So what did you learn?
- judisedwards
- Mar 8, 2022
- 1 min read
Carol had the excellent idea of doing a blog on what folks learned from the test, especially from being a track/cross track layer or flag toter.
So what did you learn? What came as a surprise? What was different than what you expected?
FYI, I am the only judge I know who uses double line ups. I suspect many of you found the value of them last weekend! “Walk towards the tree” is fine….unless you are the one who has to get the dog/handler to the end of the track successfully😉. Knowing the precise location of the track is actually far more important in training!
Lets talk about it—what did you learn?
- How much the judges really try to set the dog up to pass
- Judges have preferences on where they like to place TDX articles (this should have been intuitive, but there was more discussion about it than I thought there would be); also preferences on where they do/ do not want to end a track
- How even w/out the double line-ups the judges spend a lot of thought on track/leg placement and they know where they are (though doesn't help the track layer that has to go with handlers & pups that don't "pass")
- Helping with x-tracks was helpful so those that are asked should definitely consider it (but then the year I helped be a…
Gosh, where to start. First, I think that “toting” presents a great stress-free opportunity to see tracks laid. The value of using double line-ups was clear (one of my surprises was that they didn’t use them)! It was at times confusing, at least to me, to figure out what tree or piece of fence they were sighting. There’s a lot of “light green” or “has a big dead branch” trees out there! I couldn’t hear too much of their discussion about the courses but heard enough to make sense of it as it was being laid. I found myself looking at their feet as the course was being plotted (maybe related to trying to learn to focus on Tobias’ butt…
Though I have laid lots of TD tracks at tests, this was my first TDX & I made several ‘notes to self’ for next time. In no particular order:
- don’t bother trying to count steps the first time through with the judges. All the starts, stops, & obstacles just made me keep loosing count. Better to wait until second walk-through by myself to record number of steps.
- I will be less worried about leaving clothespins in the woods Sunday morning if I count & record the number I use on Saturday
- recording landmarks on each side & behind as well as double line-up in front very helpful for really pinpointing turns, articles, & cross tracks.
- always…
Things I learned:
- The value of double line ups. The judges did not use them. My brain quickly and easily bends straight lines - I need rails.
- As a tracklayer you should arrive with a paper, a writing implement, and preferably something lean on (Thanks, Mary Ann!)
- I do not draw to scale on the fly. Also it is hard to draw a map while walking
- Count your steps between flags - this was immensely helpful for finding the glove without flags. (Again - thanks, Mary Ann!)
- No matter how organized you are, plotting day takes forever
- As a flag toter - put the rubber bands back in the bag
- The importance of…
I have thoughts and photos but work has been insane this week and I’ve been too exhausted to sit and write anything down yet.