Taking the show on the road
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 to the training location, Fogell immediately got excited and started spinning like a Tasmanian devil in his crate area (the extended cab of my truck). I definitely had doubts, at this point, he would be willing to crate any length of time in the truck.
I tried to maintain our normal routine for any training- unload him, walk, and potty. He was definitely nervous at first- tail tucked, ear down and slightly back, and slinky walk- but he started sniffing and settling. Then came the test- put him back in truck and leave.
And. . .he was perfect. As I left, I could see him sitting, looking out the back window, his one upright ear totally erect. Not looking alarmed at all. Of course, I went back to check on him regularly- and he had 4 mini tracks to break up the time in the truck. I was really pleasantly surprised with this. Secretly, I was going to be Ok if we had to head home and work on vehicle crating.
Next pleasant surprise- Fogell was able to take his new skills on the road. . .
I set up first track- 20 yards straight with food in every step.
Tracks 2 and 3
Team Fogell's homework:
- Work on start routine. Change to harness next to start flag. Add article to start
- Work on articles. Still trying to add value without causing my sensitive dog anxiety about articles
- Start tracks with gradual curves
Kelley - that was great! I loved that you had the forethought to practice the truck routine before going to class. And, while he may have *known* he was still on the farm, by doing that at the farm, he had a positive experience to carryover to class! And big relief for you that he handled the truck time well...I know how worrisome those types of things can be. He did so nicely on his tracks and one thing I thought was HUGE based on your descriptions of him is that on one of the tracks there were people putting in a track in the distance and then the SUV coming down the driveway (movement and gravel noise!) and for each he noted them but chose to return to tracking! Great job offering water...I think some of the shunning of the water bottle in that one class video is that he just processed those external factors of people in the distance, SUV on driveway...and not to mention person following behind. Congrats on this first class with Fogell!
ReplyDeleteKelley, you aren't the only person to have an accidental jackpot on the track! Good work with Fogel.
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you both- Saturday was a thing of beauty and excited to see next steps. Great work!
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