Summer ‘25 #1

 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 like that on our first day back. He lost focus near the road where the dogs would have been running and marking and at the road (I had scuffed all the way across) we did make it across the road and there was an article after he crossed for celebration then the end article shortly thereafter so happy ending. It was information and that has value. Thursday I am going to put his track and a road crossing above where the manager and his dogs run.

https://youtu.be/SU9OzQTDtL4


https://youtu.be/g2aauCbaRC0


https://youtube.com/shorts/8I9k4OyTpNk





Comments

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