September 5 Wednesday
Goals for today: Taya is tracking for the first time without having eaten breakfast. Now that the tracks are becoming somewhat longer and more complex, I want to provide even more motivation for the work of tracking and more reward afterward. So, on the mornings that she will be tracking, she will get 'breakfast' on the track. If I anticipate laying an evening track, she will of course get breakfast but supper will be what she receives in the article at the end of the track. Also, today I will use the additional motivating reinforcements, the intermediate drops, two of them. I plan to alternate tracks where I use drops and where I don't. In other words, on some tracks, Taya will have anywhere from two to six (when the tracks become longer) finds and on others she will track the entire distance for the end article only. Again, we will approach the start perpendicular to the track so that Taya gets practice determining track direction. Today our turn will be a true right-angle turn. Today, I will use a different kind of container for one of the drops. AND, today I will dispense with the drag completely.
Track laid at 1120. Partly sunny. 75 degrees. Wind calm. 145 yards. One right-angle turn (to the left). No drag. Start is in grass, track soon goes into hayfield, it crosses a sandy area, and ends in tall grass. 1st drop is 10 yards after the start. Right-angle turn to the left at 100 yards. 2nd drop is 10 yards after the turn. End article is at 145 yards.
Track ran at 1200. Sunshine. 77 degrees. (Out in the sunny field, it felt like 87!) Wind calm. Approaching the start at a right angle was nothing. There really isn't much to report about this track. It was all good. And today I did manage to run up and get a photo of one of those AWESOME article indications I wrote about on August 30!
I will tell today's story in the captions of the pictures. Hovering over a photo will show a caption. Alternately, clicking on a photo will produce a nice slide show.
Track laid at 1120. Partly sunny. 75 degrees. Wind calm. 145 yards. One right-angle turn (to the left). No drag. Start is in grass, track soon goes into hayfield, it crosses a sandy area, and ends in tall grass. 1st drop is 10 yards after the start. Right-angle turn to the left at 100 yards. 2nd drop is 10 yards after the turn. End article is at 145 yards.
Track ran at 1200. Sunshine. 77 degrees. (Out in the sunny field, it felt like 87!) Wind calm. Approaching the start at a right angle was nothing. There really isn't much to report about this track. It was all good. And today I did manage to run up and get a photo of one of those AWESOME article indications I wrote about on August 30!
I will tell today's story in the captions of the pictures. Hovering over a photo will show a caption. Alternately, clicking on a photo will produce a nice slide show.
September 4 Tuesday - Taya is 14 weeks old.
Goals for today: Today I will lay a track to stretch Taya's concentration. I will lay the same length as last time (and the same age - I do not want to bounce track age around) but no intermediate drops so only the end article after 140 yards (age 35 minutes). There will be a right turn for the first time (her second turn ever). I will have her determine track direction at the start for the first time; the track has always gone straight away from the direction we approach the start. Today we will approach the track at an angle. Last, in the interest of soon dispensing with the drag completely, I will not drag the little bit of chicken on any part of the track except for the first 20 yards after the turn.
Track laid at 1215. Overcast. 79 degrees. Wind at 11 mph. 140 yards. One somewhat open angle turn to the right at 100 yards. Drag for 20 yards after the turn. No intermediate drops. Starts in grass, very soon in mowed hayfield where track remains for its entirety. End article at 140 yards.
Track run at 1250. Partly sunny. 81 degrees ("feels like 84"). Breeze continued at 10-11 mph. Taya was working harder today. Likely, there were three reasons for this. 1. It was hot and humid. I felt like I was in a sauna. 2. There was no drag for the first 100 yards which was new. 3. I think she was "actually" still a bit tired from last night! Last night, Taya walked - and ran - every bit of our mile-long walk for exercise. I'd put her on a lead for the first time for this walk and she did very well with it. I used a Flexi-lead on our very rural road. (With a puppy and when we're not near road or foot traffic is one of the very few times I like to use a retractable leash.) The Flexi allowed her to do quite a lot of running, including down and back up the road bank a few times. Especially in the area where we - again - saw turkeys! I have seen a flock of turkeys close to home maybe three times in 12 years and now I have seen a bunch of turkeys three times in the past three weeks! After our walk, Taya and Viljo wrestled and ran for nearly two hours. I was somewhat surprised that Taya had this much stamina at 3.5 months of age. Viljo, of course, wanted to go for longer than Taya could last. I felt something against my leg. I saw that Taya had laid down beside me, finally spent, and Viljo was standing there nudging her over and over, pushing her against my foot. He wanted her to get up and play! She pawed playfully at his mouth but did not have the energy to get up anymore. I carried her to her pen and didn't hear a squeak out of her when the other dogs and I left her. THAT'S how tired she was last night!
