9/22/24. Two BLIND 1 turn tracks
9/22/24. Two BLIND 1 turn tracks. 68 degrees, misty, wet short grass. 30 min age. Tracklayer did not do double line ups and he put food on the corners - he does not listen to instructions. Tracks were laid a few feet off of trees, clotheslines, buildings, etc. so lots of obstacles.
Food every 10-12 steps.
Good starts.
First track was off the rails. Second track was much better, went past the corner, had to back up and stand on it to help.
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OMG. You sound like Kelly!
ReplyDeleteOK. I’m going to add to my comment. It looks like Dewey hasn’t been consistent at all. Let’s try this: 2 starts, one L, one R. Walk each track, then go back and rewalk them (same direction—don’t walk them backwards). No scuff. Food drop every 5th step (only drop food on one of your track walks, no both). Do that on both tracks. Let me know how it goes!
ReplyDeleteHey Ellen - I will be co-teaching with Judi this year and she has asked me to comment on your post. If you are struggling, avoid blind tracks. You lay your track, you make your map even with ONE turn, you draw in your scent pads on the map. The map making should help you feel confident when he runs. IF he is running over scent pads, I would put a marker down when you lay your track and stop him at each and every scent pad. Just stand still. If he looks at you like what the heck, then toss one cookie in the scent pad. When he snuffles up the treats, his nose should stay down as he moves down the track to the next single food drop. So for the next few tracks, I would have a 60 yard first leg, a turn, and a 50 yard second leg. Is he more likely to lose concentration as he gets going or more likely to lose concentration when his mind is tired? That will help you with your scent pad placement. I'm not sure how you start him but I would have a scent pad within five steps of his start article. (We actually changed the way my dogs starts and have a scent pad AT the flag) but until we see him start, I wouldn't change anything at the flag. So his normal start, and then five steps and a scent pad (stamp down the grass in a 2 ft x 2 ft spot, spread out ten treats) and then five steps and another scent pad. So right from the start, we are slowing his mind and his body down. Then proceed with food drops every five steps - until about the twenty yard mark - then another scent pad. Proceed. Until the 40 yard mark, scent pad. Again, you know where these are so you are stopping him at them to eat the treats. Get creative with the location of your scent pads based on where he seems to lose concentration. Post your map so we can see your scent pad locations (I usually just draw a box) and note where he is leaving the track. In addition to double laying, I would also go back to a six foot leash to minimize his casting. I know this all feels like you are going back to first grade with a teenager, but I think he has been having this issue for a while. It won't take long to fix it and then proceed out of it. Let's manage his arousal from the walk up to the start and then let the scent pads help him along the way.
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