a wallet, that your dog must fine. I used a leather glove.
References :
My dog is a Retriever Setter mix and I usually play this game to help with his stimulation. I have him on a sit stay while I go hide a treat somewhere in the house. Then I return tell him to "Go find it!’. He usually finds it, but if thats too hard, you can start by dragging the treat over the floor so it leaves a scent and then working your way up. You can then advance to the outdoors.
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I like the personality of a rat terrier. They are so sweet.
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