Team Fogell Tracking

 Date:  February 17, 2026 Track 1 Time Laid:  1:36 pm       Time Run:  2:06pm Temp:  59 degrees          Wind:  WSW 1 mph          Humidity:  53% Weather:  Sunny, no clouds Goal:  Track 1 straight, 80 yard "warm-up" Scuff 5, Walk 6, Treat.  and aged 30 minutes Track 2 Time Laid:  2:40pm (double laid- rewalked at 3:10pm)    Time Run:  3:50pm        Temp:  59 degrees          Wind:  WSW 1 mph          Humidity:  53% Weather:  Sunny, no clouds Goal:  Track 2- 300 yard long track with 1 open angle right turn, walk 15 steps treat x3, then treat every 25 steps  How did tracks feel? Overall very pleased.   Things the dog did well: 1)  No issue with following aged tracks 2)  Good unprompted down at end articles 3)  Recovered from bunn...

Date:  January 19, 2026 Time Laid:  10:40am/10:45am       Time Run:  11:30am/11:38am Temp:  32 degrees          Wind:  WSW 8 mph          Humidity:  62% Weather:  Sunny, no clouds, light snow on ground Goal:  Short Aged tracks.  Food every 5 steps.   First track straight - approx 20 yards.  Second track straight 20 yards, right open turn 10 yards.   How did it feel? Great! Things the dog did well: 1)  No issue with following aged track 2)  Good downs at articles 3)  Recovered quickly when distracted by neighbors dog (track 1) Things like to improve 1)  my t ime management- tracks aged much longer than planned  2)   my knowledge and recognition of his working patterns 3)  my line handling and foot work  Goal for next tracks:  Longer tracks aged 15, 30, 45 minutes.  First Aged Straight Track: Seco...

 I did not truly appreciate color until I took an acrylic painting class a few years ago.  Now this tracking journey is making me pay attention to something I never really have before- wind.    Wednesday After the snow had melted (2pm, 70% humidity), I decided to restart Fogell on a straight, approx. 30 yard  track into the wind with food every 5th step.  I determined the wind was SSW then looked at various weather apps which confirmed- SSW 11mph.   By the short amount of time I laid the track to getting Fogell (5 minutes), I noticed the wind seemed to have shifted and strengthened.  Fogell followed my footsteps to the track so I thought OK to continue.  He saw the start flag and eagerly went to it and downed.   At that point, I could feel the wind against my left ear, not against my face. Fogell was eager to start so I released him.  He immediately went right of the track.  I held the line firm and he bounced back to...

I had three items to work on from tracking class.  After a week and a half of success building our tracking sequence in micro pieces, I, of course, lost my mind and immediately added ALL items to the next track I set up for Fogell (Handler Fail #1).   Monday Track 1- place article at start, 20 yard track curving right around large cedar - 6 feet from cedar, make switch from collar to harness at start flag.   I start Fogell on the track.  He's a little concerned that article is at start.  I put a treat on the article, change line to harness, pick up article and tell him "ok" before I had completely stood up (Handler Fail #2).  Fogell heard his release word and started like a bullet off to the left.  I shifted left (Handler Fail #3), realized my mistake and thought "Oh no" (Handler Fail #4), looked over at cedar to gauge how off I was while holding the line firm.  Fogell pops against line and drops to the ground a dejected ball of fluff (H...

In preparation to take Fogell to tracking class Saturday, I spent some time Black Friday setting up a straight track into the wind - but added a new variable - driving him in my truck to the start.  I wanted to go through the full sequence.  Getting out of the truck, getting harnessed on his cot (his safe place), and the tracking sequence.  He was not fooled at all.  He knew he did not leave farm and all went smoothly.    Black Friday Video - 3 articles, food in every step (and one giant spill after second article- oops) That should have given me confidence - but, instead, I found something else to worry about.  I spent the whole night worried I had never crated him in my truck.  For other dog classes and outings, we drive together then go into a building or hike a trail.  He has never had any time alone in my truck.   Saturday morning, I load up my gear and Fogell and head to Cool Water.  As we turned onto the gravel drive t...

I spent the last week and a half trying to break down the individual pieces of a baby track and build fun/acceptance into a new routine. I will admit I was blindsided by Fogell's meltdowns when I first attempted small tracks on the farm. Then, I realized for an anxiety dog- I made many small changes to his normal farm life  Although he wears a leash and harness to Rally and Agility classes, I never put them on at home I never walk close directly behind him.   I have only offered him water in a crate or in the house never on a leash walking about (and the water bottle makes some weird sounds for a noise sensitive dog). Add in. . .he always seems to get nervous when I am learning and trying to remember all the steps I need to take (this happened in the beginning of Rally too). . . and Boom. . . we have an absolutely overwhelmed Fogell.  There is no food high value enough when we get to this stage.   After a week and a half of playing different games to ad...