People playing games

I was tracking Fletch this morning, and did some ‘stuff.’ And as I was doing it, I thought of you guys…. So often people use games to train their dogs. How about using games to train both of you? We did three today….walked normally, put down an article in the midst of a leg, and jumped as far as I could to the left, and resumed the track. Fletch had to actively refind the track after indicating the article, because the track had moved! So fun to watch him figure that out. On every turn, as HE passed the turn flag, I closed my eyes. Could I FEEL loss of scent? Could I FEEL him finding the next leg? I’d put the track in, so I knew which direction the next leg went….by closing my eyes I gave more responsibility to him….I wasn’t looking for loss of scent, I was feeling for it. This also prevents me from unknowingly putting a little pressure on the line, or slowing down, or doing anything else that might cue him that there is a turn. Finally, I played with how I walk. Big steps, picking my feet waaaay up, so there’s no dragging the feet through the grass (unless it’s a scuff section). Run/jog a section. Skip. Walk like a duck. Fall down (on purpose, thus carefully). Drag a stick. Walk with a hiking stick. I didn’t do all of those today, and made sure I made the track reinforcing (scuff, food, article etc) after I had a play section.

I do strongly encourage you to close your eyes at specific places on the track, where you KNOW there are no holes or hills. Feel is an important bit of information in tracking, and the best way to develop feel is to close your eyes. And, try some of the ideas above—play a little. And yes, Jenn and Evie and Nancy and Forest, can play with this on an occasional track too. Problem solving is good experience!