Things Happen in Urban!!!

We could see storm clouds moving in over the lake yesterday, and were trying to get two tracks laid and the dogs on before they reached us. Unfortunately, no luck. We manged to complete Emmas' track with just a few sprinkles, but by the time we drove to Blasts' and started, the skies opened. We were sooo soaked! And no pictures. Will detail it after Emmas' two pictures, only.

What I love (or not) about tracking in urban locations. The red line shows the track Tascha laid. It began over behind the plane, on grass, a long first leg to the first corner on asphalt. When we pulled in to park, there were three large work trucks (picture shows just the last one to leave) parked side by side over her track. They had been cleaning up, walking around, driving around and parked. If we had arrived two minutes later, we never would have seen them. So, just one of those lucky situations. If Emma had problems in this area, we'd have a good idea why! You never know what happens when you leave and let the track age.A different view, as Emma and Tascha move along the first leg into the area where the tracks were. Emma did try to turn early, ahead of the corner, and likely was picking up the action from the work crew, and there would be swirling scent from the trucks turning around there. Other than that, she seemed to have no problem working through this area.

Blast and I were barely on the first leg of our track when it suddenly began to pour. I had removed the hood from my jacket a few days earlier, and the rain off my head just poured down into my neck. It was almost hail for a minute, and Blast kind of did a little double-take...but continued on. Rain was gathering and pooling in areas, and he had a little trouble at a couple of corners with the water streaming over the track, taking scent with it. I just let him take his time and he worked it out. So our last three tracks were under totally different conditions...not the best of situations. We went from winter snow/ice/still cold to super hot/summer-like and bare of snow, to bare and pouring rain/cool & breezy. I had also wanted his track in a busy area to work through distractions. Once the rain began, everyone else ran for their vehicles, so there wasn't a soul around! Hopefully, we will get back to more "normal" type conditions the next few times out.

Tank on Sunday - Track #3

Tanks' track was aged the longest of the three, so he was last to go....black dog, over +20C now and hot. I actually started out with a coat on and was wishing I had a T shirt on now. Tank also had the most hard surface and a couple of tough spots to get through.

Just about at the start, getting ready to switch from collar to harness. In busy areas I always try to look ahead first, in case there's something to be concerned about ie a loose dog.Down the first leg on veg. we have to cross what can be a tricky road. Being Sunday it wasn't busy, but often you can almost get run down with vehicles whipping around the corner from the stoplights. I had Tank beside me before crossing to wait until it was safe. The track goes between the light standard and the snowpile, over behind the thick wood pole (with an article behind) and on a bit before turning left onto the pavement. He crossed the road to the left of the track...remember cars coming around = swirling scent, and worked back to the track.Tons of garbage everywhere, he paid no attention to any of it.I just noticed the free $10. Tim Card - should have read that while I was there!!! Tank indicated his article and I'm giving him a treat. Our turn is just past the metal light, or sign, post.Nice turn onto the pavement, and he's close to his right turn now, it is just beside two sewer grates, which he also ignored. He made another nice turn onto the next leg.We head over a driveway after passing the little rock island, between where two cars were parked when the track was laid and up onto a narrow grass strip. If you look up to the left, there are people in front of the hotel entrance, which we will head up to and turn right in front of it, a little further on in the track.You can't really see it here, but there's a narrow grass strip island in front which we go up on and turn left on it. Behind it is a driveway leading into the hotel, and the cars in front of us are actually out behind this. Tank is doing very nicely considering the conditions, especially, and makes his next turn easily.We've turned off the island and crossed the driveway to find a plastic article near the hotel entrance.Our track goes over the mulch towards the entranceway. Tank is checking to the left and will turn back on the mulch and continue. This was a busy area we had to navigate through people standing around on the other side of the track, which also turned, and a taxi was stopped alongside the track, so we had to squeeze through there. Another car was driving through so it was pretty tricky to safetly get through, let alone take pictures. I think Tascha, our "photographer of the day" thought we were going to be mushed. From the front of the hotel, we were still on hard surface leading over to a hill going down into the fire station.Down the hill, we had a cloth article which we played with a bit as Tank had worked hard to get this far. Then we crossed in front of the big doors of the fire station, along the front and are about to turn left around the corner of the building. After this, it is a short leg to Tanks' final article. He was pooped by the time we reached it. He certainly worked his little heart out on this track, but you could see he was slowing down. Next time, easy tracks for all three, and hopefully the weather will cool back to 'normal' this week.

