Practice Session, 12.23.2025
Today we ventured out for some tracking practice at Rockwood Park. We walk there frequently and there are some good open areas that usually aren't too busy in the afternoon....
Unless it is 65 degrees out in December - oops! The park was busier than anticipated but nevertheless, we persist.
Weather conditions:
- Temperature: 63° F
- Wind: WSW 7 MPH
- Humidity: 47%
- Overall: Sunny, very warm, breezy
Track 1: Laid 3:20 PM, Run: 3:31 PM
Our ‘standard’ warm up of 5 shuffle/scuff steps, food drop, repeat until we run out of room.
Track 2: Laid: 3:25 PM, Run 3:35 PM
Our new pattern of 5 scuff steps, 3 regular steps with food on step 2, repeated as far as the area allowed. (S5W3F2)
Track 3: Laid 3:46 PM, Run: 3:50 PM
Hoping for more focus, I repeated the pattern from Track 2. Unfortunately I managed to turn the camera on and then immediately off (???) so this was our strongest effort of the day and absolutely no video of it exists!
Three things Quinn did well (overall):
- Despite lots of distractions, his focus actually seemed to improve with each track. When he got distracted I could either wait it out and let him figure it out or when it felt excessive, ask him to focus and he listened.
- Over three efforts, his indications did improve. We are a little rusty (we don’t do the same indication for NASDA so we have not practiced in a few days) but as he worked he seemed to remember what he’s supposed to do for THIS game.
- There were a few points where he was so ‘on’ that he seemed to pass right over the food to keep tracking. I know he knew it was there but he was so into carrying on with the game that he didn’t stop to get it. Apart from necessitating a ‘clean up’ walkthrough after we finish, I thought it was cool to see how intent he can be when he’s working!
Three things to improve:
- At this stage, I should probably choose areas with fewer distractions (although that was the original plan, and it just didn’t work out this time.)
- Find out how to decide when he just needs more time to get back on task and when it’s okay to ask him to refocus. (Is there a time limit or just go by his behavior? How long is too long to noodle around before getting back to work?)
- Not sure what else specifically – probably a lot of things I just don’t know about yet!
- Practice indications/play games more!!!
Goal for next track: Since he seems to improve with more distance/repetition, let him have some longer tracks/duration of practice and see what happens! (We are meeting up with Anne & Skyler tomorrow so I am hoping we can get in lots of good practice together.)
Very nice! Things I loved: your first track was purposefully easy, setting him up to learn on the next two. I think you gave him about the right amount of time to scan on track 2, proven by his tracking being stronger on track 3. I love your choice of location— sparkling open fields are lovely, real life, tracking tests often happen in less stellar fields. And, if he can master Rockwood Park, Cool Water will be a slam dunk for him.
ReplyDeleteDo exactly what you did in complex environments—set him up to succeed, with slightly increased difficulty, and be willing to repeat or step back. Quinn learning to check and dismiss is perhaps equally important as learning to track.
Merry Christmas!🎄
Thanks, Judi! I worry about overfacing him (either with too many distractions or my own errors in handling...) but he keeps showing me that he can handle more than I think. So proud of him!
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