Two Carmspack Dogs...

Good looking dogs with good working ability. Did short forest walks this afternoon, have bears and wolves around, so didn't want to go in too far. Kira (above) at just over 10 months now. Blast (below) at 2 yr. 4 mon.

Blasts' Track Sunday

Blasts' start is shown by the red arrow, a tiny white spot marks it. It was between bushes, and I should have known better in this location as hotel guests walk their dogs over here. So it's obvious what pulled him off the track just after he started.Verbally bought him back on and we head out again. Don't know what's wrong with people, there was poop further along, but by this time, he wasn't bothering.Blast has just made his left turn and I'm starting to follow. This leg takes us up a little hill, over the top, with an article before we hit the asphalt.Working nicely over the hill, he will soon find his plastic article.He briefly pulled to the left of the track here, wind was 'coming' from the left, so not sure what he scenting. He did come back on the track and stayed close the rest of the way across the parking area.The wood article was near the curb to make sure it wasn't an issue for cars driving through this driveway, and Blast stopped and indicated clearly, before moving over the narrow grass island, across another driveway and then we will head up the hill in front of him.Once over the top, he goes out onto another driveway in a very wide section where there is the MOT turn to the right. He did this very well.And after he turns, goes up another short hill onto grass, towards his last corner.Over the crest of the hill, he is just approaching the corner, a left turn.And at the end of the last leg, he just reached the leather article. Good Boy!!!I think he was trying to 'help' me get into my bag here for his toy, while I tried to undo his harness.

Found a New (BOO!) Spot for Tank

Heading out on scrubby veg. into a very quiet area....a cemetery on the other side of the road.A very, very old cemetery, death dates on some grave markers are in the late 1800's.

I plan to go back one day and wander through and read them, it was most interesting. Above we are under giant pine trees, walking on crunchy pine cones and twigs and branches.Tank just indicated his first article, a small plastic lid, and I'm fishing out a reward for him. We will cross a narrow gravel road and head into an unused part of the cemetery.Tank had taken the correct turn, but suddenly turned and ran around in a large circle before coming back to the track again. I'm standing near the corner.And off he goes. I'm really biting my tongue about what may have 'moved' him...

And this was odd, also. He totally missed the wood article, circling around it, but not 'touching' it. I waited, verbally encouraged him to keep looking, and after two circles, he did indicate it with a foot touch, then down.Off we go again, leaving the cemetery, climbing up a little bank, across the road, and nto a loose gravel area.Tank made his turn and headed over to the final article, but again was slow to indicate. I've wondered this past week if he was showing signs of allergies, and hope this isn't the case, but will have to watch closely this week. He just wasn't his 'normal' self and seemed pretty hot or pooped before the end of the track.

Emma & Tascha Tracking Today

A great day today, we got out to do three tracks. Cool, damp morning, but by the time we were on the third dog, it was HOT again.

Tascha brought Emma in from the side and Emma quickly found the right direction and was off.I love this picture. Emma had checked both ways and then took off in the right direction at this corner and didn't hesitate a second heading out across the cinder running track.This was her first article, a cloth glass case, in the centre of the running track.I got waylaid by a fellow wondering what we were doing, and by this picture, they had made two more hard surface turns, found a second article, plastic on this walkway and were heading towards the end of the track.The track left the sidewalk, crossing onto the asphalt right at the corner of the building...a very tricky spot as the wind blows around the corner of this building. No problem, Emma just moved off and over to the grass, and has just turned her last corner above.She found her glove, and Tascha is running up praising her.Time for fun and games with Emma and the glove!

August 28th; Blast,Emma,Tank pics.

A few pics. from each of the three tracks, just too much to put on here otherwise. Still have Sept. 5th tracks to get to - too much going on these days trying to get ready for trials. We've also done some 'search and hide' games for motivation, and that sure works!!! No pics. of them, the dogs are running and one of us is hiding!

This is a nice place, very assorted ground covers and busy, but this was an early Sunday morning, so fairly quiet. There had been dog walkers through here. Blast has just left his start which was on top of the rise, just behind me. He's working nicely here.We've gone through a garden and made a turn out here. This is actually a circular drive-through to the left and right. He is picking up a small piece of food, you can see it right through his legs (double click to enlarge picture) and further up ahead is a cotton glove. Past this is a right turn down a walkway, left over grass and into driveway, up over a 2' curb onto pavement.He's been working through here nicely, above is checking a folded paper which had blown off from beside the track. He comes back to the track and makes an open left turn on the pavement.We head up onto the walkway, make a right and he's dead on the first step onto the grass.The couple walking towards us, pretty much met us right on the first walkway, and paid no attention to Blast, and he paid no attention to them. A good "non" meeting. An article ahead, then a left back to his final article in cedar trees. A good track.Tascha and Emma down at the lakefront, crossing a tricky area where wind comes through a "tunnel" out of the picture on the left, and off the lake on the right. This is a 'raised' area they are crossing.Having completed that, and very nicely, they move onto mainly dead, brown grass and dirt patches. This is a very long leg and then it will cross the wide roadway towards the lake.After crossing the road, they move between two garden areas and Emma has just found her first article. They have three more legs, crossing the road again, and on to the final article.Still down at the lakefront, Tank is on his first leg. He will be crossing this road further up ahead. By this time, there was a fair bit of traffic building up at times.A couple of vehicles stopped to let us go, and we run across the road. I've taught all my dogs to run across roads when I say "Go, go, go!" as sometimes it's necessary.One aim with this location for Tank was to see how he handled "more" distractions.

We had people approaching us and I had to explain what we were doing, lots going on, didn't notice until seeing this picture, the two dogs with people sitting in the gazebo. Sometimes there are loose dogs, which is always a worry. Tank paid absolutely no attention to anything but his track, I was very pleased with him. He's about to make a left turn here.We gone through a parking lot, grass and cross the road once again...this made 3 crossings. A right turn above takes us along a stretch of grass to his final article.What a good boy, playing tug and throwing the glove for him to catch. A happy dog!!!

Ball Work - Just Play for Kira

This picture is from a week or so ago, out on a walk. Found a ball...had to play! Kira is braced for a jump to catch the ball.I keep cutting off ears!!! We did a little "two ball work" today, she was bringing this one back from the bush.The two orange balls are her favorites, something is getting "the evil eye" on her way back to me.Just a little play after the ball "work"...

Too cute not to share!

Well, I'm now two weeks behind on putting tracking pictures on here and a number of others I planned...just too much to do, too little time.

However, this picture is from yesterday, after finishing tracks. Just thought it was so cute.

Tank and Emma, Sunday, September 6, 2011. Urban Tracking buddies.