Challenging tracks and training distractions
- judisedwards
- Oct 14, 2023
- 1 min read
Fletch's track turned out to be way, way more challenging than I anticipated. I don't think the age or the weather were factors--when he actually did track, he was spot on with his deep nose and strong pull. So, I put together a video of the track itself (actually a series of still photos showing each leg). Some things to look for--a fence post with a light blue chalk stripe marks one turn, and the last turn is AT the birdhouse pole. Please watch the video and tell me what challenges you see on each leg.....and when I've heard from enough of you, I'll tell you what Fletch told me was challenging.
The end of the video is how I trained distractions. I put short, 5-7 yard (MAX) tracks in, using the variety of distractions available. Fletch is very attuned to his environment, so I really wanted him to work into, through, and out of, the political signs. Those were 3 different tracks. The tent offered unique opportunities, again, one short track under, across sidewalk, and done. Finally, the last photo is of standing water on his start. Once again, 5 yards. All of these tracks were scuffed with food every step. I did not apply pressure to the harness, as that engages the opposition reflex, and I wanted him slow, calm and thoughtful through this--not pulling forward hard and fast. That will wait for a few more experiences. First he has to learn he CAN work in these environments.
Please comment below on the grass track--where do you see the challenges on each leg?
Judi
I have also watched the video several times and hope that I am picking up on the right challenges. First part of the track seems pretty level, slight turn down. I just put down a track for Ozzie, straight away was fine, but the down turn got him so much that he laid down thinking it was done. And the wind direction challenged him, taking scent in a different direction, not sure if that happened here. The standing water and muddy turf seems like it can play in distorting the scent. And around the picnic table, any leftover crumbs from someone's lunch, if the squirrels and other critters left any remnants, could be distracting, feet under the table and dependi…
First off, it looks like enough of a slope that there might be some scent pooling? Would the fact it’s raining affect the pooling effect? I know that site and would expect there were multiple cross tracks in the grass, especially near the voting entrance and picnic table. I suspect the area under and around the bird feeder was challenging. At my bird feeder, I see all sorts of doves, etc. waddling about during the day underneath it and know that squirrels and other woodland creatures feast on what the birds spill. It’s also obvious that the birds do not hesitate to eliminate while at or under the feeder, which adds to the variety of smells below the feeder. The…
visual distractions abound - signs, birdhouses, picnic table, drainpipe, fence
scent challenges abound - so many changes in the cover type and quality, standing water, vertical (trees, fence posts, birdhouse poles) challenges call every dog/coyote/cat in Hanover to mark their territory and squirrels to scurry, curbs, people pushing the signs in, people arriving to vote, people hanging out to harass the people who voted.
I'd like to hear more about not putting tension on his line in this atmosphere. Maybe at our first zoom you can talk more about this. I would surely move up the line to 5 or 6 feet but I'm not sure I would be lighter on the line.
Lots of things to look at here.
Narrow area between fence & tree line, also looks like a change in elevation. More tree lines, fence, picnic table, vehicles, curbs, all of which can affect scent (or what we think scent does at least!) Several types of cover: grass, dirt, mulch, dead leaves, sidewalk, standing water as well as possible running water from drain pipe. Political signs are visual as well as scent distraction. Same for bird feeder, looks like it's been abused by some animal and baffle suggests there are squirrels around in addition to the birds.
Ok. On the first leg I assume that that second flag is a 30 yard flag, and that the track extends well beyond that. If that is the case, then the bushes on right might provide a scent distraction, but the fenced-in area to the left could create some real challenges with unusual wind currents. On the second leg, is that some sort of critter hole to the right? That would certainly be a serious distraction. The third leg has trees, but moreover those pickups to the left, which might create all sorts of swirling wind currents, not to mention visual distraction. The picknick area speaks for itself as a distraction--unless the local picknickers are unusually fastidious, the smells must…