December tracking

Duck : S5 W30 F15 on stair step style track with articles at start, end and on leg 3.

For start, I'm giving him a drink of water, then as we approach start I can feel he's ready to do the track. I'm having him sit, then change leash from collar to harness, pat his back after the clip and he moves out to the article/flag. In practice at home, he downs for article 99% of the time without food in it; however, at class, he walks right past the flag and article. He did try to pull hard but as I resist and lean back, amazing how well that works, he lets up. I'm being very diligent about my movement, so I go forward when he's got his nose down and gives me that special harder emphatic pull, which I honestly think he enjoys! So, his right turns are improved over start of class session. I can see him go forward, hit the end of scent, taper or new scent, (whatever is happening or no longer happening in the air/ground) and pick up his head, turn it left and right, pause and put head down into track going to right. He appears to just follow a left turn without as much surveillance. Really this week I've honestly just smiled as he's working since I'm not holding on for dear life. He definitely slows as the track length increases almost seems he's being cautious so he doesn't miss any changes in the track.

I've always put food in the end article and now he is slightly speeding up (appears that way to me, but I could be wrong) as he approaches the end article. But, I'll continue with food loading until instructed otherwise, i.e. no food or handing him food.