July 15th Track - hot and humid!

Yes, it really was very hot and very humid...honest! Just another shot from Google Earth, still showing northern Ontario with snow! The tennis court is at the bottom left, and the golf course is out of the picture to the left.
Foolish me left my camera in the van, so I will describe the track and some interesting features if you can follow around on this...
Rain was DEFINITELY called for, which is the only reason I went out with Trust early in the morning...of course...the rain never happened and because it was getting so amazingly humid, I only left it for 1 1/2 hr. before putting her on it. I used my little 'trick' beforehand to get her to drink water, and she seemed fine. We had six articles; plastic gift card, sock, tiny plastic tube, piece of leather belt, flat pc. brown leather, flat pc. white leather. All placed where they blended in - the red "X's" mark the article locations. Her first leg had been mowed, and then we went through, with a corner, a gravel parking area, and a long paved stretch with two turns and a LOT of heavy traffic heading in and out of the golf course. That was actually poor planning on my part, as the scent was swirled all around because of this. However, she moved along one side of the drive and seemed to have little trouble with each turn - traffic shown in broken blue.
At the pink "X", a car was parked and a little boy and his dad were loading up, having come out of the hotel. Our first turn on the pavement was just behind them. The little boy came over to visit Trust and then the dad, and we had a chat about how to safely "meet strange dogs", while Trust waited. I put her back on the track and she checked out a new parked car behind her turn, came back and took the turn. She's so good with people meeting her on the track!
When we took the next turn on pavement, a lady and a boy came out of the front entrance of the hotel with a large labX dog, heading straight at us - broken pink line. Trust paused when she saw the dog, and I asked the lady if they'd mind just moving over to the side of this driveway, as we were tracking . She didn't mind, and we continued on our way. They had actually been right over our next article. Trust turned around and "checked them out" to make sure they had really continued on and weren't sneaking up behind her....ha.ha.
In front of the entranceway, a van was newly parked over the edge of our track. She just sniffed the door - looked similar to ours - and obviously followed the scent where someone walked out towards the entrance, a little ways, then continued on again.
Her first leg, and part of her end had been freshly cut while it aged as well, which presented no problem.
I've been unable to do much with her for some time due to the terribly hot and humid conditions we have been experencing for well over two weeks. I wouldn't have done this track had I known the rain would not arrive. I was prepared to quit at any time if she showed any stress, but for a dog that doesn't like "hot", she did very well. Hoping it cools off soon!

Blast Tracking Early Sunday Morning.

I had laid Blasts' track after putting the one down for Reese, so Blasts' track was about a little over an hour old, and the temperature had risen sharply. These fields had all been newly cut a week ago, and were very short and dry. There had still been a little dew when I laid the tracks.
And thanks to Rosemary, for taking the pictures! I don't often get photos of Blast tracking as I cannot walk behind him and take pictures, like I can with Trust!
Blast has just taken his first corner is committing to it here.

And off we go.....

The hill behind drops down to the river.

We are nearing a left turn, taking us a little over the hill which is to the left.

He is on the actual corner here, it is past the flag. He has made a quick turn and I'm moving up to untangle him before we go any further.

I believe this is where he zipped around and stood staring into the forest....bear? Blast often makes such quick turns, my line handling can't keep up with him. Here he did not get tangled, but you can see the line all crazy and loopy as he comes quickly back.

And then we get moving on nicely again. He's on his fifth leg here, a long one from the back, out towards the road.

This was the "picture" behind us, down the hill. You can see how this would be attractive to much assorted wildlife. It's less than 5 minutes from my house, but feels totally isolated and quiet.

We were almost at the final article here, but the main reason I included this picture was just to point out where the bear was crossing the road after we had finished tracking. The forested area is to the left of this photo, you can see it if you go back to the 3rd-6th photos above.

Playing with the article at the end of the track, before going for a run through the field.

He did really well on this track and we managed to finish before the heat/humidity was unbearable. HAD I KNOWN there was a bear nearby, I never would have let him loose....

Reese and Rosemary Tracking Sunday

Reese is the prettiest little beagle I've ever seen. She's also very accomplished in other dog sports, and extremely tuned in to Rosemary. This was probably our biggest issue when we began tracking, was for Reese to lose the focus on Rosemary and work ahead on her own. It didn't take long....she loves tracking. She is about to make her first right corner in the above picture on Sunday. This is the field we believe the deer had been crossing.

Above, Reese has indicated...by flipping!!! her intermediate article...too funny. Rosemary has worked hard to get Reese interested in articles, as Reese just "wanted to keep tracking". It landed where Reese is standing over it, and Rosemary is going over to praise her.Reese has turned on her 5th corner. I laid this track with more turns and some shorter legs, to help Rosemary read her better at corners. Previously to this week, we've had only very long grass to work in, and it was very difficult at times for Reese and also for Rosemary (and me) to clearly see her

Rosemarys' line handling is very nice, quiet hands. Reese is nearing her final corner, and a very short leg towards the road and to the glove.

What a beautiful indication! And she will stay there and keep hitting the article until Rosemary hurrys up and rewards her! Very nice.

An "Interesting" Tracking Morning....

Early Sunday morning, in one of my most favorite places to track...the area has four huge hayfields with an 'unopened road' through the centre. The area surrounding these field is forest and bush, with the Wasi River cutting through and behind one of the fields. It's like heaven on earth and a refuge for assorted wildlife and birds. If you enlarge the above picture, you can appreciate a small portion of it - this shows a beaver dam across the river. The field I chose to track Blast in, is in front, backing onto the river. I heard sandhill cranes cackling as I laid Blasts' track, but unfortunately, couldn't see them. They were likely over a hill, closer to the water.

This deer was returning from the river and heading across the road through the fields and into the forest. I laid a track for a student in the field (out of the picture) to the left, and figured it likely had crossed the track twice...of interest, if the dog paid any attention. We were just about to go on it.

This is wild turkey mom with babies following, but flitting off here and there so not able to 'capture' them. I didn't want to follow for the pictures and upset them.

As I was pulling out, I met Mr. Bear crossing the road. I had put my camera in the back and had to stop, get out, grab the camera and get back in the van to take it, through the windshield...I'm a chicken! So meanwhile, he wasn't sure what to do about me, and had moved back a little.

I drove up hoping he would "wait" as he decided to go back the way he came, into a bushy/forested area. Now the funny thing here was, Blast had finished his track alongside this area. At one point, he flipped around and stared into the bush, while I urged him to get back to tracking. I've no doubt, the bear was in there as we tracked past. This spot he showed up on the road was coming directly out of this area.

Always "something" seems to happen when we are tracking, but not often so many 'events' in one morning!!!