1/19/25. Short tracks around fences and woods
1/19/25. Laid these short tracks one at a time, ran him within 5 minutes and put him in the car to marinate while I laid the next one. Food drops varied between 10-15 steps apart. He got better with each track. Track #1. Struggled at the turn into tall cover https://youtu.be/imxw4lYuoHA?feature=shared Track #2 short track from tall cover to short towards fence https://youtu.be/bA4Q4ZZpGu4?feature=shared Track #3 Between 2 fences towards woods https://youtu.be/R9EverPLGJ8?feature=shared Track #4 Parallel woods and turn away https://youtu.be/88B4jnpOJYc?feature=shared
Whew…I was worried, now I’m not. Another awesome start—you are being patient and letting him find the track, and it’s paying off with remarkable first legs! Second leg….he’s SO much better diagonally across the mow—second exposure and he’s figuring it out. Second turn—OMG, that cast left—NOPE!!!—cast right and go. I suspect if you’d handled him the same way you do at the start, he would have taken his time to actually find the track. He definitely surfed, and used the food for food, rather than as reinforcement for staying on track. Be a little bit more patient, and let him find it. He was so very clearly on task, I can forgive both of you for getting excited!
ReplyDeleteI agree, simple 1 turn track next time (maybe second leg across mow again), and if that goes well, try 2 turns again. You may have to go back and forth for a bit to make sure we keep him confident. Also, try to make sure the total length of the one turn track is equal to or a little greater than, the 2 turn track…that way we know we are installing enough brain endurance to do this.
I love that you’re not making an issue of missed lids—I agree with that. Our goal is track accuracy and I don’t think articles are going to be a problem.
I remain thrilled with his/your progress.
Question! On the 3rd leg, when he is tracking to the left of the track (wind blowing that way), do I stop and refuse to move until he is on the track or walk to the right of the track and hold the leash tight so he has to walk on the track? This time I tried walking behind him to see if he would self correct (it seemed to work on the 2nd leg) but it did not work on the 3rd leg.
DeleteOOPS!!! OMG, the gate and the road—so good! And the first turn—cast right, look left, and go. Again, a tad more patience….😊. If, when you step in behind him when he’s off, he continues off, make sure you have a plan ! I love it that it worked like it’s supposed to….I wish I understood it!
ReplyDeleteThird leg question: Since a third leg is new to him...I'd step to the right and put him on the track for the first couple of times. Once he seems to 'get it,' (tracking straight down the track like he did on first and second legs), if he surfs off I'd stop and wait for him to make any effort to get back on. I'd reinforce that effort with a small step forward...and then increase steps and speed if he stays on. If he pops back off, you've only taken one tiny step which in theory gave him information, and then you stopped, which is also information.
ReplyDeleteDoes that answer it? Feel free to say no--I can picture what I want, but can't always explain it well.