Phase 2 is similar to Phase 1 in having short tracks that get longer as the phase progresses. There are sessions with 2-3 fairly straight tracks in natural fields, 2 serpentine tracks on urban lawns, and 2 island-curb serpentine tracks in parking lots. Instead of laying the tracks one at a time and teasing the dog while we lay them like we did in Phase 1, we lay all 2-3 tracks in a row with the dog still in the car, then bring the dog out to run the tracks one after another. There are 12 sessions with the tracks starting out very short and gradually getting longer as the sessions progress. Another difference is we reduce the short-hard-steps to just the first 5 yards for the first 6 sessions and then all normal steps after that. And we stop adding food to the glove in the second half of the phase so the dog will learn to notice the glove by itself and then immediately get a fun party from his handler.
Gretzky was just 3 months old as this phase started and was just 4 months old as it ended. So I kept the track lengths close to 1/3 to 1/2 the normal length particularly for the natural field tracks where the tall grass was challenging for him. The Sports field tracks could be closer to normal length.
The first six session were uneventful and I only took videos occasionally. I do introduce the start sock in these sessions which may cause a bit of a distraction for the dog.
Gretzky P2.2 Sports Fields Two Serpentines. 75 yards & 105. The purpose of serpentines is to introduce the dog to staying close to the track as it makes gentle bends. Ideally we want the dog to stay right overtop the track but some searching at the bends is normal as the dog learns this new concept.
P2.2.1 75 yard serpentine. Gretzky is distracted by the sock but gets down to work soon. The segments are about 15 yards each with a slight bend at the flags and a treat mid-leg. Gretzky does a nice job bending right after the flag in each new direction and he is pretty reliable about finding the treats. Notice the fun glove game party we have at the end of each track.
P2.2.2 The serpentine are supposed to be generally downwind but due to their curving nature, the wind varies a lot. Track 2 starts out cross-wind but bends to be more downwind in the middle.
Gretzky was just 3 months old as this phase started and was just 4 months old as it ended. So I kept the track lengths close to 1/3 to 1/2 the normal length particularly for the natural field tracks where the tall grass was challenging for him. The Sports field tracks could be closer to normal length.
The first six session were uneventful and I only took videos occasionally. I do introduce the start sock in these sessions which may cause a bit of a distraction for the dog.
Gretzky P2.2 Sports Fields Two Serpentines. 75 yards & 105. The purpose of serpentines is to introduce the dog to staying close to the track as it makes gentle bends. Ideally we want the dog to stay right overtop the track but some searching at the bends is normal as the dog learns this new concept.
P2.2.1 75 yard serpentine. Gretzky is distracted by the sock but gets down to work soon. The segments are about 15 yards each with a slight bend at the flags and a treat mid-leg. Gretzky does a nice job bending right after the flag in each new direction and he is pretty reliable about finding the treats. Notice the fun glove game party we have at the end of each track.
P2.2.2 The serpentine are supposed to be generally downwind but due to their curving nature, the wind varies a lot. Track 2 starts out cross-wind but bends to be more downwind in the middle.
Gretzky P2.4 Natural Fields. Gretzky has been doing nicely on all three types of sessions but the taller grass in natural fields has caused him to get distracted or mentally tired so I have chosen to not only make his field tracks shorter but also give him only 2 rather than the normal 3.
P2.4.1 Gretzky is distracted and gets off the track at the start so I wait and then encourage him to find it. He does a nice job of searching for the track and committing to it once he finds it. Along the short track he corrects his direction toward the track several times quite nicely. While the grass is not tall in absolute terms, it is just over his head so presents a challenge. Nice glove game at the end.
P2.4.2 The grass starts to be mixed with a white flowering weed which is quite tangled and resists my footsteps as well as Gretzky trying to push through it. So the track is a harder than it should be and Gretzky shows his struggles as we get further down the track. He seeks channels of lower grass to the side because they are easier. Now it is important that a small dog learn to push his nose through tall grass but this became too hard and I had to help him. I try to let him do the work as much as possible without having him quit. I should have stopped the track and put down the glove before the section of tall white weeds near the end.
