10/5/23

River's first class was on 10/3, (S8 W16 F8) and I was really happy with her tracking performance. Didn't down at the start article which is odd for her. She followed the track on transition from sun into shade and back to sun without any difficulty. She's always done just sunny areas so that was great. She did course toward middle of track to the end, this was a good experience for me to try to be patient and learn to step back to help her find the correct track, but turns out there was another track nearby. She did find the end article, which I would have walked right past if she didn't down indicate.

Tucker Park

77F; mild 5 mph breeze, with short dry grass on first and second leg, then soggy grass on last leg.

S5 W16 F8 Track was open right turn and 90 degree left turn

Rather warm and not sure how she'd do. She downed at the start article. Headed out on the track, skipped all the food, hit the turn, head went up , went a few feet, then head back down and turned on to the second leg. She kept going and still didn't stop for any food. Took the left turn really tight. Then, the head came up...soggy ground. With this change she was going much slower and not as true to the line as she needed the food drops. She did speed up a bit when she knew the article location. This seems to happen about 5-10 feet from the article.

I was surprised at how well she did today, given the higher temp./humidity. I had cut the scuff from 8 to 5. Next, I will change the W&F as she only used it on the final leg and she's done this pattern for a couple of tracks.