Bernerd

A look behind the scenes with Bernd Föry, a true tracking expert

by admin in IQ Dogsport Blog

Bernd, to start with: Is there a tracking experience you still think back on with a smile?

There are quite a few. One of them is still very vivid in my memory:

A handler’s task was to cover her dog’s eyes so that he could not see how the food was being placed for the restart. It worked well a few times.

But during one training session, she must have been somewhere else with her thoughts. I asked her, “Don’t you remember what we do with the eyes?” The handler quickly and somewhat guiltily took position next to her dog — but instead of covering the dog’s eyes, she covered her own.

What was your trickiest case?

Oh yes! I once received a call from a desperate handler. His dog was eating the articles on the track. The dog had already undergone surgery three times because of it. Another operation was no longer an option, because the dog’s stomach was already badly scarred.

We tried a lot of different things, but in the end we solved the problem like this: We only used articles that were at least the size of a mobile phone. The dog could not fit them into his mouth. We also anchored the articles firmly into the ground with long nails.

That allowed us to reward the dog again and again before he had the chance to pick up the article. Today, the dog indicates the articles correctly.

When do you start training a dog?

I start as soon as the dog has settled into its new home. At around 12 to 13 weeks, a puppy can already search its first track starts.

Is every breed suitable for tracking?

In my experience, basically every breed is suitable for tracking.

However, some hunting breeds can be challenging in training. Due to selective breeding, they often tend to switch into a more free-searching pattern very quickly. With short-muzzled dogs such as Boxers, food intake can also become anatomically difficult. In those cases, creativity is needed. For example, you can use food sticks that the dog can pull out of the ground.

What are the three training problems you see most often?

Many dogs struggle with speed. They are either too fast or search at an inconsistent pace.

Many handlers also find it difficult to reduce food in the right way.

Another common problem is that tracks are made too difficult too quickly. The dog is then faced with a task it cannot solve, which quickly leads to frustration for both dog and handler.

Problems at corners: Do you have any tips for us?

First, I look at the dog’s speed. If the dog is simply too fast to search attentively, we work on the pace.

If speed is not the root cause, I let the dog overshoot the corner by about one body length. Then the dog receives a verbal correction and is restarted a few steps before the corner. This gives the dog a second chance to work out the corner correctly.

Most dogs then search more carefully and learn that calm work leads to success.

Another mistake is placing too much food directly in the corner. When the dog later encounters a corner without food, many dogs become overwhelmed.

You also give seminars for interested handlers, correct?

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 are booked out very quickly and are often held internally within clubs.

For those who are interested, I recommend attending one or two workshops as an observer first.

You now work with many dog sport handlers. How did that come about?

It started when I was working a German Shepherd and wanted to move away from the forced tracking methods that were common in the past.

I used a lot of food, but I had the problem that the dog, especially on soft fields, started searching by sight and lifted his nose. So I developed the idea of working with tins.

The principle worked, and soon many sport handlers came to me because they were interested in the method. That is also how the collaboration with Team Heuwinkl began. So you could say I gradually grew into my role.

Who was your teacher in tracking training? Did you have any role models?

I came up with most of it myself and taught myself along the way. The best teachers were the many different dogs I met at seminars.

You always have to think carefully. There is no single concept that works for every dog.

You have been involved in dog sport for many years now. Has tracking changed over the years and decades?

Yes, very much so. In the past, there was a lot of compulsion in training. Then there was a phase in which many dogs almost searched too happily and freely.

At the moment, I feel that the trend toward absolute perfectionism is becoming stronger and stronger. Instead of helping dogs enjoy the work, many handlers are too focused on training a very exact search behavior.

What do you enjoy most about tracking?

I love seeing the progress dogs make. For example, a young dog where you can see month by month how it improves and masters new tasks.

I also really enjoy helping handlers who are facing difficult problems with their dogs. Recently, we were able to help a dog that had previously searched under a lot of pressure rediscover joy in tracking. That was a great feeling.

And of course, when training partners score 100 points at the World Championship, that makes me happy too. laughs

Bernd, thank you very much for taking the time for us.

Related: Training equipment for tracking work

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A working dog must be motivated, resilient, controllable, and capable of working appropriately in demanding situations. The dog must be independent enough to solve problems while remaining responsive to the handler and integrated into the overall mission. WHAT MAKES A GOOD WORKING DOG? A suitable working dog requires far more than drive. Motivation is important, but it must be channeled correctly. A working dog should work actively without becoming uncontrollable. The dog must be resilient under pressure while remaining responsive to the handler. It should be capable of searching, tracking, or securing independently without operating outside the handler's control. Environmental stability is equally important. Depending on the assignment, working dogs may encounter buildings, vehicles, slippery floors, darkness, loud noises, crowds, confined spaces, and constantly changing terrain. 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IGP Protection: Why Great Protection Training Doesn’t Start with the Bite