P2.4.1 Gretzky is distracted and gets off the track at the start so I wait and then encourage him to find it. He does a nice job of searching for the track and committing to it once he finds it. Along the short track he corrects his direction toward the track several times quite nicely. While the grass is not tall in absolute terms, it is just over his head so presents a challenge. Nice glove game at the end.
P2.4.2 The grass starts to be mixed with a white flowering weed which is quite tangled and resists my footsteps as well as Gretzky trying to push through it. So the track is a harder than it should be and Gretzky shows his struggles as we get further down the track. He seeks channels of lower grass to the side because they are easier. Now it is important that a small dog learn to push his nose through tall grass but this became too hard and I had to help him. I try to let him do the work as much as possible without having him quit. I should have stopped the track and put down the glove before the section of tall white weeds near the end.
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Gretzky P2.7 Field. I tried three tracks because the grass was shorter with lengths of 30, 50, and 110. The ruts in the field are at a diagonal provide low channels which hold scent and allows the dog to get off and have to find the track again - a chance to use your raise & lower line-handling techniques. A very new to tracking student is walking next to me observing and so you can hear me talking to her as the tracks progress.
P2.7.1 - The ruts are quite distracting but Gretzky corrects himself pretty well with only minimal increased tension and restraint. I am trying to hang back and let out more line to 15-20' although I shorten up quickly when he gets off in the ruts. Also note that while you give the dog 6-10' to either side of the track before restraining him, for a puppy each distance is cut in half so I am trying to keep him within 3-5' of the track. Sometimes, Gretzky thinks I am controlling him too much but that is normal for a Westie.
P2.7.2 - The student asks about how slow Gretzky tracks - her dog runs on her tracks with everything happening at super high speed. I explain Gretzky is slow in part because he is a puppy (Her dog is too but older) and also because he is more detailed oriented and less impulsive. Gretzky does an excellent job on this track - correcting himself and staying nicely focused on the track.
P2.7.3 - The length and the ruts combine to make this too difficult - he gets tired and easily distracted. So while he does some good tracking, and does not give up, I have to help him more than I'd like. Note the use of intermediate flags along the track every 30-50 yards so I know exactly where the track is located. Another good glove game at the end.
P2.7.1 - The ruts are quite distracting but Gretzky corrects himself pretty well with only minimal increased tension and restraint. I am trying to hang back and let out more line to 15-20' although I shorten up quickly when he gets off in the ruts. Also note that while you give the dog 6-10' to either side of the track before restraining him, for a puppy each distance is cut in half so I am trying to keep him within 3-5' of the track. Sometimes, Gretzky thinks I am controlling him too much but that is normal for a Westie.
P2.7.2 - The student asks about how slow Gretzky tracks - her dog runs on her tracks with everything happening at super high speed. I explain Gretzky is slow in part because he is a puppy (Her dog is too but older) and also because he is more detailed oriented and less impulsive. Gretzky does an excellent job on this track - correcting himself and staying nicely focused on the track.
P2.7.3 - The length and the ruts combine to make this too difficult - he gets tired and easily distracted. So while he does some good tracking, and does not give up, I have to help him more than I'd like. Note the use of intermediate flags along the track every 30-50 yards so I know exactly where the track is located. Another good glove game at the end.
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Gretzky P2.8 Sports Field Serpentines
P2.8.1 Gretzky 90-yard sports field serpentine bending to the left about 15 degrees every 15 yards. Gretzky starts focused and changes directions nicely at each flag. He does find some contamination and a dandelion to be distracting in the middle but returns to work nicely. Fun glove game at the end.
