Bernd, do you have a tracking experience you'd like to share with us that brings a smile to your face?
There are quite a few. One in particular I still vividly remember:
The dog handler's task was to cover her dog's eyes to prevent it from seeing food being arranged for the next feeding. This worked well a few times.
During a training session, however, she seemed to be preoccupied. "Don't you remember what we do with our eyes?" The dog handler hurriedly and "guiltifully" took up a position next to her dog – but instead of covering the dog's eyes... she covered her own.
Your trickiest case?
Oh yes! I once received a call from a desperate dog handler. His dog was eating the objects on the scent trail. He had already undergone three operations because of this. Another operation was out of the question, as the dog's stomach was already completely scarred.
We tried many things, but ultimately solved the problem as follows: we only used objects that were at least the size of a cell phone. The dog couldn't get those in his mouth. We also firmly anchored the objects in the ground with long nails.
This allowed us to repeatedly reinforce the dog's behavior before it even got to the object. Today, the dog can indicate the location.
When will you start training the dog?
I begin as soon as the dog has settled into its new home. At 12 to 13 weeks old, the puppy can start its first tracking exercises.
Is every breed suitable for tracking work?
In my experience, basically any breed is suitable for tracking work.
Nevertheless, some hunting dog breeds often present a challenge in training. Due to selective breeding, for example, they tend to quickly fall into a haphazard, indiscriminate search behavior. With short-nosed dogs like the Boxer, eating can become anatomically problematic. Here, creativity is required. For example, one can use treat sticks that the dog can pull out of the ground.
What three training problems do you see most frequently?
Many dogs have problems with speed. They are too fast or search at an uneven pace.
Many dog handlers struggle with the correct way to reduce food waste.
Furthermore, it is often a problem that the tracks are made too challenging for the dog too quickly, presenting it with an insurmountable task. This quickly leads to frustration for both dog and handler.
Problems with the angle. Do you have any tips for us?
First, I observe the dog's speed. If the dog is simply too fast to search attentively, we work on the pace. If speed isn't the issue, I let the dog run past the angle by about a body length. Then, the dog is verbally corrected and repositioned a few steps before the angle. This gives the dog a second chance to select the correct angle. Most dogs then search more deliberately and learn to achieve success by remaining calm.
Another mistake is to fill the corner with treats. If a corner without treats then comes along, many dogs are overwhelmed.
You also give seminars for interested dog handlers, right?
Yes, I give many seminars. However, I deliberately keep the groups small and train with a maximum of 10 teams. The downside is that my seminars fill up very quickly and are often only for club members. I recommend that anyone interested attend one or two workshops as an observer anyway.
You now work with many dog sports enthusiasts. How did that come about?
It all started when I was training a German Shepherd and wanted to move away from the previously common practice of forced tracking. I used a lot of food, but had the problem that the dog, especially on soft ground, searched by sight and therefore didn't pay attention. So I developed the idea of working with cans. The principle worked, and soon all sorts of athletes approached me, interested. That's how the collaboration with Team Heuwinkl came about. So I've "grown into" my role.
Who was your mentor in tracking training? Did you have any role models?
I came up with and taught myself most of it. My best teachers were the many different dogs I met at the seminars. You always have to think things through; there's no one-size-fits-all approach that works for every dog.
You're quite the veteran in dog sports by now. Has tracking work changed in recent years/decades?
Yes, very much so. There used to be a lot of coercion in training. Then there was a time when the dogs searched almost too playfully. Currently, I feel that the trend towards absolute perfectionism is becoming increasingly pronounced. Instead of conveying the joy of search work to the dogs, many handlers are too focused on training precise search behavior.
What do you enjoy most about tracking work?
I love seeing the dogs' progress. For example, a young dog, where you can see month after month how he improves and masters new tasks. I also find it wonderful when I can help dog handlers who are facing complex problems with their dogs. Recently, we were able to instill in a dog who had previously been searching under a lot of pressure the joy of tracking. That was a great feeling.
Oh – and if training partners are aiming for 100 points at the World Championships, that makes me happy too, of course. *laughs*
Bernd, thank you for taking the time for us!
