Tracking With Otis

 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]

 

 10/15 8:15 46 degrees Distance (with hills, change of cover) 265 yards Diagonal from one corner of the field to the other. Line up of fence post with double tree behind. FDs at 10 and 14. Otis walked over more than half of them. He was very “energetic” today with strong pull throughout. Otis picked up intermediate article, delivered to my left and received from my right. I was not able to access Panorama as I had planned for sandy road and mown path crossings but the field he tracked today had its own “challenges.” He worked across the side of hills and over various what I would call “changes of cover” with no issues. See photos. End article at foot of fence post slipped under some grass-retrieved, delivered, rewarded, watered.

 Articles  9:48 52 degrees Bright sunny sky Used the 10 article plan. Had an easy double line up with a forward tree in the middle of a dip in the mountain behind. Bison bits for FD. Great start and excellent restarts after each article. Pushed the articles into/under the longish grass to partially obscure them. Otis found them all as he came upon them except the last, a “tracking glove” He took 2 to 3 steps past it then twisted around, sniffed it out (it was a little more ‘hidden’ than the others) picked it up and gave to my left, received his reward from my right. Again, he drank lots of water at the end of the track. A happy walk back to the car to go for a run on the farm.

 A beautiful sunny morning! Lots of energy and great start. 1st 2 turns were right on the third turn for whatever reason was more difficult. Otis whines when he doesn’t take a turn right away. This doesn’t happen often. Usually I wait without saying anything. Usually he goes on his own. Today I offered water but he wasn’t interested. I waited today and when he finally took a step in the right direction I took a step and off he went. Had a great finish on his last leg which was the longest leg he’s done. Excellent article indication. Drank lots of water. FD every 10 then 12 not an issue. I’d estimate he walked over about 50% of the FDs.

 10/5 Panorama 7:35 59 degrees Turns+Contamination Fog and sun I made multiple mistakes today-will learn from them. Otis didn’t know and still loves me. I heavy scuffed past the gate post (contaminated most likely by farm manager’s dogs.) I also put FDs before and after. Otis ignored the post and kept tracking. Great job! Now for my lesson #1: Choosing better double line ups-between the time I laid the track and Otis was on the track, the fog was gone and the sun had changed what it was shining on. To me the line up looked totally different. Luckily my footsteps in the grass were visible. Otis went over the road well (FD on and following) Lesson #2 Marking turns to be absolutely sure-I noted the 1st turn to be between tire marks in the grass. When Otis ran the track there were multiple such places. Ugh! Was able to get us back with the line up. Then this leg went over a mown pathway similar to the paths he loves to take and run on in a different area on the farm so he wanted natura...

 10/1 65 degrees Starts Panorama Farm Wet thick grass, misty and overcast Brought Otis into the first start straight. The start was strong. The grass was thick, wet and deep. He seemed to enjoy the track and found most of the bison bits every 10. He hit the open angle turn right on today and on the second leg crossed a sandy road (photo) It was of course very wet and he just powered across. Left a food drop on the other side. Article indication: give to left and receive from right. Second track I brought him in to the start from the side. He made the “turn” to the track and continued strong throughout with a super turn left that was right on the money.  Great weather and a great day tracking. Free run on the farm to finish.