So, I digressed. But though Taya was not quite her usual energetic self this morning, she tracked very well. As I suspected, the intermediate drops on previous tracks had been 'sustaining' her a bit and she did miss them. It was telling (and humorous) when at about 10 yards from the turn, Taya suddenly stopped, sat, and gave a little howl! She is talkative and I believe this was a bit of frustration speaking. Then she went on, made the turn nicely, and the scent of the meat drag did seem to pick her up. However, when the 20 yard section of dragged-track ran out, she turned back on the track as if she didn't want to leave it. This was momentary, though, and she turned her caboose back around, tracked to the end article, and sat for a good indication.
Two other things about this track. The lighting had changed a lot while the track was aging and a couple of times on the first leg I found myself questioning exactly where the track was and relying on my puppy to tell me. NOT good! I must make CERTAIN that I have my landmarks well in place. Also, with a breeze blowing on the open field for 35 minutes before we ran the track, Taya was 'blown off' this track a few times. This is when a short tracking line is truly valuable. Four feet really restricts the dog from "running every which way the wind blows." When she does go off, I stop. And when she gets herself back, I go with her.
Track laid at 1215. Overcast. 79 degrees. Wind at 11 mph. 140 yards. One somewhat open angle turn to the right at 100 yards. Drag for 20 yards after the turn. No intermediate drops. Starts in grass, very soon in mowed hayfield where track remains for its entirety. End article at 140 yards.
Track run at 1250. Partly sunny. 81 degrees ("feels like 84"). Breeze continued at 10-11 mph. Taya was working harder today. Likely, there were three reasons for this. 1. It was hot and humid. I felt like I was in a sauna. 2. There was no drag for the first 100 yards which was new. 3. I think she was "actually" still a bit tired from last night! Last night, Taya walked - and ran - every bit of our mile-long walk for exercise. I'd put her on a lead for the first time for this walk and she did very well with it. I used a Flexi-lead on our very rural road. (With a puppy and when we're not near road or foot traffic is one of the very few times I like to use a retractable leash.) The Flexi allowed her to do quite a lot of running, including down and back up the road bank a few times. Especially in the area where we - again - saw turkeys! I have seen a flock of turkeys close to home maybe three times in 12 years and now I have seen a bunch of turkeys three times in the past three weeks! After our walk, Taya and Viljo wrestled and ran for nearly two hours. I was somewhat surprised that Taya had this much stamina at 3.5 months of age. Viljo, of course, wanted to go for longer than Taya could last. I felt something against my leg. I saw that Taya had laid down beside me, finally spent, and Viljo was standing there nudging her over and over, pushing her against my foot. He wanted her to get up and play! She pawed playfully at his mouth but did not have the energy to get up anymore. I carried her to her pen and didn't hear a squeak out of her when the other dogs and I left her. THAT'S how tired she was last night!
So, I digressed. But though Taya was not quite her usual energetic self this morning, she tracked very well. As I suspected, the intermediate drops on previous tracks had been 'sustaining' her a bit and she did miss them. It was telling (and humorous) when at about 10 yards from the turn, Taya suddenly stopped, sat, and gave a little howl! She is talkative and I believe this was a bit of frustration speaking. Then she went on, made the turn nicely, and the scent of the meat drag did seem to pick her up. However, when the 20 yard section of dragged-track ran out, she turned back on the track as if she didn't want to leave it. This was momentary, though, and she turned her caboose back around, tracked to the end article, and sat for a good indication.
Two other things about this track. The lighting had changed a lot while the track was aging and a couple of times on the first leg I found myself questioning exactly where the track was and relying on my puppy to tell me. NOT good! I must make CERTAIN that I have my landmarks well in place. Also, with a breeze blowing on the open field for 35 minutes before we ran the track, Taya was 'blown off' this track a few times. This is when a short tracking line is truly valuable. Four feet really restricts the dog from "running every which way the wind blows." When she does go off, I stop. And when she gets herself back, I go with her.
August 30 Thursday - Taya is now 13.5 weeks old.
I'd intended to track Monday and Tuesday this week. Have come to the conclusion that if I don't track early, it's a good possibility that I won't track at all. So, this morning Taya and I fed the cat, she got about 1/3 her usual amount of breakfast, then I went out to lay the track.
Taya is a pound bigger, physically stronger, and definitely has longer-lived energy than when we last tracked. I took this into consideration when I decided what we would do today.
Goals for the day: Increase distance to double the last track, increase track age from 20 to 30 minutes, increase drops on the track from two to three, introduce turns with an open turn (approx. 120° , so something like halfway between a right-angle turn and continuing straight), and introduce the harness.
On the way to feeding the cat, I'd noticed some deer in the field. I decided to lay the track through that area.
