Friday, June 3, 2011

What a BIG bird!!!

A wild, ring necked pheasant, male, showed itself this afternoon! How beautiful is this?!!I have been hearing the strangest squawk off and on for a few days, no idea what it was. Wasn't happy, though, as the dogs barked every time, not recognizing it as something 'normal'...Three days ago, I spooked a "big bird" and all I saw was what looked like a football with wings take off through the trees, not getting much height in flight.Before he showed up this afternoon, just ambling along out front, we had heard him call four times. The dogs watched (and barked) at the front window as he walked through and down the driveway. At least now I know, but pretty as he is, I don't need another distraction that makes a racket!!!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

I Made Tank Happy!!!

First leg, and first corner of urban track today for Tank. He was so excited! Crazy wind today for both tracks (did one for Blast as well) and really have to go back a little with these two and work on hard surface in better conditions. Tank ran off a little on the first leg, wanting to get to the ditch...full of water, but once he got going straight he did really well.His first article (cloth) was about half way along the second leg. He's just picked it up in this picture.This was a big goof when I laid the track...I didn't know there was water and both sides were so steep. Going down, I had to go carefully sideways, and getting out on the other side I was on my knees. I had to hold Tank back somewhat and get him to pull me up and out the other side. That was handy, actually!Along this leg there was a wood article. I think he was watching gulls here, they had been and removed all of the food, freshly cooked chicken, that was on the hard surface. Gulls eating chicken? I guess they eat most anything they find.Tank had a left turn out onto the gravel road, but ended up cutting the corner short and doing a diagonal. The wind was whipping across (I was freezing) and I imagine this was the issue here. The article was just off the roadway in a little dip in the grass as it was blowing away when I first put it on the road.Got it! Whatcha' got for treats?!
Blasts' final article blew way off his track, and all his food was gone as well. Both did not do well on the roads and need some serious hard surface work, regardless of the wind. That will be what we will concentrate on for a while...getting that nose down and keeping it there.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

A Little "Trust" Track

Trust sure wanted to track today and this was a short, fun one for her. Winds were extreme after last nights' storm, but she did extremely well.
Before I forget, someone asked me today where to find her UTDX track from Easter Sunday, which gave her the title of TRACKING CHAMPION. If you look at the blog archives on the right, click on 04/24-05/01(3) and her track and descriptions,etc. is the third one.Trust sits to indicate her second article on this track.She cuts the corner here, around the corner of the building.Trust is right on the track all the way up here, she did pause at the corner, sniffed it, hen went back to the track onto gravel, alongside a paved area to the final article.
Tomorrow I plan to track both Blast and Tank, hopefully get some pictures, was having trouble with my camera today so missed most of this one, mainly all the hard surface which was nice.

Search Game with Kira

Plastic pots (numbered as used for sign holders for Rally 0) with holes in bottom turned upside down work great for this. The red arrows show the two pots with something inside - for Kira to indicate.We work on a leash for this so I can direct her along the 'route' or she's apt to just barge in and knock them all askew. This one grabbed her attention as there was an "unplanned" bee buzzing inside it; I moved her past before she tried to flip and get it.Nothing in here, let's check the next one....Aha! Let's flip this one over and claim the prize!Smelling this one. When she reaches them, it only takes an instant to scent over the holes and either move on past, or flip it if it has something inside.And this one did, she's about to flip it.Wow! That was fun work. Time to play.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

A New Title for Reese!

The cutest beagle ever has earned her TRACKING DOG title!!! Another title to her long list of achievements, Rosemary and Reese earned this title on Saturday, May 27th in fine style. I am so proud of them, they worked very hard to accomplish this.This is a typical picture of R&R working along their track at the test. I had a nice view from a distant hill and was able to get quite a few pictures. But they worked so well through the track, the pictures all look like this one!!!Rosemary, Reese and judge Jack Wilhelm presenting the rosette for a NEW TD at the EPS trial last weekend. A big congratulations to Rosemary and Reese.