12/1/24 Robious Athletic Fields

T1&T2 no video

T3& T4 - see next post

47F, WSW 3 mph wind, gusts 8 mph, 49% humidity, dry short grass on T1-3, grass and pine needles on T4

Kept S3W12F6

T1- this was the no food at or given for start. River laid down looked at me as usual. I may not have given her enough time (only about 3 seconds ) to decide on her own to track. I prompted her with go track. How long should I wait? She got right up and put her nose to the ground and went on the track. This was only a short single leg.

T2- Another video miscue. On 90 degree left turn with second leg taking us over a small ditch, only 1 foot wide. I added food drop a few steps after crossing it.

River downed at start and went out, working well and didn’t cut her left turn, quartered a little but found the turn. We hit an area with some fallen leaves and she slowed down there. Probably a challenge which didn’t occur to me as I was laying the track. As she hit the ditch, she wasn’t phased and got her food drop.

T3- Only partial video as I didn’t have the view wide enough to get the turn….ugh. Nothing awful on the right 90 degree turn, she checked around and got on to the leg

T4- This was a right 90 degree turn and then a left open angle so the track ended in pine needles. Handler error again as I probably did not put down enough helpful food drops. Basically bc last year she didn’t care about moving through the pine needles, but it is a new year. I felt badly, but she worked and found her article.

Goals:

Trying not to have her get used to track patterns, wanted to put in what I thought were easy challenges, start a track without food.

Outcome:

Encountered what were challenges but I didn’t think they were when laying the track… fallen leaves near a tree and oine needles. River did work through these despite her handler. She was not qhased at all by the small ditch. I am glad I kept the same SWF pattern and will keep it for the next track session. She seems to be dedicated to her tracks and working enthusiasticly. She downs to indicate articles reliably.