Tracking through Pack
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Dale McCluskey
Dogs are a true gift and allow us into their world through the pack relationship. By adopting the lead role we can achieve harmony and true connection with our special pack members. This system of training builds a bridge between the human and animal world and offers hope for all dogs and owners regardless of current behavior issues, problems or goals. "The Power of Pack" A Complete Guide to Dog Training is available at http://k9pack.com By Dale McCluskey
Published on 04/25/2008
The handler must mimic and become pack, creating and maintaining role change, taking the Leadership role. The ability for the handler to achieve true harmony and balance is really the difference between a good K-9 team and a outstanding one.
Terms such as "Tracking through Drive" have been used to describe the process which seeks to maximize the natural drives of the Police Service Dog. The goal is to make the dog less likely to become distracted and more likely to stay focused during the track. This process is really a role changing one, happening through a series of interactions between dog and handler. Developing the insight to see what is happening within this role changing process can help achieve balance between dog and handler. Achieving harmony within the pack relationship guarantees the overall success of the K-9 team.
Some trainers know instinctively what works to begin the journey towards a great tracking team but have difficulty explaining or providing deep insight into the dynamics of the process occurring within pack. When a lack of progress is achieved the focus can unfairly shift to the dog rather than what is occurring within pack. To understand the pack relationship is to see the role changing process in a more dynamic way. To be able to break everything apart including the context of devices, interactions, energy, breed and temperament, and most importantly, how human psychology becomes part of and links within the pack relationship. Often when a dog likes performing a certain task he or she is simply responding for what the handler likes. The handler is projecting more positive energy within pack. We have created something without knowing it. Dogs are merely an echo of ourselves within the context of the pack relationship.
Some think that obedience, or the process of role change, negatively impacts the natural drives of the dog. Role change through pack enhances these drives propelling this energy forward. Ultimately everything comes through the handler, dynamic pack leader, conditionally. "Conditional Dominance" is a term I use to describe how prey drive is used to link bite work to the track. The tracking dog expresses dominance and wins however everything is still conditional, through the handler, within the context of the roles and pack.
The handler must mimic and become pack, creating and maintaining role change, taking the Leadership role. The ability for the handler to achieve true harmony and balance is really the difference between a good K-9 team and a outstanding one.
Author Dale McCluskey
Some trainers know instinctively what works to begin the journey towards a great tracking team but have difficulty explaining or providing deep insight into the dynamics of the process occurring within pack. When a lack of progress is achieved the focus can unfairly shift to the dog rather than what is occurring within pack. To understand the pack relationship is to see the role changing process in a more dynamic way. To be able to break everything apart including the context of devices, interactions, energy, breed and temperament, and most importantly, how human psychology becomes part of and links within the pack relationship. Often when a dog likes performing a certain task he or she is simply responding for what the handler likes. The handler is projecting more positive energy within pack. We have created something without knowing it. Dogs are merely an echo of ourselves within the context of the pack relationship.
Some think that obedience, or the process of role change, negatively impacts the natural drives of the dog. Role change through pack enhances these drives propelling this energy forward. Ultimately everything comes through the handler, dynamic pack leader, conditionally. "Conditional Dominance" is a term I use to describe how prey drive is used to link bite work to the track. The tracking dog expresses dominance and wins however everything is still conditional, through the handler, within the context of the roles and pack.
The handler must mimic and become pack, creating and maintaining role change, taking the Leadership role. The ability for the handler to achieve true harmony and balance is really the difference between a good K-9 team and a outstanding one.
Author Dale McCluskey