12-27-25
Hanover Courthouse
Seren did a short, 2 turn track in lawn-type grass, aged 2.5 hours. The first turn had an article on it. She did quite well. No issues with article on turn. Went off track twice to mark extraneous scent - one was a baby wipe on the ground, ugh. She seemed fine with the age of the track
https://youtu.be/XY4jqg23f14?feature=shared
Dylan did 4 one-turn start tracks, aged 30 min to 2 hours. Needed verbal for all article indications. Starts were all good, even the one where I forgot an article & the one where I inadvertently made an acute angle approach. On the last 2 tracks, he went off the track a bit to investigate an extraneous scent, & I didn’t time my ‘get back to work’ as well as last time this happened. He had no problem re-acquiring the track either time. Don’t know if he was more easily distracted on the last 2 because they were older, or if that’s just where the scent distractions were. He did very well with the street traffic, which was heavier than I anticipated.
videos:
https://youtu.be/13SOchPa7O0?feature=shared #1
https://youtu.be/EGWNNvwfP9Q ?feature=shared #2
https://youtu.be/xvLVeMJrihY ?feature=shared #3
https://youtu.be/SJfWxmQDkLo ?feature=shared #4
Seren: excellent. I love so many things on this track: you’re consistently letting the line run, and then catching back up. You’re consistently following her past the turn and letting g HER tell YOU she needs to search for a new leg. Articles are so much better. And—she’s pulling!! I’m gonna assume that’s confidence! Is 2.5 hrs your ‘young’ track in the pattern?
ReplyDeleteDylan: I suspect his interest in other things was related to age, although I can’t prove it. In general, when things get harder, dogs look for something else to do. That said, he did really well at the start, which is how I evaluate comfort with age. He did wobble a little at the turn (after the distraction) which we should note. And yes, I think you waited too long!
ReplyDeleteAny chance we can get you to play Mary Ann’s article games (the outside ones)? Perhaps no one has told him he’s a BC, and they are known to pattern quickly. Or, he does know, and his pattern is to wait for you to cue. Regardless, it isn’t progressing and I think you need to try something else!
Agree...all four starts looked really nice and I had same thought about age and increased "attractiveness" of other smells/interesting things! He handled the asphalt at the end nicely :). I am also thinking article games would be helpful and hopefully make it so he doesn't need the verbal cue or slightly increased leash pressure/slight correction (like end article on #4). And though I don't think this will be anywhere near as impactful as highly reinforcing article games, I'm also wondering if the treat you give at the end, being on the end article instead of from your hand to his mouth *might* help increase the association more? Though, maybe that treat is just for a job well done overall...I'm not sure? I think it was good though working in the starts to your rotation and nice use of the space! I hope you have a Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete