February tracking

2/2/23 aka ground hog day & 6 more weeks of winter 🥶 light dusting of snow on ground, but it was gone before we were out, so just wet grass, and mud.

Duck: best attempt at stair step track pattern, but it ended up as two separate tracks. Trying to work on tracking without food drops so only put food in mid track article and end ones. On that note, from start I only walked the tracks, no scuff. Also, need to work on distraction from noise, but only one guy was jogging. He reliably provides cross track contamination without even realizing it as he jogs across the fields.

Unlike class, Duck downed at start, got food reward, started straight out on the track. He's really rocking the starts lately. Just a nice steady pace except for a few areas. I felt his determination as he moved, but his tail was up and flicking happily. We truly did have fun on these tracks. On third leg of first track, he swung out from the track line, but I halted immediately, and he glanced back, as if to say, fine, I tried but I'll get back to work. And, I do think he knew where the track was as he sped up to get to the mid track article. It had 2 pieces of hotdog inside. He downed for all the remaining articles. Had no issues going over 1-2 ft trench filled with water, took his turns without coursing around.

Next, I may repeat multiple turn tracks, with an extra mid stream article and omit food.

Although I have to think Daisy was my once in a lifetime tracking dog because I literally didn't have to know much about training the finer points, Duckman is proving that he loves tracking and making me better. He's a close second behind her as he is just so joyful to be out using his nose. He gets so excited when he knows that he's going to track. It's truly the best feeling to be able to share doing an activity that he obviously loves with him.