P2.8.2 Gretzky sports field serpentine bending to the right. Track was interrupted by loose dogs so the video is split into two parts. Gretzky starts out to the right of the track on the first couple of segments so you will see him holding him close with a fair amount of line tension. The wind caused him to want to follow scent to the side and while I want him right on the track, sometimes one has to let them work where they find scent. He notices a person and dog walking to the left near some trees and wants to go play - just more opportunity for me to practice my line work. Near the end of the Part 1 video you see him noticing the woman and dogs walking when she cleverly lets her dog off-lead. I work to keep him focused on the track but when they are running towards him, Gretzky will have none of the track and I have to pick him up to avoid a confrontation.
After I talk to the lady who finally catches up with her off-lead dogs and convince them to follow her back to the sidewalk, I put down the start sock and get Gretzky tracking again. The Glove is only 15 yards away.
P2.8.1 Gretzky 90-yard sports field serpentine bending to the left about 15 degrees every 15 yards. Gretzky starts focused and changes directions nicely at each flag. He does find some contamination and a dandelion to be distracting in the middle but returns to work nicely. Fun glove game at the end.
P2.8.2 Gretzky sports field serpentine bending to the right. Track was interrupted by loose dogs so the video is split into two parts. Gretzky starts out to the right of the track on the first couple of segments so you will see him holding him close with a fair amount of line tension. The wind caused him to want to follow scent to the side and while I want him right on the track, sometimes one has to let them work where they find scent. He notices a person and dog walking to the left near some trees and wants to go play - just more opportunity for me to practice my line work. Near the end of the Part 1 video you see him noticing the woman and dogs walking when she cleverly lets her dog off-lead. I work to keep him focused on the track but when they are running towards him, Gretzky will have none of the track and I have to pick him up to avoid a confrontation.
After I talk to the lady who finally catches up with her off-lead dogs and convince them to follow her back to the sidewalk, I put down the start sock and get Gretzky tracking again. The Glove is only 15 yards away.
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Gretzky P2.12 Island Curb Serpentines. 90 & 105 yards. Curbed-Island Serpentine will teach the dog to focus on the track on flat pavement. There are 4 such sessions in this Phase and this is the last session. In Phase 1 the dog learned to find scent along the vertical curbs. The curbs along the islands provide easy tracking next to the curb and a bigger challenge while crossing the flat gaps. By interspersing them, we get lots of good practice at finding and staying with a track on the flat pavement. Notice that each island has an easy article (cloth or leather) about midway along the curb.
P2.12.1 Gretzky 90 yards. Gretzky starts out staying right on the curb, circles at the beginning of the gap then focuses on the track across the gap. Just what I'd expect him to do. He finds an article along the curb of the next island and is ready to track right on by, but I restrain him and have a party to build his article indication. You can see my chalk marks at the beginning of the gaps and on the landing-site curb. Gretzky is a committed shopper using his eyes to find things in the gaps that might be interesting.
On the final curb he notices the fire hydrant and suspects it is troll waiting to pounce. So while he tries to get back to work, he needs help and support to get all the way down the curb to the glove and a big party. After the party, I take him over to the hydrant and he figures out it is nothing to worry about.
P2.12.2 Gretzky 105 yards. Gretzky was hot so we cooled off in the shade for a few minutes and had a nice drink. You can see Gretzky panting but he is able to work nicely. Notice how quiet I am while he works things out. Towards the end of this track, several of the lamb-lung treats are covered with ants - ugh.
On the final curb he notices the fire hydrant and suspects it is troll waiting to pounce. So while he tries to get back to work, he needs help and support to get all the way down the curb to the glove and a big party. After the party, I take him over to the hydrant and he figures out it is nothing to worry about.
P2.12.2 Gretzky 105 yards. Gretzky was hot so we cooled off in the shade for a few minutes and had a nice drink. You can see Gretzky panting but he is able to work nicely. Notice how quiet I am while he works things out. Towards the end of this track, several of the lamb-lung treats are covered with ants - ugh.
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