Week 10 - Practice 3

1/25/2025

I practiced 4 total tracks in 2 sessions.

Added Open Angles for the first time.

Each track is Double Laid with treats and an End Article.

Session 1:

• Weather: 42F, 35% Humidity, Fair weather, Wind SW 10mph.

• Located at a small local park.

  • Track One - Open Angle to the Right 1:32pm

    • Aged 10 Minutes

    • 70 yd on short grasses and melting snow dusting

    • Treats spaced every 8 Steps. Two treats spaced closer at the turn.

  • Track Two - Open Angle to the Left1:52pm

    • Aged 10 Minutes

    • 80 yd on short grasses and leaf litter.

    • Treats spaced every 8 Steps. Two treats spaced closer at the turn.

  • Stopped to play article game

  • Track Three - Open Angle Right 2:15pm (not recorded)

    • Aged 10 Minutes

    • 90 yd on short grasses.

    • Treats spaced every 8 Steps. Two treats spaced closer at the turn.

Session 2:

• Weather: 39F, 44% Humidity, Fair weather, Wind SSE 6mph.

• Located at a field along the edge of Colonial Williamsburg / Downtownish area.

  • Track Four - Open Angle Right 5:17pm

    • Aged 10 Minutes

    • 90 yd on short grasses.

    • Treats spaced every 8 Steps. Two treats spaced closer at the turn.

GOAL FOR THE TRACK:

• To lengthen the spacing for food drops.

• To add in open angel.

How did it feel?

• Great on the track! In the first session at the small park, Wren has less interested in the end article than she has been, something was interesting to that little nose. I stopped after the 2nd track to play games with her.

  
  

List three things the dog did well:

1. Picking up on the turns. I did add some closer spaced treats at the turn to help her. Should I continue doing that?

2. Getting back to the track after distractions.

3. A group of people got out of an event during the last track which added extra distractions + car doors slamming closed. (Something that unfortunately are scary to her after the firework incident in the hotel parking lot during December.) So I am very proud of her for choosing the track and seeming to still enjoy the task while ignoring those sounds for the time.

   
   

List things you’d like to improve:

1. Continue improving my handling of 'in the moment' her acknowledging the article/rewarding.

2. Improve my consistency in distance following her instead of accidentally following too close/stepping by her back feet when she goes from brisk walking to sudden pauses/stops. I have not accidentally stepped on her yet, but I don't want to accidentally stomp her with boots one of these days.

   
   

Goal for next track:

• Continue hyping up the article in puppy parties and get that value built.

• Continue stretching the food drop distance further along the tracks.

• Practice both straight tracks, and open angel turns.