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CAN I TRACK IN THE WINTER? Unless you are
one of the fortunate ones to live in the south, or in sunny Tracking in the
snow can actually be quite fun for new trackers, because it is very obvious to
YOU where the track goes. The dog
however, will continue to use it’s nose just like it does in the field.
You will see your dog get off the track, even if there is a tunnel made
when you lay your track. You will
also see your dog do the same behaviors at corners that you see in a non-snow
covered field. It is fascinating to
watch your dog, because what you will see is your dog actually using it’s nose
to track and not its eyes as you would expect.
There are some
considerations to tracking in the winter that you need to keep in mind.
Hard, crusted, ice-covered snow, will not hold scent like fresh snow, so
keep your aging process shorter than you do normally.
Also, use common sense in choosing what days to go out tracking in the
winter. If you go outside and the
freezing temperatures take your breath away, it will also do that to your dog,
so you might avoid those sub-zero temperatures for your training days.
Dress warm yourself, with lots of layers, so you don’t get frostbite.
Water-repellant snow boots are a must for you.
Also make sure to check your dog after tracking to make sure that those
little snowballs that seem to collect in the bottom of their paws are cleaned
out so their paws do not get frost-bitten. Provide
plenty of water for your dog after tracking, even in cold weather, as hydrating
your dog helps them maintain a proper body temperature. One of the
difficult things is finding poles to use for your start flag and 30 yard flag
that will work in frozen ground. I
have found that old cross-country ski poles work great as they have a metal end
to cut into the ground. Simply tie a
piece of rip-stop nylon on them for your flag and you are good to go.
You might also consider finding lighter colored gloves that match the
snow covered ground so the glove is not obvious at the end of the track. With common
sense and some consideration, you can enjoy the sport of tracking year round.
It is a great way to get some exercise for you and your dog in those
winter months when we all feel very cooped up in the house. |
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