Track laid at 0915. Sunny. 64 degrees. 140 yards. 1 open turn. Very light drag of chicken. Most but not all of the track in mowed field. 1st drop at 5 yards (to anchor and reinforce the start). Open turn to the left at 65 yards. 2nd drop at 70 yards (to anchor and reinforce the turn). Track goes through a sandy, rather bare area. Track goes through area where deer had been grazing. Track goes past old earthdog liner at 110 yards. Track goes over a piece of ancient blue tarp at 115 yards. 3rd drop at 120 yards (to anchor and reinforce the track past the distractions. End article at 140 yards.
Now the tracks are becoming interesting and fun and I very much look forward to running Taya on this one!
Track run at 0950. This made the track age 35 minutes instead of 30 which I did not intend to do but five minutes isn't going to make a difference. Taya accepted the harness like she has always worn it even though I put it on her for the first time just before we went out to track. My habit is to carry her out to the start of the track and she now has this certain very eager awareness that I like to see.
Good launch from the start. She walked over the first drop. I waited a moment to see if she would correct herself but she wanted to go on. I encouraged her to turn back to it. In retrospect, five yards is likely to be too soon for Taya to start and stop again. Next time I will place the first drop at 10 yards.
Taya flopped the line for the next 10 or 15 yards. Meaning she was criss-crossing it as she made progress. This could have been a function of early over-eagerness or the nearly doubled track age - or both. Soon, though, she straightened out and after that her tracking posture was exemplary.
She drifted just a bit, about a body length, past the turn, hooked the line with her nose, came back to the line, and very soon laid quickly and completely down with the 2nd drop between her front feet. AWESOME article indication! I thought, wow, schutzhund people train hard for article indications like that! It really tickled and pleased me!
Through the sandy area, she picked her head up once or twice and looked around in a bit of loss of concentration. It could have been because we were approaching where the deer had been, or that there was suddenly so little cover, or because she had now already tracked 30 yards longer than her previously longest track. But her nose came back down. She put the sand behind her. She looked very briefly at the earthdog liner and went on. Stopped and sniffed at the piece of blue tarp then went on. Sat at the 3rd drop, got her little pieces of chicken, and went on. And tracked nicely on to the end.
Taya is a pound bigger, physically stronger, and definitely has longer-lived energy than when we last tracked. I took this into consideration when I decided what we would do today.
Goals for the day: Increase distance to double the last track, increase track age from 20 to 30 minutes, increase drops on the track from two to three, introduce turns with an open turn (approx. 120° , so something like halfway between a right-angle turn and continuing straight), and introduce the harness.
On the way to feeding the cat, I'd noticed some deer in the field. I decided to lay the track through that area.
Track laid at 0915. Sunny. 64 degrees. 140 yards. 1 open turn. Very light drag of chicken. Most but not all of the track in mowed field. 1st drop at 5 yards (to anchor and reinforce the start). Open turn to the left at 65 yards. 2nd drop at 70 yards (to anchor and reinforce the turn). Track goes through a sandy, rather bare area. Track goes through area where deer had been grazing. Track goes past old earthdog liner at 110 yards. Track goes over a piece of ancient blue tarp at 115 yards. 3rd drop at 120 yards (to anchor and reinforce the track past the distractions. End article at 140 yards.
Now the tracks are becoming interesting and fun and I very much look forward to running Taya on this one!
Track run at 0950. This made the track age 35 minutes instead of 30 which I did not intend to do but five minutes isn't going to make a difference. Taya accepted the harness like she has always worn it even though I put it on her for the first time just before we went out to track. My habit is to carry her out to the start of the track and she now has this certain very eager awareness that I like to see.
Good launch from the start. She walked over the first drop. I waited a moment to see if she would correct herself but she wanted to go on. I encouraged her to turn back to it. In retrospect, five yards is likely to be too soon for Taya to start and stop again. Next time I will place the first drop at 10 yards.
Taya flopped the line for the next 10 or 15 yards. Meaning she was criss-crossing it as she made progress. This could have been a function of early over-eagerness or the nearly doubled track age - or both. Soon, though, she straightened out and after that her tracking posture was exemplary.
She drifted just a bit, about a body length, past the turn, hooked the line with her nose, came back to the line, and very soon laid quickly and completely down with the 2nd drop between her front feet. AWESOME article indication! I thought, wow, schutzhund people train hard for article indications like that! It really tickled and pleased me!
Through the sandy area, she picked her head up once or twice and looked around in a bit of loss of concentration. It could have been because we were approaching where the deer had been, or that there was suddenly so little cover, or because she had now already tracked 30 yards longer than her previously longest track. But her nose came back down. She put the sand behind her. She looked very briefly at the earthdog liner and went on. Stopped and sniffed at the piece of blue tarp then went on. Sat at the 3rd drop, got her little pieces of chicken, and went on. And tracked nicely on to the end.
Very, very nice, Taya! You are such a good girl!
August 21 Tuesday - Taya is 12 weeks old.
