Week 64 - Practices 1 & 2

Wren turned 2 years old this week!!! (2/6/26) My BAAAABBBBYYYYYYY is a big girl!

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2/2/2026

• Track 1

  • Located at short grass field. Lots of human and dog cross tracks.

    • Single laid. Straight Article Track

      • Short cut grass.

      • Aged: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

      • 60 yds total.

• Track 2

  • Located at short grass field. Lots of human and dog cross tracks.

    • Single laid. 2 Turns, 1 left, 1 right.

    • An an (oh my gosh I forgot the name. Augment? the thingy where you sidestep and the dog resets and finds he new track shifted at a parallel)

      • Short cut grass.

      • Aged: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

      • 187 yds total.

      • Articles: Start Article & End Article

      • Food Drop Pattern: Shuffle 5 steps -->Walk 30 Paces--> Food Drop -->Walk 30 Paces-->Scuff 5-->Walk 30 Paces--> Food Drop -->Walk 30 --> Scuff 5--> Repeat. 

      • Turn: Scuff 5 out of turn--> walk 5--> Food.

      • The Restart - scent pad with food.
        

2/5/2026

We met with Lauritz/Max, Flora/Finwe, and Lancelot. Lancelot is a French high school student visiting the US this month that Elliott and I are hosting. Elliott stayed with his family during a College course in 2015.

• Track 1

  • Located at open field.

    • Single laid. 1 Left Open Turn.

      • Short cut grass.

      • Aged: 1 Hour

      • 110 yds

      • Articles: Start Article & End Article

      • Food Drop Pattern: Shuffle 5 steps -->Walk 30 Paces--> Food Drop -->Walk 30 Paces-->Scuff 5-->Walk 30 Paces--> Food Drop -->Walk 30 --> Scuff 5--> Repeat. 

      • Turn: Scuff 5 out of turn--> walk 5--> Food.

        
        

• Track 2

  • Located at open field.

    • Single laid. 1 Right 90* Turn.

      • Short cut grass.

      • Aged: 1 Hour

      • 106 yds

      • Articles: Start Article & End Article

      • Food Drop Pattern: Shuffle 5 steps -->Walk 30 Paces--> Food Drop -->Walk 30 Paces-->Scuff 5-->Walk 30 Paces--> Food Drop -->Walk 30 --> Scuff 5--> Repeat. 

      • Turn: Scuff 5 out of turn--> walk 5--> Food.
        

GOAL FOR BOTH DAYS OF TRACKING:

• My handling technique... I got too shuffly with my feet one day, and then inconsistent with my land handling the next. Trying to remind myself in the moment to be more methodical and consistent in handling.

• Supporting Wren shifting through different tracking exercise rotations.

  • Finishing this set of food patterns to stretch out soon again.

How did it feel? / Things the dog did well:

• 2/2:

  • Felt pretty good. In a very contaminated field. I am especially proud of Wren for getting right back to work despite the couple loudly complaining about me tracking where they wanted to let their dog run around? It was an odd couple, they were not talking to us, they were 'talking to their dog' but in that rude 'oh buddy, they can't say high you poor thing, oh come on come on buddy'. Yeah...Wren and I are pretty used to dealing with people like this while out training for other activities so we just ignored them. (once the dog was safely clipped to a leash once more) She used to struggle with focusing after a dog 'locks on' to her, and I am very proud of the work we have put in this past year dealing with such scenarios. I am very proud of our working relationship together, and the trust we have been building as a team on and off the tracks.
    

• 2/5:

  • Felt good. I am pleased with her continued article progress! I also really like the 2nd track when we reached the turn. We worked past it, but there was an immediate communication that felt clear in the moment that 'Whoops, back this way, follow me!'

  
  

https://youtu.be/3ebNvj7CHXc?si=9hjs_d1G1RdaeqUs

https://youtu.be/X319BJd1orc