12/12/24
- Maureen Woolley, Duck & River
- Dec 12, 2024
- 1 min read
Advanced Start Track pattern practice, right turns
Videos:
T#1
T#2
T#2 repeated
T#3
T#4
44F, 34% humidity, 4mph WSW wind gusting to 8 mph. Dry, short soccer field grass, some blue small round soccer markers on the field.
Goal: I’m not totally sure of the goal for the start pattern, assuming to get proper direction from the start and then to work on progressing into and out of turns with the varied pattern of scuff, walk and food.
Outcome: River did really great! Well, that’s what I thought. She started nicely on the angled approach. She found her turns, picked her head up for LOS without proceeding far beyond the actual turn point. She pulled me into the second legs. She downed for her end articles.
I was so busy being happy that she checked for the turn and pulled me that I forgot to go with her and she cruised left but then went back to pull me right. So, the weak link on the team was the human, again.
Since I forgot the end article on T#2 I had her do that track again but it had only whatever food she left behind. River got the track without the start article, and just went right on the legs to the end article.
We played ball a few times after each track, with a knotted up bandana as I didn’t have an actual ball. I cut that part from the videos.
Next time: probably the start tracks with left turns
Hi Maureen
I believe the goal for a start pattern should be something you are comfortable with doing each time you start a track. Examples: whether you harness dog at the car or a few feet from the track, whether or not you want the dog to sit or down at the start, whether you want the dog to wait while you pick up the start article, etc. These are the things you should think about so you can create a regular routine for each start. River seems quite comfortable at each of his starts. I think I noticed you have him sit a few feet from the start and move the lead from his collar to his harness. H…