November 7

Millie -- Pattern of scuffing, walking and food drops more or less the same as in previous week, this time back on short grass. Some 90 degree turns, some slightly open turns. Age 0:20. Overcast, warm and humid (for November), light air. 

Started well and with little searching on each of the three tracks. Stuck to each closely, and made each turn, albeit going 4'-5' through each corner before starting search. I am still trying to nail down a clearly defined action when she loses the track at a corner--slows down and gradually lifts her head, and then veers off to one side or another. Shows no preference for searching right or left.

November 8

Ilsa -- Short track of about 250 yards to work exclusively on very short grass. Sunny, 51 degrees, moderate breeze. Four turns, four articles. Age 2:00. Used scuffing pattern to give her drive (S10W15, with food or article @ 8 and/or 9). 

In this case stuck very closely to track and made each turn within 2 feet of the corner. Not bothered at all by short grass or wind conditions. I'll put this exercise into the rotation for a few times, and maybe try long grass--short grass--long grass transitions that I have a lot of on one of the fields I use.

November 9

Ilsa -- Long duration track (>950 yards). Sunny, 45 degrees, Gentle Breeze. Two very long legs, two shorter connecting legs, 4 turns, 4 articles. Age 1:30. Start and first 200 yards on short grass; most of rest of track long thick grass; one 100 yard section of short grass which cut diagonally across field. Regular steps throughout.

Start and first leg confident and committed. Turned cleanly (usual Ilsa pattern: search right, search left, and then come back to right when she's sure) on first and all subsequent turns (because of clockwise layout of track all turns RH). Pulled confidently on all legs, and had no problem making long cover to short or short to long transitions. Found and indicated all articles, even ones buried in deep grass. After 800 yards slowed slightly to a more sedate but still steady pace, and was still pulling when we got to the last article. A very nice endurance track under admittedly ideal conditions.

 

November 10

Millie--practice clean starts and turns. 4x Start/50yards/turn/50yards/article, each track with repeating pattern S10W3FW2. Sunny, 50 degrees, light air. Mostly long grass, with some sections of very short grass.

She is starting well, and shows loss of scent about 3' beyond each corner. No particular direction of searching, although she does seem to start searching in the direction of the next leg more often than not. Finds and indicates all articles. I need to try her on articles that are not so obvious as a big sock or glove--a small wallet might be good next time.

November 12

Millie--4 linked turns, with heavy scuffing at each corner after turn; food drops every 15 yards. Sunny, 60 degrees, light breeze. Long meadow grass; damp. 280 yards, 30 min.

No problem with start or turns. Showed determination to stick with track. She still has the disconcerting habit of walking crabwise parallel to the track 1-2' to the left, with her nose turned to the right over the correct line.

Ilsa--Article track--5 turns, 6 legs; 8 articles. One turn parallel to woods, one turn away from woods. Long meadow grass, damp. Sunny, 66 degrees, calm. 425 yards, 2:30 old. 

Good track in all respects--enthusiastic start, stuck to track on all legs; found all corners with little searching. All 8 articles indicated (and enthusiastically rewarded).

November 13 

Millie: 4x Practice tracks with repeated S10W3FW2/turn/same pattern. Sunny 50 degrees, clear. Very short grass on flat field. Really on top of things today--did not go more than 2' through any corner; stuck to tracks to the final article each time. Article indication is still a bit tepid.

November 14

Ilsa--Obstacle track (over a wall; woods with deep ravine; road crossing). Sunny, 41 degrees, gentle breeze. 465 yards, 6 turns, 5 articles; aged 1:50.

Excellent start in long grass, all turns on grass very good with only minimal searching. No problem at wall (walked up to barrier, stopped, waited to be lifted over, then picked up track immediately again). Excellent work in woods (stuck closely to track, found article). Came out of woods onto field a little sloppy, tracked 5' wide for about 20 yards, and in consequence missed article. Did, however, regain track on her own and finished strongly, crossing asphalt road at a diagonal and finding final article 30 yards beyond.

We need to work on transitions between woods and meadow so that she picks up track immediately beyond woodline.

November 16

Millie. 4 turn connected track (top hat), about 280 yards. Sunny, 38 degrees, light air. Very short grass; 0:15 old. Stuck to track well on every leg, except tracked a bit wide still on the second leg--otherwise dead on. First, third and fourth turns well executed. Managed the second turn only after a bit of difficulty, but still found the third leg. 

November 17

Ilsa. 8-turn modified stairstep; 450 yards; 2:30 old. 7 articles. 41 degrees, light air. Mostly long meadow grass, with some stretches of short mowed grass; damp.

Circled once at start (I brought her to the flag almost at right angles to the leg); then found the track and pulled with determination down the first leg. Had to circle twice at first corner, which was on thick pine straw, but found the next leg. Third turn and most subsequent turns made with a minimum of effort, except wanted to circle a bit to make sure on short grass. Found the next leg each time. Found all articles, although indication on a couple of them a bit half-hearted. Even though she regularly gets treated and praised with article finds, sometime it seems that she just wants to get on with the rest of the track without fussing over an article.

Still needs a bit more work on all cover--pine straw gives occasional problems, because she always likes to poke through it looking for critters.