12/16/23 Hidden Rock Park, Maidens, VA

• S5W40F20 Warm, slight breeze diagonally across the track from right to left, dry short grass, with crossing of gravel path (1st time experience) so added food drops before, mid and back on grass.

First, Dan stayed in vehicle across the street. River has never been on this section of field, so it was new. Hard to stay in short grass without crossing gravel, so new experience.

At the start, she stayed focused. It is interesting that I can see she is already smelling the area before we even get within 10 ft of the start. She does like to be very aware of the area, but I suppose most dogs are, not just River. She was slightly off to the left of the track, but this could've been the taller grass nearby on the right that created a barrier or pushed the scent.

At the gravel path, she paused for the food, nose near the ground, crossed and did quick pickup of the food, got the food on the other side, and just kept going on the grass. At one point she went off to the right after picking up her head. I stopped and her head was in the air o I didn't go with her. She circled back to me and found her track again. At the right turn, she went out through the turn, but it was an open angle so as she coursed, she found it quickly. Downed for article. Then, found her ball for some fetch.

As we walked back, she went into the taller grass in the area that she picked her head up on the track. As she was sniffing, a bird flew out of the grass.

She handled the change of surface from fpgrass to gravel to grass just brilliantly. She ignored the dog park fetch play zone across the road. And, she did one of her longest straight legs. And, she drank water before her track. I have been just splashing water on her nose and mouth.

Maybe I will try the multi turn track again or start tracks.