Holiday Tracking

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 time 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:


Second Aged Track with right open turn




Comments

  1. Anne (Mila)January 23, 2026 at 8:45 AM

    Hi Kelley, I watched this one earlier in the week, but didn't have time to comment. I'll keep it short now, but we feel like you are an Fogell are ready to move forward a bit. He's looking so confident and you are both doing great! I'll give you some 'next steps' in class tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CAUTION: New Handler

Image
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...
Read more

Into the wind

Image
 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...
Read more

Oh Bunny

Image
 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...
Read more