Tracking With Otis

 9/24 9:45 64 degrees Light rain and mist Today’s goal: distance Started near the roadway. Came in at an angle and he took the “turn” to set off down the track. (Bison bits every 10.)  Had several opportunities to see and recognize off the track behavior ie head up, checking environment then back to the track. On the second leg he got  a “leave it” as there were deer droppings proximate to the track. He did decide to go on the track and hopefully I made it worth his while at the end article.  Photo of new tracking field we used today that belongs to to a neighbor near the farm and a tracking map

 9/21 10:33 70 degrees Article Track@Panorama Farm Used 9 articles with the FD @ 10 Article @ 15 Start was challenging as 3 dogs had been roaming the start area before being loaded and leaving. Gave him some time, a pee and then finally a “leave it” Once Otis started he was strong on the track. He ate very few of the food drops. Article pick up was consistent with what we practice at home inside and what he has been doing at the end of his tracks ie he “gives” the article to my left hand and “receives” the good stuff from my right. Water at the end of the track. End article (pictured) is not a toy, is kept in my article bag and was presented in the same way as the other 8 articles.

 Tracked between down pours today hence the 11:30 time. Today’s target goal was turns. Otis start was good and he worked the track with very little quartering. Food drops were every 10 and he found a good many of them today. I have not done any aging of tracks this summer due to temperature and humidity. Otis overshot each turn but each time came back in to the track. He raises his head at loss of scent. He picks up the end article and trades it for his rewards-food and high praise! Water at the end of the track then a run on the farm.

 9/12 64 degrees 10:15 Sunny, warm, no wind Goal: Starts Both starts were strong. Track 1 was a left turn. Track 2 a right. He overshot the turns both times then hooked back to them. Food drops every 10 but he walked over almost all of the drops. Article indication was good at the end of both. Water at the end of Track 2.

 Tuesday 9/10 10:15 Sunny & warm 61 degrees Goal: Distance, 250 yds Great start!  Followed track well (I could see my track in the grass) I put articles at 50, 100, 150 and at the end. I turned at 200 (groundhog hole) and laid an additional 50. This distance tho it was warm and sunny did not seem to be an issue. Left turn was overshot and hooked back. Food drops at 10 and many walked over. Article indication was great!   Water at the end. 

 9/6 7:00AM 51 degrees Article track w/ 8 articles-cotton gloves (2), luggage tag, change purse, soft child’s toy, dish cloth (2), fleece square [All articles kept together in article bag] Used FD @ 10 then article @ 15 pattern. He took water after #4 and at the end of the track. Grass very high and very wet. Grass was up to Otis’s shoulders. He still managed to find several of the food drops and all 8 of the articles. We have been doing games at home with articles and he has become very consistent in picking up and holding articles on the track. A good time with a good boy!