Hiatus

Treck suffered a herniated disc in his neck in an accident, and has to take a break from training for rehab. Just when we were getting somewhere. Frustrating, but I am happy to report he will fully recover.

State Park track

Date: 4/18/09
Time: 12:45 p.m.
Temp.: 75*
Weather: clear, sunny, gorgeous!
Length: 400 paces
Age: 30 minutes
Conditions: uniform grass
Turns: 3
Articles: 1 leather, 1 wood, 1 cloth

Worked on length and age. First two articles not baited, last one was. No problems there. All turns baited. First two turns were no problem, but he cut the corner on the third, something I rarely see him do. I think the light breeze was blowing the scent towards him. Also, maybe the age of the track contributed to this? Had this been a trial I think it would have been a 95-96. Here is a pic I took after we ran the track, I just thought it was neat how you could see the track.

And below is a video I made of the entire track by placing my camera on the hood of my truck. I sped it up double time to make it not quite so tedious! Watch us become little dots on the horizon!

Pics of the surrounding countryside ...

Thoroughbreds on Murmur Farm, Darlington, Maryland.

Dairy cows enjoying the sun.

Athletic field

Date: 4/11/09
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Temp.: 55*
Weather: clear
Length: 215 paces
Age: 5 minutes
Conditions: spring grass
Turns: 6
Articles: 1 cloth

No food on scent pad or first 10 steps. I laid a baited serpentine after the 10 steps to slow him down if his speed quickened. But he maintained a nice, calm speed throughout. Worked on turns, 6 of them, only had trouble at turn #2, searched for about 10 seconds to find it, circled a few times, I let him work it out. Stayed calm, nose down while searching for turn, "good such" when he found the next leg. All turns baited. Also did a step-off exercise on the second leg, the video shows how he handled it. :) I ended the track with the last leg that headed nearly into a large brush pile, I could tell he was working the scent really hard and carefully, nice indication of a baited article.

By the old barn ...

Date: 4/9/09
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Temp.: 56*
Weather: clear
Length: 235 paces
Age: 10 minutes
Conditions: spring/dead grass and corn field
Turns: 2
Articles: 1 leather, 1 wood

Tried the approach to scent pad that Floyd Wilson outlines in his article. Went well. Treck was pretty excited at the beginning and was faster than normal, but had no problems at the first turn. A little "wobbly" on the second leg, first article was great. Worked on staying calm in the 'platz' and calm restart by baiting footsteps directly after article. Worked great, nice and steady restart. Second turn was a tad bit sloppy. Third leg had a change of terrain from grass to corn field. Handled just fine, I was very proud and he continued to work while maneuvering around the corn stalks. Second article, again, was great, worked on staying in the 'platz' until being released, he's a little over eager! :) Both turns baited. And both articles were baited this time as well.

Old tracking photos from Fall 2007

Thanks to Lynn for these photos !

And up the hill we go ...

Date: 4/5/09

Time: 9:45 a.m.

Temp.: 50*

Weather: clear, sunny

Length: 350 paces

Age: 10 minutes

Conditions: new, spring grass growing in deep dirt

Turns: 3

Articles: 1 leather, 1 cloth, 1 wood

Very nice conditions. Missed the first article even though he was right on track so I brought him back and corrected him when he got to it. I should have given him the opportunity to indicate it by himself, but I didn't want him to pass it up again. Not a harsh correction by any means, just a jerk on the fursaver, but still I should have given him a chance. I don't like to correct him on tracks. And like last track, I don't know if I like this "do-over stuff". I wonder if I should just let the mistake go and address it on the next track (i.e., baiting the article, etc.)

I was super happy with the rest of the track. Again, all turns baited. At the second turn Treck did a quick head check but other than that they were accurate. Interestingly, during his last leg, which was at the top of the hill and drier conditions, he was really slow and careful, it was nice. I don't know if that's because our hard work is paying off or because of the correction earlier during the track and he just didn't want to miss another article. As long as he's not worrying while tracking, I want him to enjoy it.

I believe age has played a significant factor in our success thus far. Treck is now more clear-headed and mature and if he gets lost or if there are longer stretches of unbaited track he still maintains a nice pace and is not hectic. Although he still maintains his enthusiastic love of tracking, which is great!

Thanks to Britta for the photos !

Tracking Resources

Floyd Wilson's Building Blocks

Armin Winkler's Only the Nose Really Knows, Part II

Spring has arrived

Date: 4/3/09
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Temp.: 50*
Weather: clear, wind 15 mph
Length: 235 paces
Age: 10-15 minutes
Conditions: new, spring grass
Turns: 6
Articles: 1 cloth, 1 wood

Another nice track. Had just had torrential downpour prior to laying track. Long first leg, 100 paces, with a semi-circle to the right in the middle of the leg. Have not done one of these in a long time, but Treck handled it just fine. Next turn was great, then he overshot the fourth and then found the next leg in a sort of round-about way. So, I said 'phui' and then restarted him and then he did a nice corner. Not sure if I like doing that or not, or if that actually helps him. All turns were baited. He had no trouble with an angled leg to the right and then finished up the track in good order. Articles were very nice as well.

Angled turn.