Fall #12
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 handled the length of this track. He appeared to enjoy it and so did I.
you are killin' it! observation of windy, observation of hay bale AND understanding to augment with food beyond, supporting him when he made a good decision, no bucking!, , retrieves that were joyful and I know you fed the heck out of that. A+ my friend.
ReplyDeleteThat you're working with him, and have strategies to pull him through challenges, is really smart, and he seems to have a great sense of concentration. Working him successfully through changes of cover is particularly impressive. Even in a TD test I've recently seen changes of cover that are not quite TDX obstacles, but were certainly marginal, and for him to be able to handle that sort of thing is particularly auspicious.
ReplyDeleteAside from everything else, you are going out there with a plan each time--using the form really helps us: 1. think in terms of a goal; and 2. ask the right questions when we're done.