Page 66 - JRT Magazine - 2023 Issue 2
P. 66
Performance
It is important that the treats be placed only in the (UK) and K.U.S.A. (South Africa) offer tracking
scuff marks so that the dog pairs the smell of the as part of a sport called Working Trials, whilst
treat with the scuff mark and learns to follow the others offer tracking as a standalone activity.
scuff marks. When the helper gets approximately There is a longstanding sport similar to working
30 feet away from the start pole, they should scuff trials called IGP – formally Schutzhund, which
the ground thoroughly on the spot and place the has a more intricate (for the dog) form of
food pot and/or toy in the centre of the scuffed tracking. Check with your own Kennel Club or
area, making a big show for the dog to see them search for tracking clubs in your area.
being placed. Walking normally a further 10 to 15
feet, the helper should turn away from the wind If you want to take your tracking further, explore
and walk at right angles to the track for 10 to 15 mantrailing.
feet, then turn and walk back up the field keeping
parallel to the track, being careful not to drift
closer to the track. Mantrailing
Mantrailing, although like tracking in
Once the helper is back at the start point, that the dog follows a particular scent,
take the dog to approximately 5 feet from the mantrailing does not require the dog to
pole, put his tracking line on to his harness follow exactly where the trail-layer walked.
whispering things like “what are we going to
do” so that he knows something exciting is If you have seen films with a prison
going to happen. Take him to the pole, (if the breakout storyline, you might recall seeing
dog is not worried by noise) click the trigger the prison guards running through the
on the clip attaching line to harness and say woods with a couple of bloodhounds
“track” or whatever word you want to use as baying. That is a very stylised version of
the cue to start tracking and encourage him mantrailing. In reality, a handler only works
to sniff the ground at the base of the pole and one dog and they do not run because it’s
eat the treats. Hopefully, he will follow the line too dangerous for both dog and handler on
of treats along the track, but if not help and potential uneven terrain.
encourage as much as necessary. When you
get to the end of the track reward, make a big Mantrailing is not as precise as tracking,
fuss about finding the reward and play with the because the mantrailing dog’s job to find
toy if you are using one. Be careful not to drift the person as quickly as possible. The
on to the clean ground by accident. dog is to get to the endpoint, i.e., where
the person is right at the moment, and not
Go back to the top of the field and move 20 worry about the path the person took to get
to 30 feet along the field to a clean area and there. The mantrailing dog is not locating
repeat the process. When the dog is eating the items the person may have dropped. The
treats at the start pole and then following the mantrailing dog is not concerned that the
track all the way with no need of help, you can person may have run though a parking
increase the difficulty slightly. You can either garage instead of around it to get to the
increase the length of the track by 5 to 10 feet other side. It is only important that the
OR start reducing the number of treats on the person might be hunkered down on the
track. DO NOT DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME! other side of that garage!
Do not do too many tracks in one session So, the mantrailing dog follows the
because the dog will get tired, begin to lose strongest or freshest scent, be that where
interest, and make mistakes. the person walked or where the scent is
being blown from.
Many Kennel Clubs offer tracking in some form
as a competitive sport. The Royal Kennel Club
66 | A Worldwide Magazine for the Jack Russell Terrier / Russell Terrier • Issue 2/2023
