December tracking - winter solstice

Duck: S5 W30 F15; on straight track to work on using longer line (33').

Outcome: Duck continues to down indicate for start article in practice so I give food reward, then wait for him to show me he's on the track, which he did quickly even though prior to getting to the start flag he was really sniffing ground intensely. I believe this is an area with a lot of foot traffic, human & k9. Used different glove, bummer that I didn't have a pair, exercise type with open fingers so it was much better, and I had better control reeling in the loose leash, which doesn't happen much on a straight track with Duck. He did stop, turn around to look at me about 2/3 of the way down the track. Honestly, I'm not sure whether he was puzzled as I noticed I had allowed slack into the line or he was expecting a turn or article and not finding one. We have not done such long, no turn tracks in a long time. Recent ones have had articles. So, getting another pair exercise gloves without fingertips.

Hoping weather tomorrow will not be too ugly so we can maybe try a long straight and then a single turn track.