Distractions be damned

2/22/2023 - 5:15 pm

Location: Holly Ridge Farm

Weather: 62 degrees, cloudy, E wind 2-5 mph, 53% humidity, 44 degree dew point

Cover: Grass pasture, woods

Age: 1 hour

Tracklayer: Kelly

I know we are suppose to be working on cross tracks but I only had time for something quick today. I put in the same track I put in for Anne and Mila a couple of weeks ago with a slight variation at the end.

Leg 1 was about 60 yards, 90 degree right turn

Leg 2 was about 140 yards into the woods with a foodless article at the woods entrance. I crossed the creek and went about another 40 yards after the creek. 90 degree left turn

Leg 3 turned up a hill and was about 30 yards over a large fallen tree. There was one hot dog on the tree and a couple a few steps after it. Open left turn.

Leg 4. This included brush, briars and small fallen trees to hop over. it exited the foods in to the grass. There was foodless article 20 yards into the grass. about another 20 yards turned left.

Leg 5 was about 50 yards to the end article. It was a tin filled with hotdogs.

Saber told me she LOVES to track. This track was only an hour old so it should have been easy but we all know that is not how I operate. To start she had to wait beyond the start flag longer than she thought was acceptable. Matt got a drone and was taking FOREVER to launch it and record our track. Saber thinks the drone is fascinating and probably belongs in her mouth. Kris was suppose to be in the house but joined us. He also likes hot dogs, for the record.

Matt is finally ready with his launched drone and we get started. Saber gives a glance at the drone then puts her nose down and is off to the races. Well she did pick up the start article and hand it to me (as long as tugging is part of handing). I was fumbling picking up my flag and stuffing the article in a pocket while she was half way down the first leg. Just the kind of start we want.

She is dead on the first turn. I know this because their was flag 15 steps before it that I was trying to grab. Entering the woodline she tangled me around some trees but had an EXCELLENT article indication. I rewarded her from my pocket. Kris also wanted hot dogs. I gave him some because he is perfect and told Matt to call him.

Saber entered the woods and crossed the creek to the right of where I did but hooked back to the track quickly after the creek. After that she was 100% in my tracks. It was interesting because the turn up the hill she started in the right direction. Then check out everything else except behind us before following up the hill directly in my path. At the big log she did the same thing, walking the length of the log before going over exactly where I did, which I know because there was a hot dog there. She missed the hot dog on the log but found the ones after. I will have to watch her obstacle behavior.

After that she followed exactly in my footsteps. Matt ran in front of us out of the woods because his drone battery was low and he needed to land it. Kris was wondering around being Kris. I thought Saber was following Matt as she picked up steam exiting the woods, but she stayed on her track. Her 2nd article indication was also fantastic, as was her last turn. Then we hightailed it to the car to make it to obedience class.

So our easy track was easy for her even with all the distractions. She is such an amazing girl.

Some not great video: https://youtu.be/BSVis8yPmvQgg