Tracking (41 & 42)

Gimme and I tracked at Flaming Geyser on Saturday, March 24th.  Since I was in the area, this was a perfect time to start working on older tracks toward a TDX. So, I laid a simple field track for Gimme and then went to visit my mother. I was aiming for 2 hours, but it turned into 2:10. Just before we started, a guy walked out and set up one-third of the way down the first leg, to fly his drone (red dot). Gimme struggled on the first leg and having a man just five feet from her track was a really huge distraction. Once she got past him, then she was able to focus on her work.

She did a great job on the first corner and quickly found the first article and then got through the second corner easily. Unfortunately she was going too fast and overran the third corner substantially, at least 50 feet.  Clearly I didn't make a detailed map.  She caught the drift of the glove on the next leg and was able to work back to it. From there to the end she did a lovely job. 

Since this track was an increase of 40 minutes from next oldest track she's ever run, I was very impressed with her efforts. What a good girl!

Yesterday, on Thursday, April 12th, Nadine had a conflict, so I used the opportunity to set up another well-aged track at Flaming Geyser. This 505 yard track was aged 2:18. The ground was wet, with a slight breeze. Gimme spent time getting her confidence on the first leg and took her time to work out the first turn. She did fine on the second turn, but overran the third by 15 yards. She caught her mistake quickly and I only needed to move her back a bit to get in the vicinity of the next leg so she could find the track. She often overshoots turns, so I always assume I need to move back when she searches - I can count on the corner being somewhere behind me.

Gimme aced the fourth corner, which was in a bit of a depression.  Then she was going too fast and passed the last corner. It didn't help to have the breeze blowing the scent in the direction of the turn (away from her). Still she realized her own mistake and started swinging around to search for the track. She found it pretty easily with a bit of me backing up (always a good plan).

While it took her a little time, usually the whole first leg, to get confident on these two old tracks - from there to the end she did nicely both times. She has an AMAZING nose...