Tracking With Otis

Came to the start with the same routine at a right angle. Not sure what made the difference but Otis’ start was not strong. He did not start to track with nose down. He passed through the tall grass well but when approaching the first turn at the pole he was visually distracted (my assumption of course) by the pole barn in the distance. Used my counting, tried to interrupt/redirect but was obviously not effective. This was a pattern throughout this track ie whining at the turns my trying to interrupt/redirect. Each time when he would finally get back to work he indicated he knew where the turn or track was. He was distracted visually but also by dogs barking in the distance in 2 different places. Would most appreciate your suggestions…with many thanks in advance. (He does not eat food drops doesn’t matter how high value. Articles motivating) https://youtu.be/DryfVUJGP2g https://youtu.be/qX3rP27R6n0 https://youtube.com/shorts/-rY4AD14jbM https://youtube.com/shorts/KSk1DBPaa1M

 Goal today was change of cover. The start was in very tall grass/weeds. The first leg crossed a closely mown (yesterday) path. The second leg was in the tall grass and turned left onto a closely mown path. (These paths are paths Otis often runs free on each day when we come to the farm) The third leg was on the mown path and had an open angle turn off the path and back into the tall grass. I placed an article @ 15 after the turn as a reward for leaving the path. There was also 🥓! The final article was deep in the weeds-more 🥓!  https://youtu.be/8NvwpanSwzk     https://youtu.be/tJpnA1rfF_A   

 Goal was 4 start tracks with increasing age of 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 hours. The first track went well. The second track had issues from the beginning and on the third track I threw out my extra article and ended on a happy note. (Came home and enjoyed an indoor “find it” game together) The weather was heating up quickly and in my opinion I expected too much too soon. I hope to get back to my goal(s) for the summer: 1)maintaining the skills he has acquired for his TD 2)adding some TDX skills especially obstacles in very small increments 3)being cognizant of staring, whining and working on minimizing those by appropriate interrupting. Attaching video for Track 1 and the beginning of Track 2 https://youtube.com/shorts/mIHKa2mm0p4 https://youtu.be/UAH_vOslJEI

 What a wonderful morning! So proud of Otis’ tracking. Was it perfect, no but there were, in my mind,  so many positive take aways. When he was finished he was excited for the article find in the roped off short  grass parking area and so was I! I approached the start flag at an angle so he found the track and took off. There was some whining and staring at the tall grass on the far side of the road but patience won the day. (A truck had gone over the road after the track was laid.) The left turn was like his head was on a string but unfortunately the 3 minutes ended at the turn and in restarting the video I missed the turn. Super day! https://youtu.be/8IvDzBWdIB8 https://youtube.com/shorts/dlOA_C31px0

 Great to be back! Otis seemed glad to be back, too! Goal for summer/hot weather: keeping his head in the game with positive outcomes ie easy to moderate challenges with successes; tracking 2X a week one component per track-obstacle or stamina or starts Yesterday’s obstacle was crossing a dirt road on the farm. (W10 S2) His start was strong and tracking remained strong through the tall grass. He pooped close to the turn but made the turn well. Things got harder as we got closer to the road. I have permission and got the code for the gate at Panorama so I can enter early. That’s the good news. Unknown to me the farm manager runs the farm road early in the AM with his 2 loose hunting dogs. He was coming as I was leaving after laying Otis’ track and going home to let it age.  When I came back an hour later he was still running and coming down the road where O’s track crossed the road. This is something Otis definitely will have to learn to deal with I just didn’t want a challenge...