A tracking problem, during an actual trial. What to do... what to do? - Page 1

i was tracking a Schutzhund 1 track last April 16, 2011, at a trial in North Carolina, (a day when our state was hit by a number of tornadoes).  As I was laying my track, the wind was so hard, that it was difficult to walk a straight line, but, the track and two articles were laid, and aged for half an hour while the wind blew.

We were doing great in our track, till we got to the first article.  My girl stood there, turned around and looked at me questioningly.  I saw to my horror that the article had been blown by the wind, about 6-7 feet to the right of the track.  As I was trying to decide what to do, my girl continued on, rounded the second corner beautifully, ending with lying to perfectly indicate the last article.  We scored 88.  The judge took off 10 points for the "missed" article.  The weather was so bad, and they were in such a hurry to finish the trial, (do obedience and protection and the BH dogs) that there was no time to ask the judge what to do if this situation ever comes up again.  (We do have windy days in NC).  Has anyone else ever had this happen?  Was there a way to salvage some of those 10 points lost???

Sandra:  I am not sure about if the article was 7 feet to the side off the track, but I know in my one, Molly stood at the article, and looked back at me.  She did not lay down, but I did nothing and she waited about 25 seconds and then moved on.  The judge told me that I should have went up to her and picked up the article as I never said she would down at the article.  I will be interested in what the more experienced schutzhund people will say regarding the article blowing to the side - that far off the track. 

Sounds like your girl did a great track in poor conditions.  Congratulations.

Cheryl

I was not clear... the article was six to seven feet OFF the track, the wind blew it clearly to the RIGHT side OFF the track totally... i had no idea what to do.

Cheryl is right on.  I would have walked up to the dog and retrieved the article, the dog stopping and looking back at you is an indication.  Not a perfect indication, but an indication none the less.  I might try a subtle tug on the leash to get the dog to down, especially if the judge wasn't looking.  I also tell the judge "my dog will indicate the article" but do not specify how it will indicate.  7 feet off the track is a problem, If you saw it and the dog stopped I would have walked up and retrieved it.  There is not much else that you could have done.

Jim   

What Jim said.  Consider that the indicating, reach over and grab the article.  I probably would have got flustered and kept going like you did though.

Sort of similar...at training on Sunday I laid a lot of articles.  At one point my dog downed.  I walked up - no article.  I didn't correct but did not reward the dog.  Afterward, my TD apologized because a group of people walked over my track and someone picked up one of my articles.  So I wonder was it appropriate for the dog to correctly indicate, where an article HAD been?

What about asking for a retrack? I think 7 feet off the track is a little excessive. I proof for 2 or 3 feet off the track. I mean really, if we are asking our dogs to put their noses in the footsteps, not to airscent, don't you think this is unfair?

Changer,
I agree my SchH dogs would not go 3 feet off a track to indicate they would pass right by the article.  I never thought about a retrack, that would be a good idea.  Although in those conditions an 88 is a great score considering the conditions.    

 My Police K9 did a track yesterday for a robbery suspect and he will head snap and go off the track to indicate evidence.  He is trained to scent discriminate and found clothing and several hundred dollars (100's, 50's, 20's) dropped by the suspect along the route of the track.  The track was about a mile and crossed two busy roads and an apartment complex ending in a 7-11 store.  On the way back to the car he indicated on more money lost by the suspect.  Unfortunately, I didn't bring a toy and had no way to reward my dog.  I gave him my baton and let him hit some other officers, he and I were the only ones that found that funny.

Jim

 Jim:

         If the dog finds the money does the dog get to keep it?    

Bob,
No, but later on I tossed him a kong and you would think I was giving him $50 with each throw.  That was all the reward he needed. 

Jim

What you should have done was to have dropped the line and walked up to your dog. then turned to the judge with your hand up as if you had picked up the article. The dog was allowed to stand at the article as well as down on it.
Had you done the above you would not have been docked 10 points. No fault of the dog or you that the article had blown to the side of the track but you did not do the right thing,
 So the judge had no option but to dock you points a bit of bad luck really, But your dog knew where it should have been
Steve1