12-31-24

 Taylor Park. Sunny, short damp grass, 55 degrees, 6mph wind, 80% humidity when run. Track laid @7:35&aged 2hr

This was a 250yd straight line track with a couple of random extra flags & 6 articles- 2fabric, 2leather, 1plastic, 1metal. Articles were about 40 yards apart with food 10-15 yards after each, except for end article 

Seren did fine except she missed the plastic article & I didn’t see it until she was well past it, so I just let it go. The ones she did find she indicated nicely

I will work more plastic articles



Dylan did a 150yd straight line track with only end article, & it was a glove with food instead of his slipper. Also had 2 meaningless flags. Conditions same but 39 degrees & grass frosty. Pattern was S8, W8, F, W8, S8… there was a bluestone sidewalk towards the end where I scuffed across & put food every other step.

This also went well. Several times Dylan lifted his head in response to dogs barking or traffic noise in the distance, but got right back to work. He laid down at the article on his own. Sidewalk didn’t bother him

Comments

  1. Anne (Mila)December 31, 2024 at 1:30 PM

    Sounds like two great dogs and great handler :)! I like the use of random flags. Mila tends to not do as well with non-cloth or non-leather articles. I've been using scent pads for articles so I also wonder if that wouldn't help to try a few times? And though I'm not sure if it helps, I'll also sometimes breathe out a couple heavy breaths on it and/or put it inside my jacket near my arm pits (that might be TMI 😂) as I drive out to and walk the track. I've only done that a few times though so don't have enough info to decide if it makes a difference either way. I know for sure you know these strategies, but your tool box of knowledge is very full so mentioning it in case it's fallen to the bottom of the tool box :). Happy New Year's Eve!

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    Replies
    1. Seren trackingDecember 31, 2024 at 2:02 PM

      You’re right, metal & plastic do seem to be more difficult for dogs, which I guess is why they are used only in the more advanced tests. You are also right about getting more scent on articles. When I’m tracklaying for a test I actually sleep with the articles the night before, but I’m much more casual with my own dogs - tuck it inside my jacket or shirt while I go to the tracking site, etc (sometimes). I tend to use the same articles frequently, but this particular plastic thing I have not used recently & I had too many articles to fit them all inside my jacket. So I wasn’t upset about Seren missing it & that’s why I didn’t make a big deal about it, as this was supposed to be a fun track for her. Had I been working with a shorter line it’s quite possible I would have seen it in time to stop her before she was 15’ past it. But at least
      I realize it when I’ve been a bad trainer😂(sometimes) I like the scent pad idea, & may try it next session.
      The other thing that was a spur of the moment judgement call was to go ahead & cross that sidewalk with Dylan, just because stopping the track before I got there would have made the track shorter than I wanted it to be. But I figured he has to learn this stuff eventually, why not start today, & made it as easy for him as I could. Worked out fine, but it might not have.

      Delete
    2. Anne (Mila)December 31, 2024 at 2:29 PM

      Totally get it on both counts! Pleased for you that Dylan handled the extra challenge so well...I bet that end article had some good celebration.

      Delete

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