12/30/23 Robious Athletic Fields

S5W50F25 on start tracks; 2 right and 2 left turns

Some takeaways:

First, continued good progress with that fetch ball reward after the end article. This addition has had an incredible impact on her enthusiasm.

Second, River is not a fan of lying down in the very wet ground. She does but gets up right away and at least will stare back at me. Tried to encourage a longer down by offering treats under the article while she was in down position .

Third, due to finding the fetch ball at game over, she is actively trying to continue tracking at an end article as I'm not telling her to find her ball. I did switch her from harness to collar and back at each track today, but she wants to keep going after downing for the article.

She did her go slightly beyond the article on left turns, so I stop, and then she courses. Her path is predictably clockwise. Watch, at class she will do the opposite. So, I'm stopped and today the line was out to 15-20 ft. She went behind me for both left turns and got the track on the circle around. The final track had us going toward pine trees,heavy scent, and this was like a wall for her. She checked ahead and turned quickly to her right. Track was left. River did not hesitate at all to go behind me. And, I saw her head go down, so I moved and in a couple of steps she had angled back on the track and I was almost on it too. I am starting to think that she enjoys the circling behind me. I know you tell us to back up, but now I don't know if I should stand still or back up and have her cut the circle in front of me.

One final note, I did forget the video camera again...ugh! and, my search for boots that are waterproof and fit me continues. Ordered a yet another pair of Muck boots to try on.

Plan: Even though it's New Year's Eve tomorrow, I will likely take River and maybe Duck for a track. I may do just a mutilple turn track for River with a long first leg with her fleece jacket on to see if that has an impact on my ability to feel and read what she's doing. Or, there's the option to do an article track.