December 14, 2024 (Saturday) Class @ Cool Water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 7, 2024 (Saturday) - VGL (Stair step)

 

Stair step - gunshots caused distraction

I probably should have stepped in sooner and used tossed treats to encourage return to tracking and backed up at a couple of of the turns.

I'll add map and other details later - just trying to get videos to cooperate 

Video is a long one so pour yourself a glass of wine if you're going to watch :).

Chest mount video - I look further back than I am (the big knot is at around 6 ft) and sometimes look like I'm to one side of her, when I'm not.

 

 

November 30, 2024 (Saturday) - Class @ Cool Water

 

This was a great learning outing - track was aged a bit longer than we had been working, but it was well reinforced, etc so wasn't worried.  Was pleased in light of wind and age at how she did and the learning moments...

Things to consider as handler and if Judi or Mary Ann have insights, I'd love them!

1. Wind is clearly a factor for Mila (saw this again when I practiced Fri, Dec 5 - will post that one next).  Are FD better than scuffs in wind since the scent gets blown around so much and all the scuffed scent is going everywhere or vise versa?
   
2. Why is a neighboring track sometimes more 'compelling' than the track we are meant to follow? I've seen this a few times in class with Mila...need to unravel this a bit more maybe.
3. What does the LOS I sometimes see before an article mean to me as the handler (saw with article on leg 2 and seen it before - Judi pointed it out to me and so I keep an eye out for it now)? How can I use that information better? How can I separate it from LOS at a turn and is that necessary to do in terms of what I need to do as handler?

Something I'm really liking is when she's tracking her tracking behavior is getting stronger and she's getting confidence back. I didn't like that I moved a bit more than I'd have liked in this one..

Water: 1. Offered @ car and drank readily; 2. Offered @ leg 2 articled - denied; 3. Offered after overshooting turn and drank readily (yay!) and I think it really helped her.

Loved the super restart after leg 2 article!! And really liked that she used the article to triangulate back to the track as we kept getting pulled to the right of the track.  So glad Mary Ann picked that one to put food in as it reinforced that behavior.