January 29th, 2025
Met up with Heather and Wren at Newport News Park. We used the frisbee golf course. There was a fair bit of people out and about since the weather turn out to be pretty nice.
Goal for the track: Track laying! After having so much trouble the day before, this was the priority. We also laid a quarter track to practice.
How did it feel: Much better! World of difference from the day before. I used a measuring wheel to figure out my exact stride length instead of going with what my husband had said. This is when I realized my error from the day before and that I laid double the length by mistake.
3 Things that went well:
- He pounced and picked up the article right away on the first track!
- My tracks laid were more precise.
- Overall felt more confident
3 Things I’d like to improve
- Leash tension
- Practice more quarter tracks
- still pushing for that article pounce
Track 1
110 Yards, food spaced 8 paces apart. Even though this was the first track of the day he knew exactly what to do. Unlike the day before where it took him a little bit to get in the flow. In the middle section he did get a bit frustrated and whined. I am hoping it was more of a "mom this is hard" vs "I don't want to be doing this". He did keep going and made it to the end. Once he saw the article he pulled me and pounced on it!! I screamed dramatically since I was so excited! I hope he didn't take that as a correction. Finwe got lots of treats, tug play and praise.
Track 2
120 yards with a left open angle turn. Food was dropped down to 6 vs the 8 since this track was longer and had a turn. I came in at a different angle as suggested. Then I mixed up the right way to go and Heather and Finwe had to tell me I was wrong! Trying to keep the momentum going with him jumping on the articles. Heather placed the raccoon pelt at the end of the track. To my surprise he didn't pounce on it, he gingerly mouthed it.
Track 3
We placed quarter tracks at the beginning of our training session. Then went back afterwards to try and locate our quarters.
I LOVE the pounce. And the track was awesome too! SO….IMHO…there will be 2 tracks in his life where the article doesn’t try to escape….his certification track, and his TD track. Make that sucker move—not a lot, just a twitch (like MAM did). I want him to think it ALWAYS is going to try to escape. As much as possible, “hide” it—separate the grass a bit so he can’t see it from afar. Thus we minimize his eyes (he is a sight hound after all) and maximize his nose….but still take advantage of his instinctive desire to kill things that try to run away.
ReplyDeleteTrack 2. Yup. Keep that pelt moving! I’m thrilled that when YOU were wrong….HE was correct. Good boy!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU for practicing your tracklaying!
ReplyDeleteregarding turns - make sure you are putting food drops every step going into and out of the turns. stand still, even when he stalls out on the track. but the POUNCE !!! yowzer!! using the flexi or another long line will mean that heather will be out in front of you at the end - so we may sacrifice some video opportunities. you could 'try' just using another long line and make the pulling end lay just off the track as you approach the article. then you/the handler could reach over and twitch the article. then heather could still video. you will have to put some thought into how that looks from a track layers perspective. finwe won't care about the line, especially when the article twitches. i can draw up a map and send it via email to give you an idea on how to pull a twitch off AND get video.
ReplyDeleteAND so dang proud of you girls doing the quarter map. and listen to Heather bossing you around while your dog is trying to tell you the same thing! love it!!
Love the pounce! Celebrate with a big party when you get this and if it happens on track 1 and 2, consider dropping while you're ahead. Line tension looks good and his movement is clearly tracking. Consider increasing space b/w food drops next time. Looking Great!!
ReplyDelete