Crazy Tracking
We went tracking yesterday. It was quite warm, in the high 80's. The conditions were different and Jean warned us that our dogs would probably have to work through the extra scents. We have not had rain for almost 3 months, so have been tracking in dry, dusty conditions. The night before our lesson it poured and soaked the earth, so everything was damp and moist with fresh scents. There were 3 of us tracking and our instructor, Jean. Joyce brought 3 of her Golden's and I brought Chauncey and Blueberry. Joyce worked Ziggy on articles and Henry on turns. I worked Chauncey and Blueberry on age.
Jean laid Blueberry's and Joyce laid Chauncey's at 9:30am. I went to the other end of the field and laid a short track for a beginner and his Boxer. He is deaf, so his Boxer is a service dog and they wanted to do something with the Boxer extra (not for competition). What Jean had me do was hook a long line to his belt loop and give tugs to tell him to slow down or stop. Since we follow behind, he can't read our lips or hear us. If we approach it disturbs the dog, so this way we can tell him what he needs to do. It was interesting working that way, but the dog is getting the idea and so is the owner.
While everyone's was aging or whatever we caught up on what we had been doing. Jean has been out of town for a couple weeks now and Joyce and I didn't get together while she was gone. After catching up we got to work. Joyce ran Ziggy and he indicated all his articles and really worked his track well.
I ran Blueberry next. Her track had aged for about 45 min and was laid in the tough cover. The main area we generally use is hay fields that have varying lengths, depending on when they last mowed. The tough cover is rarely ever mowed and the grass is hard, brown, stalky stuff. It also has a lot of brush, shrubs, trees, and cactus. I have been the area for Blueberry the last couple times and she really takes to the rough stuff. If nothing else it works as a leash handling exercise, because she goes around, over, and under the brush, while I follow along untangling her. Blueberry started well and nailed her turns. She just keeps plodding along and even tangled it does not upset her. She is really showing progress at the end of the track and still pushing for the glove. Usually the last 10 to 20 yards she starts worrying about where the glove is, but is still working the track. After a couple untangles and encouraging words she found the glove. I think Jean laughed at us most of the way and I'm sure we looked like a couple of crazy people out there doing the leash dance. I am very proud of Blueberry's work ethic on the tracks and they are calling her the Energizer Bunny as she just keeps going.
I ran Chauncey next and her track was in the hay field, which is about a foot high now. She started well and stayed on the track. I was not paying attention on the first leg or looking at the 30yd flag. When we got to the first turn Chauncey went the correct way and I didn't let her commit, so she started going straight. I realized that it was too far for the 30yds, so ask Joyce if this was a turn. I saw she was holding 2 flags and realized that I was standing on a turn, so backed up a little and let Chauncey come back to it, she worked it again and took the correct direction. Chauncey did a lot of weaving back and forth, more than I like, but Jean told us that it was probably all the fresh scent from the rain. Chauncey found her glove and did pretty good.
They are both doing well and hopefully will stay on track for the fall tests.
Blueberry's track, Around 300yds, Aged 45 min
Chauncey's Track, 295yds, Aged 1hr, 5 min
Jean laid Blueberry's and Joyce laid Chauncey's at 9:30am. I went to the other end of the field and laid a short track for a beginner and his Boxer. He is deaf, so his Boxer is a service dog and they wanted to do something with the Boxer extra (not for competition). What Jean had me do was hook a long line to his belt loop and give tugs to tell him to slow down or stop. Since we follow behind, he can't read our lips or hear us. If we approach it disturbs the dog, so this way we can tell him what he needs to do. It was interesting working that way, but the dog is getting the idea and so is the owner.
While everyone's was aging or whatever we caught up on what we had been doing. Jean has been out of town for a couple weeks now and Joyce and I didn't get together while she was gone. After catching up we got to work. Joyce ran Ziggy and he indicated all his articles and really worked his track well.
I ran Blueberry next. Her track had aged for about 45 min and was laid in the tough cover. The main area we generally use is hay fields that have varying lengths, depending on when they last mowed. The tough cover is rarely ever mowed and the grass is hard, brown, stalky stuff. It also has a lot of brush, shrubs, trees, and cactus. I have been the area for Blueberry the last couple times and she really takes to the rough stuff. If nothing else it works as a leash handling exercise, because she goes around, over, and under the brush, while I follow along untangling her. Blueberry started well and nailed her turns. She just keeps plodding along and even tangled it does not upset her. She is really showing progress at the end of the track and still pushing for the glove. Usually the last 10 to 20 yards she starts worrying about where the glove is, but is still working the track. After a couple untangles and encouraging words she found the glove. I think Jean laughed at us most of the way and I'm sure we looked like a couple of crazy people out there doing the leash dance. I am very proud of Blueberry's work ethic on the tracks and they are calling her the Energizer Bunny as she just keeps going.
I ran Chauncey next and her track was in the hay field, which is about a foot high now. She started well and stayed on the track. I was not paying attention on the first leg or looking at the 30yd flag. When we got to the first turn Chauncey went the correct way and I didn't let her commit, so she started going straight. I realized that it was too far for the 30yds, so ask Joyce if this was a turn. I saw she was holding 2 flags and realized that I was standing on a turn, so backed up a little and let Chauncey come back to it, she worked it again and took the correct direction. Chauncey did a lot of weaving back and forth, more than I like, but Jean told us that it was probably all the fresh scent from the rain. Chauncey found her glove and did pretty good.
They are both doing well and hopefully will stay on track for the fall tests.
Blueberry's track, Around 300yds, Aged 45 min
Chauncey's Track, 295yds, Aged 1hr, 5 min
posted by Kim at 7:11 PM
1 Comments:
Just saw your blog today. Sounds like you have a real prize with Chauncey. I hope you breed her! I would love to have a Standard Poodle with that kind of drive. Good luck with your work with her.
Alan
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