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This occurs during bark-and-hold exercises, restraint work, back-tie exercises and many other training situations where the dog pushes powerfully into the line. In these moments, a harness is more than just equipment. It directly affects: breathing,freedom of movement,force distribution,stability,and overall comfort. The IQ Performance Pro Cobra was developed specifically for demanding training environments such as IGP, protection training and service-dog work. The design focuses on: unrestricted breathing under load,efficient force transfer,reduced pressure points,full range of motion,and secure handling during high-intensity work. The pulling force is directed between the front legs toward the sternum, helping to keep the throat and airway free while maintaining stability under pressure. In protection training, equipment should never be chosen for appearance alone. It should be selected for function. The Bite Is Important—But It Is Not the Beginning Engagement work is certainly part of protection training. But handlers who focus only on the bite miss the bigger picture. Before the dog ever engages, it must understand the situation. It must know: when to search,when to perform a bark-and-hold,when engagement is appropriate,and when to release. The dog must learn to work through pressure without losing clarity. It must be able to return to a controlled mental state after periods of high arousal. That is why protection training should never be built around impressive pictures alone. A spectacular bite means very little if the dog cannot perform a clean bark-and-hold, struggles with the out command or becomes difficult to handle afterward. The book Gemeinsam erfolgreich zum meisterhaften Schutzdienst explains the development of modern protection training step by step, from young dogs to trial-ready competitors. 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Making the Bite the Centre of Everything The bite is important, but without blind searches, control and clear transitions, the training remains incomplete. 2. Treating Blind Searches as a Running Exercise The dog should actively search and understand the task rather than simply follow a memorised route. 3. Delaying Control Training The out command, guarding and handler control should be developed from the beginning. 4. Underestimating Transitions Entering the work, restraint, release and re-engagement are all critical training moments. 5. Using Everyday Equipment for High-Intensity Training Protection training creates unique physical demands that require appropriate equipment and safe handling. Final Thoughts: Protection Training Is Education Under High Arousal The Protection Phase of IGP is not simply action around a helper. It is a sophisticated training discipline that combines motivation, confidence, impulse control, resilience, engagement work, blind searches and obedience. A great protection dog wants to work but remains responsive. It shows intensity without losing clarity. It engages confidently and releases immediately when asked. It searches actively, performs a confident bark-and-hold and works as a team with its handler throughout the entire exercise. That is why great protection training does not begin with the bite. It begins with structure, control and thoughtful training. Tools can support that process when used correctly. The IQ Pop-Up Blind brings variety and realism to blind-search training. The IQ Performance Pro Cobra was designed specifically for high-load training situations involving movement, restraint and control. And Gemeinsam erfolgreich zum meisterhaften Schutzdienst provides a structured roadmap for handlers who want to understand protection training—not just perform it.

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It finishes recalls inconsistently. It relies more on handler body language than on understanding its actual position. Early on, these details often appear insignificant. Over time, however, they become habits. The dog does not simply develop a “small mistake.” Through hundreds of repetitions, it learns that the incorrect position is the correct one. That is why fixing poor positions later is often much harder than teaching them correctly from the start. Great heelwork does not begin in motion. It begins with understanding position, orientation and body awareness. What Does Good Heelwork Look Like? Good heelwork is much more than a dog staying close to the handler’s leg. The dog should actively seek and maintain position. It should work through turns and transitions rather than being physically guided through them. It should stay focused without becoming over-aroused. And it should be aware of its own body position throughout the exercise. If a dog constantly requires handler assistance, the position is not yet fully understood. If a dog only looks good when highly excited but falls apart technically, stability is missing. And if motivation is rewarded while precision is ignored, enthusiasm can easily be mistaken for quality. That is why successful obedience always combines both: expression and precision. Why a Position Stick Can Be Useful in Training When teaching heel position, clarity is everything. Dogs learn faster when they are given a clear picture of the desired position rather than being physically pushed or manipulated into it. The IQ Position Stick was developed specifically for building precise heel position in dog training. Its purpose is to help the dog independently find and maintain the correct position beside the handler’s leg. The focus remains on active learning, accurate timing and proper reward placement. The adjustable angle allows the setup to be adapted to different dogs, handlers and training goals. Used correctly, the position stick is not a shortcut. It is a visual training aid that helps the dog understand the picture more quickly and with less physical interference from the handler. This can be especially valuable during: basic position training,early heelwork development,position transitions,and foundation work with young dogs. Why Full Trial Routines Are Often Trained Too Early One of the most common mistakes in obedience training is rushing into complete trial routines. It feels productive. The dog heels, sits, downs, retrieves and performs several exercises in sequence. Everything starts to look “trial-ready.” The problem is that mistakes become part of the routine as well. Crooked basic positions. Unclear cues. Handler dependency. Lack of precision. Instead of building strong foundations, handlers accidentally rehearse errors over and over again. Later, these mistakes become much harder to remove. A more effective approach is systematic progression: first position, then movement; first technique, then duration; first understanding, then trial sequences. Strong obedience is built from details outward—not from complete routines backward. Learning the Entire System Handlers who want to understand obedience beyond individual exercises may benefit from a structured training approach. The book Gemeinsam erfolgreich zur meisterhaften Unterordnung explains the development of every IPO/IGP obedience exercise from puppyhood through trial preparation. It combines modern training concepts, practical explanations and extensive photo examples to provide a step-by-step framework for building reliable obedience. Five Common Beginner Mistakes in IGP Obedience 1. Accepting Crooked Basic Positions What is repeatedly rewarded becomes correct in the dog’s mind. 2. Replacing Precision with Motivation A highly motivated dog is not automatically a technically correct dog. 3. Using Training Aids for Too Long The dog begins following the aid rather than understanding the actual position. 4. Introducing Trial Routines Too Early The dog learns sequences instead of learning individual skills. 5. Waiting Too Long to Fix Mistakes By the time a trial approaches, many errors have already become deeply ingrained habits. Final Thoughts: Great Obedience Combines Precision and Enthusiasm IGP obedience is a balance between technical accuracy and genuine working attitude. A dog should want to work—but it should also understand exactly how to work. Handlers who build clear positions and correct heelwork early often save themselves countless hours of correction later. The IQ Position Stick can help create a clear picture of heel position from the beginning, while Gemeinsam erfolgreich zur meisterhaften Unterordnung provides a structured roadmap for anyone who wants to understand obedience systematically rather than simply practise individual exercises. In the end, great obedience is not about control. It is about communication, clarity and a dog that performs with both confidence and precision.

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