Lots of Tracking
We met up with the usual group for tracking. It was a little overcast, but working up to be a warm day. It got into the low '90's by the time we finished up.
Joyce laid a track for Blueberry at 9:30, on the top field. I waited at the bottom field for her to get done and then we laid the other dogs tracks. I laid a TD length track for Henry and Joyce laid shorter ones for Ziggy and Chauncey.
I started Henry's track in the middle of the field and Joyce wanted 5 turns, so I had to plan my track so I could exit at the road the goes around the outside of the field. I finally got the turns all worked in and the track ended near the road, about 50 yds from it. There are some houses across the road with dogs that will run to their fence and bark, so I did not think anything about walking the road back to the trucks. I made it to the road and started walking when a big Pit Bull came charging at me, easy 80-90 lb dog and solid, with a huge chest. He was loose and made it to the center line before he stopped to listen to his owner yelling at him. I did not look at him directly and just kept slowly, steadily walking away. He finally went back to his owner and I was able to take a deep breath and made it back to the trucks. We let Henry's age about an hour before we ran it. He did very well and his turns were very nice. I had warned everyone about the Pit Bull and we thought it would be okay, because we would be in the field and would not walk near the road after the track was done. As Henry started up the last leg, here comes that dog again, only this time he was after Henry. We all had big stakes in our hands (not that they would have stopped him), and Jean went closest to the dog, who stopped about 15 feet in front of her. I was midway, and Joyce held Henry behind me. The owner is yelling at the dog and the dog is standing there deciding what to do. He was keeping an eye on Jean and his posturing was not nice. Finally, he turned and went back with the owner, Joyce and Henry finished their track. Henry never said a word to the dog and acted like nothing happened when he started tracking again. We will have to watch that end of the field in the future, as we have not run into that dog before.
While Joyce ran Ziggy's, I laid a track for Jean's Corgi, Emma. Then I did Chauncey's track. Chauncey's was about 300 yds and aged for 30 min. She started very nicely and did her turns well. The 2nd turn was right at a stand of trees and weeds, so Chauncey took a minute to do some hunting before I told her to "leave it". I can tell when she is not working and she loves a good side trail. Chauncey has the tendency to come to the turn, mark the direction, and then hunt around before coming back and going down the next leg. When I know she is hunting I tell her to leave it and that gets her mind back on the track. Chauncey did well on the track, but was a little above the glove, so I moved down a little and she found it. She did some pretty nice work today and, if she keeps her mind on the job, is doing very well.
Jean brought Emma today. Emma earned her TD 3 months after Jean got her and started her training. Jean has been working on her TDX training for about a year now. She said that Emma got her TD so fast that she really does not have the experience she needs for a TDX, so she is working on experience for her. Emma's track was pretty straight forward with 3 turns, but the difficult part was I laid it in the tough grass and cactus area. The last leg also crossed the road and finished on the other side. Emma does very well and is pretty good. She is getting better in the tougher terrain areas. (there are some photos below of her)
Blueberry's track was the first laid and the last run. It was 335yds and aged for 2 1/2 hours. It was pretty straight forward, 3 turns and a simple pattern, laid in taller grass. She was very excited and about halfway down the first leg she settled into her work. Worked her turns nicely and nailed them all. She walked on Joyce's path the whole way. Blueberry gives me goose bumps when I work her, she is just so exact in her tracking. Totally different style and work ethic than Chauncey. Blueberry took a little extra time at the 2nd turn, but #1 and #3 were, walked up to it and turned, no hesitation and barely any double checking herself. She is ready for her certification, but we are waiting until after PCA. So, some time to do some more work.
Emma and Jean on their track.
Joyce laid a track for Blueberry at 9:30, on the top field. I waited at the bottom field for her to get done and then we laid the other dogs tracks. I laid a TD length track for Henry and Joyce laid shorter ones for Ziggy and Chauncey.
I started Henry's track in the middle of the field and Joyce wanted 5 turns, so I had to plan my track so I could exit at the road the goes around the outside of the field. I finally got the turns all worked in and the track ended near the road, about 50 yds from it. There are some houses across the road with dogs that will run to their fence and bark, so I did not think anything about walking the road back to the trucks. I made it to the road and started walking when a big Pit Bull came charging at me, easy 80-90 lb dog and solid, with a huge chest. He was loose and made it to the center line before he stopped to listen to his owner yelling at him. I did not look at him directly and just kept slowly, steadily walking away. He finally went back to his owner and I was able to take a deep breath and made it back to the trucks. We let Henry's age about an hour before we ran it. He did very well and his turns were very nice. I had warned everyone about the Pit Bull and we thought it would be okay, because we would be in the field and would not walk near the road after the track was done. As Henry started up the last leg, here comes that dog again, only this time he was after Henry. We all had big stakes in our hands (not that they would have stopped him), and Jean went closest to the dog, who stopped about 15 feet in front of her. I was midway, and Joyce held Henry behind me. The owner is yelling at the dog and the dog is standing there deciding what to do. He was keeping an eye on Jean and his posturing was not nice. Finally, he turned and went back with the owner, Joyce and Henry finished their track. Henry never said a word to the dog and acted like nothing happened when he started tracking again. We will have to watch that end of the field in the future, as we have not run into that dog before.
While Joyce ran Ziggy's, I laid a track for Jean's Corgi, Emma. Then I did Chauncey's track. Chauncey's was about 300 yds and aged for 30 min. She started very nicely and did her turns well. The 2nd turn was right at a stand of trees and weeds, so Chauncey took a minute to do some hunting before I told her to "leave it". I can tell when she is not working and she loves a good side trail. Chauncey has the tendency to come to the turn, mark the direction, and then hunt around before coming back and going down the next leg. When I know she is hunting I tell her to leave it and that gets her mind back on the track. Chauncey did well on the track, but was a little above the glove, so I moved down a little and she found it. She did some pretty nice work today and, if she keeps her mind on the job, is doing very well.
Jean brought Emma today. Emma earned her TD 3 months after Jean got her and started her training. Jean has been working on her TDX training for about a year now. She said that Emma got her TD so fast that she really does not have the experience she needs for a TDX, so she is working on experience for her. Emma's track was pretty straight forward with 3 turns, but the difficult part was I laid it in the tough grass and cactus area. The last leg also crossed the road and finished on the other side. Emma does very well and is pretty good. She is getting better in the tougher terrain areas. (there are some photos below of her)
Blueberry's track was the first laid and the last run. It was 335yds and aged for 2 1/2 hours. It was pretty straight forward, 3 turns and a simple pattern, laid in taller grass. She was very excited and about halfway down the first leg she settled into her work. Worked her turns nicely and nailed them all. She walked on Joyce's path the whole way. Blueberry gives me goose bumps when I work her, she is just so exact in her tracking. Totally different style and work ethic than Chauncey. Blueberry took a little extra time at the 2nd turn, but #1 and #3 were, walked up to it and turned, no hesitation and barely any double checking herself. She is ready for her certification, but we are waiting until after PCA. So, some time to do some more work.
Chauncey starting her track
Chauncey working along the wooded area.
Blueberry checking her turn.
Emma and Jean on their track.
posted by Kim at 11:59 AM
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