Thoughts as you get back to work
- judisedwards
- Sep 9, 2023
- 2 min read
I put a track in for Fletch this morning, with clear intent to make each turn a challenge. I ran it at about 20" old. Start is on the left
Can you see the challenges to this track? Please study it before reading further.
Straightforward start--I wasn't working starts, so starting down an 'alleyway' limited his options. Note-there are full height soybeans in the brown area.
First turn: I'd anticipate the scent to spread both forward and towards the fencing to my left. In addition, Kelly and I rode right over the turn. There's also a cover change at the turn, and a post to my right--so a lot of scenting issues.
Second turn: again, fence curved around to my left, with a narrow area past the curve. I'd expect something to happen to the scent there. I can make guesses, but not know....so I won't make guesses!
Third turn: out in the open, so sort of a breather for him.
Last turn: again, at a fence. Deep cover on our side, short cover on the horses side. Horses in pasture. So alot of novel smells, plus the scent likely spreading along the fence. Maybe it held in the taller cover, maybe it rolled into the short cover.
First turn ran exactly as expected. He had to work for it, and check out every option, including the horse paths. Didn't try to take anything except the track.
Second turn was easier than expected. He circled briefly to the right, cut his circle off and came right to the track and took it.
Third turn was textbook.
Fourth turn had him cast both directions along the fence, and go into the pasture. He took the turn, but not with his usual enthusiasm. He stopped to investigate, I offered water, he drank, and immediately returned to the track and followed it.
He found the article, stood over it, and then the other scents needed to be investigated. I didn't give line, and I held my ground quietly, and he came back and offered a down.
I share all of this so you guys can learn how to think about your planning and plotting. This could look like a simple 4 turn track that we ran for 'practice' (whatever that means). By carefully evaluating the site as I walked, I could assure Fletch worked out challenges.
Now, what about running that track starting at the right side? What are the challenges? Where might the scent spread or roll?
Feel free to answer in comments below!
Something to think about: a turn out in the open on level ground is hard for the handler, because we are visual and can see possibilities in many directions. It’s easier for the dog, as there are fewer changes to impact where the scent holds, where it spreads etc.
As you put tracks in for your own dogs, look around. What do you think the scent might do? Then, watch your dog…they will tell you what it actually did. It might just be a head nod, not a full cast…but usually, if there is something to impact the scent, you’ll see some change in behavior.
Over time, you’ll get better at seeing the dog work out even small challenges, and…
Ditto to what Jen & Leigh wrote. I'd also expect the second turn to still be the most straightforward while T3 would have similar challenges to what you pointed out (just in the opposite direction). T4 might have a new challenge in that coming from the opposite way the scent could spread along the soybean fields (again like a T) which might result in a little checking to the left as well as the fencing and cover changes providing the same challenges as the initial run. Also, since this would now be the final turn, you'd have a bit of a 'brain-tired' pup so might see a little more impact from the challenges than the first run.
Really appreciated this post and the challenges posed before reading further. I took Evie out for a similar track today and she behaved so similar at the article (near a cover change with interesting scents) but I remembered this post and waited her out. Happy to report, she checked around and came back with a beautiful down. The post reminded me to stay silent and give her an opportunity to work through it rather than keeping the line and making her down.
Seems like the start would be more difficult if you ran the track the opposite way. Lots of distractions, horses in field, etc. Also, first turn off the fence line would be hard. I love the way you wait for Fletch to offer the down!