I’m a bit frustrated and looking for ideas.
- Thread starter Boogie
- Start date
I'd be interested if Monty really likes it - the session on Saturday has cost £24 which is not insignificant (OH nearly had a fit when I told him
)
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
I'm sure you'd at least need a CRB check - although maybe you have that already for GD?
- Location
- Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
We also pay a lot of money....€ 40,- a session......I'd be interested if Monty really likes it - the session on Saturday has cost £24 which is not insignificant (OH nearly had a fit when I told him
Cath
MLF Sales Coordinator
Well you could ask, they could only say no.
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
I have six!
Three through work, one through GDs, one through my husband’s charity and one through Church.
They aren’t transferable
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Well, that's just greedy! 
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
Hurrah - I’ve booked with Pettrailer in Bury for Wednesday evening - thanks for the tip1
- Location
- South Wales
Yes, I think so....if cut up into very small pieces.
I used chicken for his early runs, but people who've done more than me suggested using something squidgier, so that it takes a bit more concentration from him to lick it all up (rather than just wolfing it down). If you have any cream cheese or pate or similar in the fridge (assuming he likes it!) maybe take some of that too?
When we do it, each "run" is made up of two trails - a longer one, for which he gets a relatively small reward (e.g. a good squidge of cheese / pate on the lid of the plastic tub), and then a shorter, easy, "intensity" trail for which he gets a bigger treat (e.g. a bigger squidge, maybe plus some chicken pieces in the box). When I was using just chicken, he'd get a few pieces at the end of the first trail then a larger portion at the end of the intensity run.
So....for the intro session, assume you might do three runs, two trails each run, so you'd need enough reward for three small rewards and three larger, higher value rewards.
Of course, Becky might do it all differently! But that's what my lot do.
Have fun! We want to hear all about it!
Ah ok thanks @Rosie I've got pate in the fridge so I'll take that along too. She emphasised wet, not dry food. It sounds silly but I'm worried Monty won't follow a trail
not that I'm scared about what anyone thinks but he's not the brightest at times. Does the person he finds give the reward, or do you?
not that I'm scared about what anyone thinks but he's not the brightest at times. Does the person he finds give the reward, or do you?
- Location
- South Wales
The person he finds takes the treat with them. It is the job of the runner to reward the dog with huge praise and excitement and "the biggest dog party ever".
I'm sure Monty will trail. Pongo often isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer either, but the nose knows! On the introduction session, it was hardly even "trailing". We put on Pongo's harness and long lead, then the runner showed him the chickeninabox, got him all excited about it and then legged it to hide behind a tree just a short way away. Pongo could see where they went, easy-peasy. Obviously when we let him go he belted right over there.
On the second run, the trail was a little longer and not quite so obvious....but from Pongo's point of view it was obviously just very, very easy...."find that chickenperson".
The hardest bit is (a) managing the damn lead so it doesn't tangle or pull taut, and (b) resisting saying anything to your dog at all (because they know what they are doing better than you do, so don't distract them!).
Take a sense of humour and wear clothes that you fully expect to get muddy, scratched, wet (you need to take your turn hiding in the shrubbery too...)
I hope you both love it!
I'm sure Monty will trail. Pongo often isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer either, but the nose knows! On the introduction session, it was hardly even "trailing". We put on Pongo's harness and long lead, then the runner showed him the chickeninabox, got him all excited about it and then legged it to hide behind a tree just a short way away. Pongo could see where they went, easy-peasy. Obviously when we let him go he belted right over there.
On the second run, the trail was a little longer and not quite so obvious....but from Pongo's point of view it was obviously just very, very easy...."find that chickenperson".
The hardest bit is (a) managing the damn lead so it doesn't tangle or pull taut, and (b) resisting saying anything to your dog at all (because they know what they are doing better than you do, so don't distract them!).
Take a sense of humour and wear clothes that you fully expect to get muddy, scratched, wet (you need to take your turn hiding in the shrubbery too...)
I hope you both love it!
Ah, ok that makes more sense now that they see the treat first and the person run off, I thought it was more by scent.
We're in an urban area, seems like an estate with lots of footpaths, non through roads, dead ends, etc. I'm worried he's going to pull like steam train... I'll be dressing warm as forecast is -1!
We're in an urban area, seems like an estate with lots of footpaths, non through roads, dead ends, etc. I'm worried he's going to pull like steam train... I'll be dressing warm as forecast is -1!
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
I use cat food pouches - salmon and tuna which I squeeze out into the pots. One pouch does two pots.
With Preston Scent Dogs you do six trails, three short three long. Each long trail is immediately followed by a short one so you give the hider two pots of food. So I take six pots ready prepared, it’s easier than faffing with them when I get there.
With Preston Scent Dogs you do six trails, three short three long. Each long trail is immediately followed by a short one so you give the hider two pots of food. So I take six pots ready prepared, it’s easier than faffing with them when I get there.
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
We were encouaged not to allow too much pulling - but you aren’t allowed to give the dog any instructions either, so it was a case of following when the dog isn’t pulling like a train but at the same time not putting them off the scent by restraining them. It’s quite an art! Tatze nearly pulls me over at first she’s so keen!
When they become more advanced they don’t see the hider at all - just sniff the scent object. The food is for reward. But the first few trails the runner gets them excited about the food and they watch them run off. Of course, you don’t need to get Labs excited about food, just a sniff of it is enough
.
- Location
- South Wales
Yes, by the end of the second run the runner is heading well out of sight, so the dog needs to use his nose (either trailing or air-scenting). But that is just natural for them - certainly Pongo's nose is 1000 times better than his eyesight, so even when he can see the runner he is using his nose just as much as his eyes.
@Boogie , sounds like your set-up is identical to ours! Most of our group use a single, clip-top box and squeeze a (relatively small) amount of treat onto the inside of the lid, and a larger treat in the box itself. That way the runner only has one box to carry, and the dog gets the lid on first run, and the box on second.
- Location
- South Wales
Quote from our trainer to the group of five newbies on the second run of our introduction session: "Right everyone, now remember if you are being the 'runner' you need to show the dog the treat, get it really wound up and excited, then run off being interesting and making a squeaky noise. Except if it's Pongo. For Pongo don't do too much winding up."
- Location
- South Wales
This. Definitely this.
I've been shown a technique for controlling the lead by holding the looped (surplus) line in my left hand behind my back, and letting it run through my right hand for control. When the Pongster pulls I can lean back into the line and use my body weight to give a bit more restraint, without it being a jerking motion that is more likely to distract / put them off.