Most of the tracks I've been adding to the blog have been advanced or urban tracks. I realize there are some "newer to tracking" folk who look at this, and I thought a less advanced-type track or a "Tracking Dog" type track might be of interest. So I have added this one of Blast working this morning and point out the features of the track, from before the start to the finish. We were out early to beat a predicted thunderstorm (didn't happen!) with temp. already nearing 18, it was muggy. Lucky us - we had blackflies. In Northern Ontario, the nasty little biting blackflies don't usually come out until mid to late May. They are very early this year. I will outline each photo, and just to let everyone know, you can double click any picture to bring it up larger in case you can't see the features. Hope this will be of interest. The track was approx. 350m and aged 40 mins.
We are walking in from the road towards our start - marked by the left blue arrow; the other blue arrow shows the directional flag. We will cross a little ditch and then head in straight towards the start. Blast already has his harness on (put on inside van) as he's "one of those dogs" that makes it too difficult to harness at the start.
The yellow arrows show the wind direction. In this area, near the bush, it was actually swirling around. I am clipping the long line on his harness - to walk him in it was on his collar. He is already scenting.
Blackfly at top of photo! Wasn't going to include the "bum view" but wanted to show the "giant" blackfly and Blast going down on the scent pad. I need two hands holding him walking towards the scent pad so he doesn't race off. This is training, so I am hanging on tight to keep him on it for a few seconds until I feel he has taken the scent well and is focused.
Here we are nearing the first corner (left). Blast was tracking a little to the left of the track with the wind pushing him over. If he had his nose deep into the track, he wouldn't be moving to the left of it.
He has taken the corner, but it "checking" it right now. I am confident he is on it so am about to turn myself.
Here's our "friends" again, flying about. Thank goodness they aren't as large as they appear! Blast is tracking very nicely here, at a good clip, and nose down - exactly what we're looking for.
There was a plastic pot to the right of the track (blue arrow) which he 'spied' and began to go over and check out. He realized it served no purpose, and moved back on the track (yellow broken line). Whenever he goes off the track, to check something out, I follow, moving closer up the line, to see what it is. I don't want him eating "who knows what" and just say "Good Dog" when he goes back onto the track.
There they are again - blue arrows! Blast is at a corner and about to turn. He is near what appears to be some burned garbage, so I am ready to move up if necessary. In this case, I would NOT let him get close to it - verbally, and if necessary, stopping him - it's a safety issue.
This is a long leg heading toward the road. He has checked out a couple of taller grassy areas where I believe a fox left his musky smell overnight. I verbally convinced him to continue on the track.
The blue arrow here points out a skinny birchbark tree that marked the direction of the track. He is right on it, although he is air-scenting here with his head up. Before we reached this point, it was obvious to me that he smelled the article and was trying to move to the left. I stood my ground, as I knew this, and told him to get working again, which he did. But he knew darn well where that article was to be found. He would probably have made a good Search & Rescue dog!
Last leg, heading towards the article - red X. He is moving along the track nicely.
And there it is. He stopped and picked it up, sometimes he does, sometimes he just pauses briefly. Either is fine - it is clearly an article indication to me, or to a judge. I quickly walk up to get it, praise him, and then we play.
I have removed his harness (track is complete) and switched the clip onto his collar. Dogs can never be loose at a tracking trial. Blast loves to play tug with the article and then we will do a few retrieves with it. Having a dog that loves to either tug or retrieve the article or both, is well worth working on as the reward. You can never take a toy or food onto the tracking field in a test or you will be disqualified. And since reward/motivation is key for the dog (he doesn't care about a title!) playing with what you have - article - which will be leather, is his big reward. In training, I will also present a yummy treat, but never carry in your pocket at a test. You can treat when you get back to your vehicle.
We are walking in from the road towards our start - marked by the left blue arrow; the other blue arrow shows the directional flag. We will cross a little ditch and then head in straight towards the start. Blast already has his harness on (put on inside van) as he's "one of those dogs" that makes it too difficult to harness at the start.
The yellow arrows show the wind direction. In this area, near the bush, it was actually swirling around. I am clipping the long line on his harness - to walk him in it was on his collar. He is already scenting.
Blackfly at top of photo! Wasn't going to include the "bum view" but wanted to show the "giant" blackfly and Blast going down on the scent pad. I need two hands holding him walking towards the scent pad so he doesn't race off. This is training, so I am hanging on tight to keep him on it for a few seconds until I feel he has taken the scent well and is focused.
Here we are nearing the first corner (left). Blast was tracking a little to the left of the track with the wind pushing him over. If he had his nose deep into the track, he wouldn't be moving to the left of it.
He has taken the corner, but it "checking" it right now. I am confident he is on it so am about to turn myself.
Here's our "friends" again, flying about. Thank goodness they aren't as large as they appear! Blast is tracking very nicely here, at a good clip, and nose down - exactly what we're looking for.
There was a plastic pot to the right of the track (blue arrow) which he 'spied' and began to go over and check out. He realized it served no purpose, and moved back on the track (yellow broken line). Whenever he goes off the track, to check something out, I follow, moving closer up the line, to see what it is. I don't want him eating "who knows what" and just say "Good Dog" when he goes back onto the track.
There they are again - blue arrows! Blast is at a corner and about to turn. He is near what appears to be some burned garbage, so I am ready to move up if necessary. In this case, I would NOT let him get close to it - verbally, and if necessary, stopping him - it's a safety issue.
This is a long leg heading toward the road. He has checked out a couple of taller grassy areas where I believe a fox left his musky smell overnight. I verbally convinced him to continue on the track.
The blue arrow here points out a skinny birchbark tree that marked the direction of the track. He is right on it, although he is air-scenting here with his head up. Before we reached this point, it was obvious to me that he smelled the article and was trying to move to the left. I stood my ground, as I knew this, and told him to get working again, which he did. But he knew darn well where that article was to be found. He would probably have made a good Search & Rescue dog!
Last leg, heading towards the article - red X. He is moving along the track nicely.
And there it is. He stopped and picked it up, sometimes he does, sometimes he just pauses briefly. Either is fine - it is clearly an article indication to me, or to a judge. I quickly walk up to get it, praise him, and then we play.
I have removed his harness (track is complete) and switched the clip onto his collar. Dogs can never be loose at a tracking trial. Blast loves to play tug with the article and then we will do a few retrieves with it. Having a dog that loves to either tug or retrieve the article or both, is well worth working on as the reward. You can never take a toy or food onto the tracking field in a test or you will be disqualified. And since reward/motivation is key for the dog (he doesn't care about a title!) playing with what you have - article - which will be leather, is his big reward. In training, I will also present a yummy treat, but never carry in your pocket at a test. You can treat when you get back to your vehicle.