It has been five days since Taya's last track! Our tracking training will be like this. Some weeks we will track four or five times while other weeks two or three.
This is the tracking stuff that I am presently using with Taya. The red light-weight 4' lead is my tracking line. The navy blue velcro wallet is the article I put at the end of the track with a piece of meat inside. For now I am dragging a small piece of cooked chicken when I lay (walk) the track, then I put the chicken inside the wallet article at the end. Under the wallet is the plastic freezer bag that I put the wallet into before placing it at the end of the track. This is to keep insects off the meat; it is not motivational for a puppy to bite into her meat reward for a job well done and get a mouthful of ants. The two pill bottles are what I am using as articles (aka "drops," "markers" or "finds") along the track. I have put a couple of thumb-nail size bits of the same chicken into each bottle. The small piece of chicken that I will drag is in an onion bag with another dog lead attached for ease in dragging it. I make sure that the drag is directly behind me when I walk, not out to the side of my footsteps. And the gray/black fanny pack in back is what I use to carry the stuff. These well-made little packs that I like sell for $10 at Walmart.
Goal for the day today: I considered my choices of increasing distance, increasing age, introducing intermittent drag instead of continuous, putting out two new distractions, and/or introducing turns. I chose increase distance (from 60 yards to 75), no drag for 10 yards (between the 30 and 40 yards points), and use two new distractions.
Distraction 1: The cat! Kiki is in a crate on the track.
Distraction 2: A boot of mine that Taya likes which I know because she was recently chewing on it.
10:45. Mostly sunny. 73 degrees. 75 yards. Straight line. Very light drag of chicken except between 30 and 40 yards where there is no drag, just me walking. Medium grass at start, then track goes into mowed hayfield. 1st distraction at 15 yards. (Put so soon on the track because Kiki in the crate isn't exactly lightweight and something I want to carry for a distance, also because there was shade at 15 yards.) 1st drop at 18 yards (placed so as to reward for leaving cat). 2nd distraction at 50 yards. 2nd drop at 60 yards (which was our previous total distance). End article at 75 yards. Aged 20 minutes.
Taya made a nice purposeful start. She obviously noticed the cat crate up ahead but the majority of her focus remained on the track. At the crate, Taya said hello to the cat for about three seconds and moved on. She indicated the 1st drop by sitting. In the 10 yard distance where there was no drag, I saw no difference in her tracking posture at all. She jumped on the boot then quickly left it. Laid down at the 2nd drop. Restarted nicely and tracked on to the end.
She did stop at the end article. But while I was walking up, Taya showed me for the first time that she was more interested in continuing where I'd walked on from there while laying the track than in calling it quits. It is a behavior that I like to see because it means that the puppy is highly motivated and wants to keep tracking; it also is good indication that she is ready for longer track length. On the other hand, it is a behavior that cannot be given in to for article indication is important. This desire to continue to track while saying about the article, "Let's forget it, I'm busy," must be addressed. I do it by stepping on the tracking line so as to KEEP the puppy at the article, then spend a lot of time making over the article and what's inside. I make getting at the chicken inside the article more challenging - therefore more interesting - by holding it in such a way that Taya can only nibble instead of downing the whole thing in two gulps. I want the puppy to 'savor' the articles nearly as much as the actual tracking. For a dog who loves to track, this requires some time and effort on the part of the handler.
Distraction 1: The cat! Kiki is in a crate on the track.
Distraction 2: A boot of mine that Taya likes which I know because she was recently chewing on it.
10:45. Mostly sunny. 73 degrees. 75 yards. Straight line. Very light drag of chicken except between 30 and 40 yards where there is no drag, just me walking. Medium grass at start, then track goes into mowed hayfield. 1st distraction at 15 yards. (Put so soon on the track because Kiki in the crate isn't exactly lightweight and something I want to carry for a distance, also because there was shade at 15 yards.) 1st drop at 18 yards (placed so as to reward for leaving cat). 2nd distraction at 50 yards. 2nd drop at 60 yards (which was our previous total distance). End article at 75 yards. Aged 20 minutes.
Taya made a nice purposeful start. She obviously noticed the cat crate up ahead but the majority of her focus remained on the track. At the crate, Taya said hello to the cat for about three seconds and moved on. She indicated the 1st drop by sitting. In the 10 yard distance where there was no drag, I saw no difference in her tracking posture at all. She jumped on the boot then quickly left it. Laid down at the 2nd drop. Restarted nicely and tracked on to the end.
