Summer of ‘24 #22

 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.



Comments

  1. JudiSeptember 22, 2024 at 5:25 PM

    Finally checking in—and you’ve been amazing keeping your blog up all summer! That track sounds great (isn’t Panorama where we used to track?). The peeing at the start doesn’t offend me, but does make me think it might be helpful to track in areas where there are dog and people smells. Put super short straight tracks in, run them fresh….just let him get used to working in contamination. Another option is to put a track past a couple of ‘scent posts’ where you know dogs pee…scuff past them and jackpot the far side. You just need to change which is more motivating! And I love the owl article!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fall #7

Image
 Great start! True to track. 1st leg was laid within 8 feet of a woods line. Heavy steps into and out of turns allowed me to add to what I record in my visual memory of his loss of scent behaviors. I will repeat this 2 turn track with 20 heavy steps into and out of both turns. FD at 10 after end of each set of heavy steps. FD pattern at 10 and 14. Article indication pick up at end of track. Water offered and taken. [At the beach through 11/6. Next track 11/7]
Read more

Winter #15

Image
 Best day today! Lots of enthusiasm and super turns. At the turns I gave him extra line and he made each turn spot on I thought. I was especially pleased there was one very small (!) whine. Otis did not get drawn into the brush pile. He had a strong pull throughout. Taking his 15 foot line to the beach (away now until 3/21) Hoping to find a small green space for at least some fun starts and article tracks. https://youtu.be/k3Gfdi_9y4c    https://youtube.com/shorts/RUIr-wQi66I
Read more

Fall #12

Image
 Today’s track goal was distance/duration. This straight line track was the longest he had ever done at 414 yards. It was windy blowing across the track. The wind did take Otis off a bit consistently to the right but the food drops at 15 and 20 always brought him back to right on. His start was strong without bucking. He tracked with energy and managed passing a roll hay bale with little more than an extra sniff and leg raise before getting back to work. I did put a larger food drop in the track beyond the bale. Otis stopped briefly at a major change in cover (photo) When he started in the right direction I quickly went with him. He loved the tall weeds, Spanish needles and high grass! His tracking was even stronger. I assume the length was holding more scent? There was evidence of quite a few bedding down areas most likely for deer. Put one of the 3 intermediate articles in this area and Otis was right on. Retrieves were high energy today. I was so pleased with the way Otis handle...
Read more