First class with no Fanny

We had our first class on Saturday without dogs. It was nice to get back to basics. We went over laying tracks including using double line-ups, scuffing tracks, with food between our feet every two steps and line handling.

For homework, we need to:

Practice your skills actually putting the track in.for the starter teams, it’s scuff 2, food between your feet, scuff 2, food between your feet—all while checking to make sure you are on your line up.

I have been practicing putting in tracks in my backyard. I have a lot of tall trees spaced well apart so they are good for practicing line ups. I tried using pine straw as “food” but Cheeky, 4 month old puppy jumped up and grabbed it from me. She decided to let me have a twig to break into small pieces and use as “food”. This is one line-up using Cheeky's playhouse and one of the trees in my yards.

Put something (article like) on the ground and practice walking past it and picking it up, putting it in your pocket.

I’m practicing when picking up all of Cheeky’s toys off the floor.

Lastly, practice your line handling without the dog. Light tension is good, loops between you and the dog aren’t desired, and the dog having to pull you off your feet isn’t ideal either!

I have been practicing with the leash tied to a crate.

Comments

November 3: Tracking as the Sun Sets

We went tracking in a field outside my subdivision almost right next to 360 and a Valero gas station. Fanny has tracked here before, but the traffic is still kind of loud. 6 pm, 65°F and 5 mph winds The Line-up for today's track was the tall multi-colored tree and a fur tree behind it. There is another field between this one and 360 with a small road going to some quiet little shops and a restaurant between the fields. We are approximately 350 yards from 360.. Fanny was a little more nervous with the traffic going by and the sounds of motorcycles revving their engines, but she was wagging her tail when we got out of the van. She moved quickly down the first leg and only started picking up hot dogs on the second track. She stopped at each article, looked around as if checking to make sure it was safe and then nudged them with her nose and laid down. She ate all the treats and started tracking again. Fanny didn't start eating food on the track until the...

Happy New Year: Fanny's First Track of the Year

We went tracking at the Community Center near 360 and practiced a left turn. It was around 61°F at 3 pm. I laid a track right beside the Community Center building that was two 60-step legs (scuffing all steps) with a left turn and food every three steps. Fanny was trying to pull me to the left quite a bit, but she kept her nose down and working. Here is my map of Fanny's track.

October 31: All Hallows Eve Tracking

Today we went to a field in my subdivision next to the tennis court and playground. It had been dizzling earlier so it was very quiet except for the occasional car driving by. It was 64°F with 6 mph winds and overcast. We did another 15, 20 and 25 steps track. My line-up is the corner fence post and the corner of the house behind it. Here is the track with 6 flags and three articles. Fanny ate a lot of the food but ran over some of it. She would have back tracked to get it if I let her. I kept her moving forward. She went off to the right about a foot one time to sniff something, but quickly moved back to the track and kept tracking. She seemed very interested in the second article nudging it with her nose I said, "what did you find?" and she laid down. At the last article, she wanted to keep going until I kneeled down.at the article and then she laid down for the cookies. She seems to continue tracking even after I put ...

Crystal & Fanny's Path to TD & Beyond

Search This Blog