Fall ‘25 #1

 Coming back to tracking after time off this summer with rehab (mine) Goal of enthusiastic starts and strong tracking energy for Otis and improved line handling and footwork for me. Laid the 1st track, straight line 60 yds with article at 40. Then laid second track-start track with dirt road crossing. Ran it with no age. Start and tracking strong, did not put nose down on road crossing although I scuffed all the way across. The article on the other side pulled him across? He continues to have strong and happy article retrieves. Put him up in the car and waited 5 minutes to come back to the straight track which I laid first (ran at 25 minutes) His pull was strong and confident. No food for intermediate article but he did take water. 

https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cTQIqnnoEoL

https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cTQIqlnoEDw




Comments

  1. JudiSeptember 13, 2025 at 12:45 PM

    First video—I loved it. Remember the goal is problem solving—I don’t give a damn if he tracks across the road—I care a LOT that the article showed him the solution, and he used it to solve the problem. Perfect set up, perfect training. And, when he stood still at the road edge, I didn’t see him disconnecting….i saw a thought bubble over his head “what happened???? Where did it go?” The thought about it, checked right…and then solved the problem. Well done!!

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  2. JudiSeptember 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM

    Second video—also very nice. It’s fine occasionally (not frequently) give him a surprise food drop 5 paces after he starts….just to keep that behavior on a reinforcement schedule. We can’t assume the process of tracking is in itself reinforcing! (Although it often is). On the restart after water (nice watering behavior BTW), one dog body length down the track, and step out behind him. This is one of the times he will disconnect, so let him make the decision and immediately reinforce by following. Good work Emaline!

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  3. Jack's JourneySeptember 13, 2025 at 1:37 PM

    Well executed on both the plotting and the running. My only question/concern was the start of track 2 - your tendency is to let him come up to the start flag jazzy. But this time he cut left initially and I wonder what would happen if he pulled you to the leg (skipping going "to" or "around" the start article. I will get Judi to give input. He does come back, to the flag/article and then nicely down the leg but...I actually said "uh oh" when he initially went left
    Is that an issue, what to do to minimize or train for it, etc?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JudiSeptember 13, 2025 at 1:43 PM

      If I understand the question, that was my reason for occasional food drop 3-5 past the start flag. I don’t love any behavior except going directly to the flag and looking for the track. Happy is good….but happy to go to the start and get started. Is that what you’re asking?

      Delete
  4. Jack's JourneySeptember 13, 2025 at 2:26 PM

    Timer 6 second to 14 - see how he is left of the start flag - i fekt he was going to pull her to that leg, circumventing the start flag and start article. What can she do to prevent that in a test (where she doesn't know leg direction).

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