10/27/23

Hidden Rock Parl

Sunny, hot, 80F (hmm. Yes it's the end of October), short, dry grass with 2 distractir dogs in the dog park.

Laid a multilpke turn track for Duck, was somewhat concerned as it was pretty hot and outside of Duck's comfort zone temperature.He had water as always just prior to his track. He was not as excited to head out, but he did seem as if he would track. As we headed to start, a van was parked at other end of parking lot, looked liked Sheila width her viszlas, but I didn't see her. Approached the start flag and he sat without me asking so I could move the line to his harness....good sign.

He did only a single down to indicate the start article and then immediately headed on the track.... hoooray!!! The article track exercise seems to have gotten rid of his double down at start.

He went to first turn and wanted to go straightI gave him a limited amount of line and he picked up his head and then head down, pull to open angle turn to left. At next turn, he picks up his head, pulls me to right. Then, on final left turn, he wanted rught, but he had picked up his head so I stopped and then just put his head down and went off to the actual left turn.

I am learning that when his head goes up for a distraction, just stop.He seems to have learned that he needs to focus on the track scent, not the distractions . Distractions with horses or deer may not be as easy to ignore. If he wants to oncpvestigate junk on the track, and I move with him he will go but if I resist and just stop& stand he will give up , turn and pull in track direction or just pull insistently into that direction. I hope that this year I am better at reading my dog.

And, today, there were two dogs in the dog park, running around with River, but he laid them no mind. Good lil' man.

Plan: Hoping to get some kind of track while away, but not really sure of the field I'm going to be able to use or the length of same.

May only be article tracks for both Duck & River.