From Winter to Summer Tracks!

Such a change in a few days, the dogs struggled with the rise in temperature on Sunday. Although we've been hoping for an end to tracking in snow and ice, we are not prepared for instant summer-type temperatures!

Blast was the first to track on Sunday, aging was just under one hour. The temperature climb in this hour was quite dramatic. He is just reaching the scent pad in this photo. Tascha and I both noticed he "had the scent" way before we approached the start and was pulling to it.Moving off the start, he is very clearly on the track.We cross a brick entranceway to the building, with the walkway lined on both sides with bushes. His track continues straight along the front of building, out towards a driveway, where he has a left turn before reaching it.His turn was good, we now head towards the rear of the building and will make another left turn on the veg. surface, shortly finding his first article. Note the piles of snow still remaining.After Blast finds his first article, we continue on to make a right turn into the parking lot. The red line indicates the track and the broken yellow the direction he went. His turn was just before the rear entrance to the building. He overshot the corner and turned onto the hard surface, picking up the scent and turning back towards the track. He will then turn left to join the track which heads out between parked cars.

Our track walks over the 'stop' painted on the asphalt. I'm almost on the corner, while he has turned nicely and is moving along the track really well.Blast indicated a wood article which I've picked up to show Tascha. Funny, I didn't notice him looking back until seeing this picture. It appears that he is also "telling" Tascha he found the article! About this time, he began showing signs of feeling the heat.Heading down the last leg on the hard surface. This was an open turn and we are moving diagonally towards the end on grass and in shade.Nearing the grass, again, look at the dirty old snow piled up in the background...Here we are...HOT...the temperature was around +20C by this time. I really just included this photo, as Blast shows really nice working posture in this picture. He will make a turn on the grass before leading up to the last article.OK, give me those Benny Bullies and let's get back to the van and a good drink.

Tracks Without Snow!!!

What a change in conditions! Tracks without snow and the temp. jumped to +20C.

We found all three dogs suffered from this change, they were all hot and seemed to struggle with this sudden heat. We went out early, it had been damp and foggy, so were surprised at the extreme change. All three dogs had a drink of water immediately finishing their tracks...something none of them ever do!

Tascha and Emma are on their first leg, will cross the driveway, and continue towards the last tree, make a left turn down into a ditch, up, and across the road into the parking area of the colourful building you see at the back of this picture.After crossing the driveway, there is a shallow ditch with about 3' of water to cross. Emma took a quick look to each side and then decided she better just charge ahead through the water!Down she goes, and keeps on going. I can vouch that it was a steep climb up the other side! There's a wide road to cross after waiting for a clear and safe spot to go.They have made a right turn and move down a long dead grass strip before turning into the parking area. Being a Sunday, it was empty except for one parked truck.Emma made a perfect left turn at her corner before going into the parking lot and works nicely over to the first island.I "painted" on the red line to show where her track goes.

She did very well through this stretch of non-veg. surface. There's another island to conquer before her final article.Good girl, Emma! She was definitely showing signs of some stress just before this, which was very unusual for her. I think the total sudden change from winter to such heat today really knocked the dogs for a loop. If you look back at our last tracks, which were only four days ago, we were working on snow, ice, and water, and we were wearing winter coats.

More to follow, too much to sort through right now, heading to bed!!!

Water, water everywhere!

We couldn't help but walk down our driveway yesterday having found the big pond on each side of it...snow melt...happens every spring, we have a pond for a while, partly over the driveway in places as well. It was HOT for March, and I knew the dogs would be soaked, but what a good time they would have.

I'm standing on the driveway taking this picture of the east field, Blast is way out there running through the water.This was just before they discovered the water, on the way down through the field. Trust, Tank and Blast having a good time chasing the ball.For once, Tank got the ball from Blast, but he won't have it for long when Blast reaches him.Tank pretending he doesn't care, dropped the ball to shake (he's soaked!) and Blast is moving in for the grab.ThThis is Kira leaping in and out of the water, having a great time.Kira bursting out of the water, she ran and ran and ran just loving it.The driveway is just behind the bushes in this spot, right behind the dogs is what we refer to as "the hole" which is about 6-8' deep. No-one ended up going for a swim this day.Looks like Blast took "a header". Actually, he was diving for a ball I had just tossed in. The dogs had a great time, they were soaked from top to bottom and it took most of the afternoon to dry even after each was "towel dried". Fun, except for the long time to dry.