3/11/2023 Class - Blind Track

3/11/2023 - 11:38apm

Location: Holly Ridge Farm

Weather: 48 degrees, mostly cloudy, N wind 10 mph (that's all??), 49% humidity, 29 degree dew point

Cover: Grass pasture, woods

Age: 3 hours

Tracklayer: Anne (thanks!)

At the start of class Judi gave me instructions for the track I should put in. She wanted something fun for Saber. I asked to have some one put it in. I wanted a blind track because I am worried that I am unintentionally helping Saber. I think when I know where my track is I am preventing her from problem solving by limiting her options when I know where the track is.

I think today's track proved my suspicion correct. Saber started gang busters but overshot the first turn. After stopping and backing up (with guidance) Saber found the track and continued strongly. She tracked great in the woods (out of the wind). After entering the woods she stopped for a long drink in the creek. I forgot to offer her water after 3 hours in the car before we started and she took a LONG drink from the creek after crossing it (bad, bad handler!). She hooked back to article (and track). Her article indications were fantastic!! She did stop to mark a couple of times (so lady like).

Exiting the woods she immediately took the left (correctly) then something in the wind caught her nose and it was downhill from there. She did hook back in for the article (again great indication!). Then she stopped tracking and started sniffing the air for magic. Or as Judi says smelling in techni-color. We managed to finish but it was forced. She did indicate her last article so she knows why she was there but she was on her own agenda then.

May not have been her best day but there were still fantastic parts, so she isn't giving up her throne, lol.

Skills to work on: problem solving without handler intervention/paw holding, track recovery, wind? age, back to work after getting distracted/focusing on the task at hand

Things that were GREAT: Saber :), article indication!, the start, the woods

Maybe this highlighted weaknesses that mean I should stick with my plan to continue skill building and aim for a TDX next season (fall/winter) or maybe it was karma because I mentioned entertaining the thought of entering a test in May. Either way we will keep skill building.

The track: https://youtu.be/pagh1SIxZn8

The map: