Competitive Tracking with Your German Shepherd

Jason Mann and 5 month old canine Ronin tracking.

Tracking is a fun and challenging activity for both handler and canine. Tracking allows your German Shepherd to use their nose and their mind to hunt down an item. The sport of tracking is also a great way to spend time with your dog and allow them to burn off excess energy.

The American Kennel Club offers competitive tracking titles and one of the main phases of Schutzhund is tracking. Some owners with Schutzhund titled dogs cross over to AKC tracking because it offers a way to keep their dogs tracking skills sharp. Especially if they have reached the upper levels of both sports.

From a training point of view Mr. Mann says, "I always start my dogs on Schutzhund style tracks even if they are not competiting in Schutzhund. I have found the foundational training in Schtuzhund prepares a dog perfectly for AKC tracking. Alternatively, I've found starting in AKC tracking and then trying to track in Schtuzhund to be less effective."

Whether you are competiting in Schutzhund or AKC tracking events the foundation is the key to tracking. The foundation starts by knowing the rules of the organization you are competing with. Once you know the rules inside and out you can start to train your dog.

Tracking is About Letting Nature Take Over

Dogs are masters at using their noses. The nose is their main tool in life. Hunting, mating, traveling, all rely heavily on the canine nose. German Shepherds have been used for decades as highly effecient trackers. Military and Law enforcement rely on the breed daily to track down mines, guns, and people. The biggest mistake a person can make when training their GSD to track is to get in the way of nature.

When asked about trainers getting in the way Mr. Mann said, "Trainers have egos. We think we are teaching the dog something great but in reality the dog is simply doing what the dog is supposed to do. Where we make mistakes is when we get in the way of the natural process. In other words, we help the dog far too much."

When you allow your dog to use their natural ability you are allowing nature to work in your favor. What that means is if you get out of the way the dog will do the work and show you where you need to help. Instead of you jumping in and helping possibly causing problems you will need to come back later and fix.

In AKC and Schutzhund tracking dogs are required to find and indicate articles. They do this by laying down when they find the article. Both sports call for the down to indicate the article. You should teach this away from the track and on its own.

Later you can bring in the article on a short track and work the indication on the actual track but to help your dog learn how to be more reliable in the indication of the article don't muddy the waters by teaching this behavior while training them to find a scent. This is another example of getting in the way of nature.

You Are Part of the Team

While it is important for you to get out of the way and let your dog do their thing you are part of the team. You need to learn how to read your dog. Did she miss the scent? Is she off the track? Is she distracted by something? These are all things that fall on you to know.

Learning how to "get out of the way" but still be part of the team is one of the hardest aspects of training a German Shepherd to track. You should spend time reading your dog. Watching them while they are on the tracks. Pay close attention to their behavior when they get off the track. Make note of possible reasons.

In the beginning you will be the track layer as well as the handler. Before you start training you should understand the track itself. Wind currents, length, where you need to place articles, foot step tracking, how to make sure the dog succeeds on every track, and more. All of these things are your responsibility as part of the tracking team.

Getting some good books and DVDs on the basics of type of tracking you want to do (Schutzhund, AKC, Search and Rescue etc...) is a great way to get the information you need to get started.

Are You Ready to Track?

If you are new to the sport of tracking go to some events. Talk to competitors. Get to know the trainers in the area that are also competiting. Watch their methods, learn as much as you can about the sport, and if you decide you and your German Shepherd would enjoy the sport then take it from there.

Over all tracking is an enjoyable sport that for many German Shepherd owners is a great way to spend time with their dogs while learning to communciate with them through training.

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