She did stop at the end article. But while I was walking up, Taya showed me for the first time that she was more interested in continuing where I'd walked on from there while laying the track than in calling it quits. It is a behavior that I like to see because it means that the puppy is highly motivated and wants to keep tracking; it also is good indication that she is ready for longer track length. On the other hand, it is a behavior that cannot be given in to for article indication is important. This desire to continue to track while saying about the article, "Let's forget it, I'm busy," must be addressed. I do it by stepping on the tracking line so as to KEEP the puppy at the article, then spend a lot of time making over the article and what's inside. I make getting at the chicken inside the article more challenging - therefore more interesting - by holding it in such a way that Taya can only nibble instead of downing the whole thing in two gulps. I want the puppy to 'savor' the articles nearly as much as the actual tracking. For a dog who loves to track, this requires some time and effort on the part of the handler.
August 16 Thursday
Goal for the day: Introduce distractions.
Distraction 1 - Blue "cat towel" that has been outside for the cat to sit on and she has sat on it a lot.
Distraction 2 - Large clear plastic bag that six rolls of paper towels were packaged in. Taya loves plastic!
I put both items so close to the track that they were virtually on the line. This is because I do not want to use distractions to pull her OFF the line. I want her to simply notice, stay focused (or be able to re-focus) and go on.
11:45am. Sunny. 82 degrees. 60 yards. Straight line. Very light drag of approximately 2"x3" piece of chicken breast filet. Medium grass at start. Into mowed hayfield at 5 yards. 1st drop at 5.5 yards. 1st distraction put next to the track on my left side at 15 yards. 2nd distraction put next to the track on my right side at 25 yards; I tucked it into the bush a bit in case a little breeze came up. 2nd drop at 40 yards. End of track at 60 yards. Aged 20 minutes.
This was the best, most "track-sure" start Taya has done yet. No hesitation whatever, Taya put her nose to work the moment I put her down and locked on.
These were not the easiest tracking conditions. The bright noon sun felt downright hot at 82 degrees in the open field. And hay and especially hay stubble requires some extra effort from Taya to make her way through. But she made a beautiful job of it. She barely glanced at the cat towel. She literally jumped onto the plastic bag, laid on it, bit it. About five seconds later, though, her nose inexorably pulled her off the bag and back to work on the track. It was precisely the behavior I was looking for, being briefly distracted, then "oh, I've still got a job to do, better get to it."
At about 30 yards, Taya laid down, picked something up and chewed it. I could tell she was hot and I could see there was a bit of old, very dry animal droppings in front of her. So we actually had a third known distraction. I just waited. Apparently one taste was enough. In a few quiet seconds, Taya decided it was time to move on. I was glad she was rewarded soon after by the 2nd drop at 40 yards. From there to the end, again an excellent piece of work.
Both of her article indications were very good. Taya stopped completely, the first time in a down, the second time in a crouched sit. She waited while I walked up, exclaimed over the finds, opened the bottles (I am using plastic pill bottles as drop articles) and gave her the bits of chicken inside. Then she was eager to track on.
These are short distances right now but I am not interested in long tracks for an 11 week old puppy. I am interested in developing good habits. I want to see good motivation, good concentration, and good indications. So far, so good. : )
Distraction 1 - Blue "cat towel" that has been outside for the cat to sit on and she has sat on it a lot.
Distraction 2 - Large clear plastic bag that six rolls of paper towels were packaged in. Taya loves plastic!
I put both items so close to the track that they were virtually on the line. This is because I do not want to use distractions to pull her OFF the line. I want her to simply notice, stay focused (or be able to re-focus) and go on.
11:45am. Sunny. 82 degrees. 60 yards. Straight line. Very light drag of approximately 2"x3" piece of chicken breast filet. Medium grass at start. Into mowed hayfield at 5 yards. 1st drop at 5.5 yards. 1st distraction put next to the track on my left side at 15 yards. 2nd distraction put next to the track on my right side at 25 yards; I tucked it into the bush a bit in case a little breeze came up. 2nd drop at 40 yards. End of track at 60 yards. Aged 20 minutes.
This was the best, most "track-sure" start Taya has done yet. No hesitation whatever, Taya put her nose to work the moment I put her down and locked on.
These were not the easiest tracking conditions. The bright noon sun felt downright hot at 82 degrees in the open field. And hay and especially hay stubble requires some extra effort from Taya to make her way through. But she made a beautiful job of it. She barely glanced at the cat towel. She literally jumped onto the plastic bag, laid on it, bit it. About five seconds later, though, her nose inexorably pulled her off the bag and back to work on the track. It was precisely the behavior I was looking for, being briefly distracted, then "oh, I've still got a job to do, better get to it."
At about 30 yards, Taya laid down, picked something up and chewed it. I could tell she was hot and I could see there was a bit of old, very dry animal droppings in front of her. So we actually had a third known distraction. I just waited. Apparently one taste was enough. In a few quiet seconds, Taya decided it was time to move on. I was glad she was rewarded soon after by the 2nd drop at 40 yards. From there to the end, again an excellent piece of work.
