February tracking

2/10/23 Robious athletic fields

River's pattern S8 W30 F15 on multiple turn tracks, one with 90 degree & and second with open angles.

On track 1 she downed, gave her food, thinking maybe I should stop this food or at least not offer ot all the time from my hand? She ended off at a right angle to the track investigating something then turned around and went to the track line. This was the 90 degree turn track and she did find her turns without much coursing and no behind my back circle. Concern is that she seemed to be checking in with me by coming back to me partially before nose down into the track turn. So I'm going to work on enhancing her turn skill. She went forward past the last turn, pausing before turning around but maybe bc she ran out of line (short leash). Downed for article at end.

On second track, which she did lead me to even though I had the line on her collar, she downed and went right on the track. She was perfect on these open angle turns. She did turn around for some of the hot dog pieces.

She sometimes is back and forth across the track line 1-3 feet and I'm not sure if this is just her style or whether I should add back more food drops to keep her spine more aligned with the track. Is that just her way of dealing with the strong scent pool? When she's given hidden snacks to find, her approach is very hurried and she jumps from one treat cleared area to another section, whereas Duck is more of a linear search.

Definitely I have to learn more patience and just let the dog nose work. And I have to remember that I, myself do not have to follow the track path, my dog does.