Week 8 - Practice 1
- Heather McNamee
- Jan 12
- 2 min read
1/8/2025
I practiced 3 tracks in 1 session.
Each track is laid with treats and an End Article.
Mistakes were made and my brain flew the coop today, but Wren was a little trooper.
Session 1:
Weather: 30F, 45% Humidity,
Partially Cloudy, Wind WNW 10mph.
Located at a park in Williamsburg.
Track One -
60 yd on short grasses.
Treats spaced every 18 inches.
Track Two - low flying, loud helicopters appearing when track ended.
70 yd in short grasses.
Treats spaced every 18 inches
Track Three - 5:25pm Darkness set in. Usually the large field lights come on at this park but tonight they didn't, leaving us in the dark for this last track.
80 yd in short grasses.
Treats spaced every 18 inches.
GOAL FOR THE TRACK:
To lengthen the tracks ran.
How did it feel?
What is the saying? 'smart dog, dumb handler?' I made a lot of mistakes in my handling. I do not think I handled Wren's article pick up well for these three tracks. She is doing well with the article games in different locations so I am unsure if it was coincidence/excitement at seeing Flora = getting to play with Finwe afterwards, or maybe thinking that article that aren't mine =/= pick up?
However, I am proud of my little pup and her work put in regardless of my shortcomings today.
List three things the dog did well:
Staying on track
She has been working hard on her staying calm for the walk up/getting ready to track.
Working at a decent speed without trying to zoom away.
List things you’d like to improve:
Not forget in the moment how to handle her article indication.
Get my hands on articles that smell like other people more so than me for article games. (my husband, friends, neighbor, etc)
Goal for next track:
Continue lengthening our tracks.
Play article games in more public settings. (And see if practicing with different smelling articles helps clarify the expectation for when i am not the one laying the little chicken trail tracks. Me clearing up the possible confusion for her.)
Darkness was harder, good idea to have the treats closer together. maybe double walk it next time! And what a good girl!!!
The articles should smell like the tracklayer. Please don’t play with the scent! You’re almost 4 weeks into class…let’s take our time! She will have better article skills off the track than on for a bit…keep working off, and we will help you learn how to handle indications on the track. Nice tracking! And you handled the trash can well. When she gets to the article….what would happen if you very happily said “get it get it get it get it get it”. Rather than waiting for something to happen—teach her what it is she is supposed to do! I think I hear you talking to her a LOT—hush. This is a silent sport!
SO, next session…build distance more—hooray, that’s…