Both of her article indications were very good. Taya stopped completely, the first time in a down, the second time in a crouched sit. She waited while I walked up, exclaimed over the finds, opened the bottles (I am using plastic pill bottles as drop articles) and gave her the bits of chicken inside. Then she was eager to track on.
These are short distances right now but I am not interested in long tracks for an 11 week old puppy. I am interested in developing good habits. I want to see good motivation, good concentration, and good indications. So far, so good. : )
August 15 Wednesday
Goal for the day: Work changes of cover into the mowed hayfield
9:55 am. Overcast. 71 degrees. 60 yards. Straight line. Medium grass at the start, tall grass at 5 yards (1st drop at 5.5 yards), medium grass at 10 yards, into mowed hayfield at 15 yards. There is still a little dew on the grass so I think Taya will handle the changes fine. 2nd drop is at 25 yards. End at 60 yards. I realized last night that I had no more meat to drag so I pulled a thin slice of bologna off my store-bought sandwich and saved it to drag this morning. It is a very "light-weight" drag! There are a couple of tiny pieces of chicken (from my training treats container) in each pill bottle-drop. Age is 20 minutes.
Taya was focused and deliberate from start to finish. She spent a few extra seconds smelling the start, I'm sure because it was a different meat scent this time. I would love to use a deer part and introduce her to deer blood but, as I noted in a caption of one of the early photos, I lost it all when I was without electricity for a week this summer and I don't have any.
From the start nothing but straight-forward, motivated, controlled tracking. Cover changes - what cover changes? She gave me good indications at the two drops for the first time today, too, nosing them, sitting both times and 'waiting' for me to arrive. I think she may be like Olive and have an automatic sit indication. (Olive would actually come to an article, turn around and sit facing me, smile and be wagging her tail. No missing that article indication!)
I plan to put her in harness one of these days but for now the collar is fine. I am still using a very short line, 4 foot. I didn't think I could do it but I did manage to hold a line that short and take some decent photos, too.
9:55 am. Overcast. 71 degrees. 60 yards. Straight line. Medium grass at the start, tall grass at 5 yards (1st drop at 5.5 yards), medium grass at 10 yards, into mowed hayfield at 15 yards. There is still a little dew on the grass so I think Taya will handle the changes fine. 2nd drop is at 25 yards. End at 60 yards. I realized last night that I had no more meat to drag so I pulled a thin slice of bologna off my store-bought sandwich and saved it to drag this morning. It is a very "light-weight" drag! There are a couple of tiny pieces of chicken (from my training treats container) in each pill bottle-drop. Age is 20 minutes.
Taya was focused and deliberate from start to finish. She spent a few extra seconds smelling the start, I'm sure because it was a different meat scent this time. I would love to use a deer part and introduce her to deer blood but, as I noted in a caption of one of the early photos, I lost it all when I was without electricity for a week this summer and I don't have any.
From the start nothing but straight-forward, motivated, controlled tracking. Cover changes - what cover changes? She gave me good indications at the two drops for the first time today, too, nosing them, sitting both times and 'waiting' for me to arrive. I think she may be like Olive and have an automatic sit indication. (Olive would actually come to an article, turn around and sit facing me, smile and be wagging her tail. No missing that article indication!)
I plan to put her in harness one of these days but for now the collar is fine. I am still using a very short line, 4 foot. I didn't think I could do it but I did manage to hold a line that short and take some decent photos, too.
August 14 Tuesday
Goal for the day: Work that hayfield!
9:25 am. Overcast. 66 degrees. 60 yards. Straight line. Same field we used last time, with hay on the ground. Went back to very light drag of 1/3 chicken filet, about 2"x3" of cooked frozen chicken breast, dragged in an onion bag. Drops the same as last time, 5 and 25 yards, still small pieces of chicken in pill bottles. Same age as last time, 20 minutes. 4' tracking line.
This was the exact track as we last worked in terms of same length, same starting and ending places, same number and distances of drops, same age. The difference is that it is quite cloudy, the temp is 10 degrees cooler, the hay has been on the ground for three days instead of one, and I used a drag. We'll see how it goes!
It went very well! It began raining after I laid the track so this was Taya's first track in the rain. As much as she likes water and is not bothered by very wet grass, I knew the rain would not bother her either and it didn't. She didn't seem to notice.
Taya was interested and purposeful at the start; a big improvement from last time. She wanted to go left from the start, however, and I just stood my ground. A close-to-the-ground dachshund puppy on a 4' line can't go very far! And even though she wanted to go that way, and pulled, there was no actual fighting the line which was good.
Eventually, she went behind me and I side-stepped off the start to give her clearance. She found the track direction and that was all she wrote. She circled a body length one time at about 45 yards, otherwise all I saw was her butt. She wants to short-shrift the drops so I spent a few moments there, reinforcing the finds. She was very happy at the end article. Putting the chicken-in-wallet inside a plastic bag is good for Taya as she likes plastic so much. I think she is almost as eager to bite the plastic as the chicken!
Working the hayfield is good for her, too, because picking her way through the stubble slows her down and helps keep her fairly steady.
Good girl, Taya!
9:25 am. Overcast. 66 degrees. 60 yards. Straight line. Same field we used last time, with hay on the ground. Went back to very light drag of 1/3 chicken filet, about 2"x3" of cooked frozen chicken breast, dragged in an onion bag. Drops the same as last time, 5 and 25 yards, still small pieces of chicken in pill bottles. Same age as last time, 20 minutes. 4' tracking line.
This was the exact track as we last worked in terms of same length, same starting and ending places, same number and distances of drops, same age. The difference is that it is quite cloudy, the temp is 10 degrees cooler, the hay has been on the ground for three days instead of one, and I used a drag. We'll see how it goes!
It went very well! It began raining after I laid the track so this was Taya's first track in the rain. As much as she likes water and is not bothered by very wet grass, I knew the rain would not bother her either and it didn't. She didn't seem to notice.
Taya was interested and purposeful at the start; a big improvement from last time. She wanted to go left from the start, however, and I just stood my ground. A close-to-the-ground dachshund puppy on a 4' line can't go very far! And even though she wanted to go that way, and pulled, there was no actual fighting the line which was good.
Eventually, she went behind me and I side-stepped off the start to give her clearance. She found the track direction and that was all she wrote. She circled a body length one time at about 45 yards, otherwise all I saw was her butt. She wants to short-shrift the drops so I spent a few moments there, reinforcing the finds. She was very happy at the end article. Putting the chicken-in-wallet inside a plastic bag is good for Taya as she likes plastic so much. I think she is almost as eager to bite the plastic as the chicken!
Working the hayfield is good for her, too, because picking her way through the stubble slows her down and helps keep her fairly steady.
Good girl, Taya!
August 12 Sunday - Taya is 11 weeks old today.
Goals for the day: Eliminate the drag. Increase age by 5 minutes. Slightly increase distance.
12:35 pm. Mostly sunny. 75 degrees. 60 yards. Straight line on field that was brush-hogged yesterday, hay is lying on the ground. No drag for the first time, just me walking. Drops at 5 and 25 yards. 1/3 chicken filet into wallet article in plastic bag. Aged 20 minutes. Continue with very short tracking line (4 ft).
Today was a bust. I would say "total bust" but Taya was very eager to begin (she even yipped a couple of times while I carried her to the start!), and she was keen with the three articles. She did not track to them, however. It was simply a matter of too much too soon. A field of fresh hay on the ground. No drag. No shade. Increased track age. I really should have known better. But she has been tracking so well, that I was "taking it for granted."
Today, we (read I) made our way very, very slowly down the track, with me pointing out the track and encouraging Taya. Taya alternated between sitting and looking at me and panting, and pouncing onto little hay piles. I thought a few times of aborting the session, but she did scent the articles when we neared them and was delighted with her "finds." It was not a good practice track for her but at the same time, it does not hurt her to learn that though she is having difficulty (understatement!), when I am telling her that there is something to find then there is something to find.
12:35 pm. Mostly sunny. 75 degrees. 60 yards. Straight line on field that was brush-hogged yesterday, hay is lying on the ground. No drag for the first time, just me walking. Drops at 5 and 25 yards. 1/3 chicken filet into wallet article in plastic bag. Aged 20 minutes. Continue with very short tracking line (4 ft).
Today was a bust. I would say "total bust" but Taya was very eager to begin (she even yipped a couple of times while I carried her to the start!), and she was keen with the three articles. She did not track to them, however. It was simply a matter of too much too soon. A field of fresh hay on the ground. No drag. No shade. Increased track age. I really should have known better. But she has been tracking so well, that I was "taking it for granted."
Today, we (read I) made our way very, very slowly down the track, with me pointing out the track and encouraging Taya. Taya alternated between sitting and looking at me and panting, and pouncing onto little hay piles. I thought a few times of aborting the session, but she did scent the articles when we neared them and was delighted with her "finds." It was not a good practice track for her but at the same time, it does not hurt her to learn that though she is having difficulty (understatement!), when I am telling her that there is something to find then there is something to find.
August 11 Saturday
Goal for today: Lay track in the woods. Cut size of yesterday's drag in half. Put end drop into an article. Increase age by five minutes.
12:15 pm. Broken clouds. 68 degrees. 50 yards. Straight line start at woods edge, then into the woods for a woods track for the first time. Light-weight chicken drag (1/2 frozen filet), chicken put into article at end, article put into quart freezer bag to deny insects. Drops at 10 and 25 yards. Aged 15 minutes. Very short tracking line.
Taya was all business and tracked very well in the woods. A bit too eager at times, I thought that I should age the track a bit more. I also want to get her into harness soon, need to find the extra-small one that Lois Ballard loaned me for Viljo. Taya followed my steps all the way out of the woods which indicated to me that I could probably dispense with the drag. She met a turtle. We visited Kasi's grave.
12:15 pm. Broken clouds. 68 degrees. 50 yards. Straight line start at woods edge, then into the woods for a woods track for the first time. Light-weight chicken drag (1/2 frozen filet), chicken put into article at end, article put into quart freezer bag to deny insects. Drops at 10 and 25 yards. Aged 15 minutes. Very short tracking line.
Taya was all business and tracked very well in the woods. A bit too eager at times, I thought that I should age the track a bit more. I also want to get her into harness soon, need to find the extra-small one that Lois Ballard loaned me for Viljo. Taya followed my steps all the way out of the woods which indicated to me that I could probably dispense with the drag. She met a turtle. We visited Kasi's grave.
August 10 Friday
Goals for today: Minimally increase age and distance.
11 am. Overcast. 68 degrees. 50 yards. Straight line on recently mowed area, heading the opposite direction from yesterday. Chicken breast drag. Drops at 10 and 35 yards. Aged 10 minutes. Very short tracking line.
I had a little time and decided to take a short walk after the track. I almost did not take my camera but I am so glad that I did. Since the track had ended near the pond, we went to the water. Taya briefly checked out the water by tasting it and feeling it with her paws. Then she walked right in and began swimming!
11 am. Overcast. 68 degrees. 50 yards. Straight line on recently mowed area, heading the opposite direction from yesterday. Chicken breast drag. Drops at 10 and 35 yards. Aged 10 minutes. Very short tracking line.
I had a little time and decided to take a short walk after the track. I almost did not take my camera but I am so glad that I did. Since the track had ended near the pond, we went to the water. Taya briefly checked out the water by tasting it and feeling it with her paws. Then she walked right in and began swimming!
August 9 Thursday
Goals for today: Minimally increase distance. Lay track on short grass instead of tall to start bringing her head down.
10:15 am. A few clouds. 75 degrees. 45 yards. Straight line on shorter grass. Chicken drag. Drops at 5 and 25 yards. Aged 5 minutes. Very short tracking line.
Eager and focused and not fighting the line. Nice!
10:15 am. A few clouds. 75 degrees. 45 yards. Straight line on shorter grass. Chicken drag. Drops at 5 and 25 yards. Aged 5 minutes. Very short tracking line.
Eager and focused and not fighting the line. Nice!
August 8 Wednesday
Goals for today: Track later so grass is dry. Use a tracking line for the first time and a short one. I will use a 4' lightweight nylon lead.
1 pm. A few clouds. 86 degrees. 40 yards. Straight line in dry tall grass. Last drag with original steak. Drops at 5 and 25 yards. Aged 5 minutes. Very short tracking line.
As to be expected, Taya fought the line a bit but she knew what she was out there to do and she did it well. The situation with using a short line like this is that I am holding the line both close to the track and to the puppy (which is the whole point - 'connecting' the two) but for now I am not able to take any photos of Taya actually tracking.
1 pm. A few clouds. 86 degrees. 40 yards. Straight line in dry tall grass. Last drag with original steak. Drops at 5 and 25 yards. Aged 5 minutes. Very short tracking line.
As to be expected, Taya fought the line a bit but she knew what she was out there to do and she did it well. The situation with using a short line like this is that I am holding the line both close to the track and to the puppy (which is the whole point - 'connecting' the two) but for now I am not able to take any photos of Taya actually tracking.
August 5 Sunday - Taya is 10 weeks old today.
Goal for today: Continue exposing her to the concept of following a line
11:05 am. 78 degrees. Mist after short light rain. This is Taya's 3rd track in 4 days. It is 35 yards long, a meat drag, straight line, aged 5 min.
Overall, very nice job however Taya bounced the end of this track. Next time I will repeat 35 yards total length and anchor the track with a drop at 25 yards
11:05 am. 78 degrees. Mist after short light rain. This is Taya's 3rd track in 4 days. It is 35 yards long, a meat drag, straight line, aged 5 min.
Overall, very nice job however Taya bounced the end of this track. Next time I will repeat 35 yards total length and anchor the track with a drop at 25 yards
August 3 Friday
10:15 am. 78 degrees. Fair with haze. Meat drag, 20 yards, straight line. Mid-track, Taya turned a tight circle two times where a thick clump of a different kind of grass was. The 'cover change' momentarily confused her, then she figured it out, went on through, and finished flawlessly.
August 2 Thursday - Taya's first track. She is nine weeks old.
11:30 am. 82 degrees. Meat drag near woods for shade, 12 yards, aged 5 minutes, no lead. A very short, straight, get-acquainted, pleased to meet you track.
