1.1 Natural Field | Straight with a Curve
Date: July 29, 2024
Track Layer: Paul, the husband
Location: Nauwigewauk Ball Field
Weather: Hot/Sunny
Wind: A bit windy and difficult to pinpoint direction
Track Lengths: 10 yds., 20 yds. and 30 yds.
I have a confession to make. I skipped the section in the book 1.0 – Practice being a Tracklayer and being a Handler and went straight to session 1.1. It seemed silly and unnecessary. I was wrong and am committed to making better decisions in the future 🙂
For our first session, I needed to find a “natural field.” Easy, right? Well, as a seasoned business analyst, “natural field” left me with way too many questions. I immediately Googled “meadow,” “pristine meadow,” and “silage field” as referenced in the book. My results? Let’s just say Google didn’t have the answers I was looking for. I still had questions. Does my meadow have too many weeds? What is the needed ratio of grass to weeds? How long should the grass be? How dense should the grass be? Is it ok if there are bald spots?
I eventually settled on a nearby ball field with an unkempt outfield. The grass was nice and thick, about 9 inches high. Sure, it might have leaned more toward an “Urban Lawn,” but it seemed unused recently, so minimal contamination. All in all, a decent choice!
Session 1.1.1 had a rocky start. I watched my tracklayer place the starting stake in the ground and then wander around it, creating a 6ft circle as he fiddled with the other items in his arms. I quickly realized that motivation applies to the tracklayer as much as to the dog. I couldn’t help blurting out, “Stop! Stop! What are you doing? You are dropping scent everywhere!” This led to an animated discussion as we sorted out the track-laying details.
He eventually laid the track: a 10-yard stretch that was perfectly straight except for a large curve extending from the first stake all the way to the article 🙂 I dared not mention the arc—didn’t want to end the session before it even started. We’d just track it and see what happened.
Rumor was beside herself with excitement, pulling towards the track as he laid it. After waiting five minutes for the scent to age, I brought her to the start, ready to give the cue. Cue? Oh no, what’s my cue? I hadn’t planned for this. “Track it!” I yelled. She followed the arc mostly and spotted the glove quickly. It was all about the glove then, and I made a big deal over her finding it. We played a bit, but she wanted a tug and chew session. I switched tactics, lifting and placing the glove down on the ground with a treat on it. Several reps later, she seemed to enjoy it.
Overall, Rumor did a good job on this first track. My leash handling, however, did not meet the “Light-Comfortable Tension” standard as described in the book. I struggled to manage the 20ft line and what to do when she veered off the track or passed the treat.
Session 1.1.2 went slightly better with the tracklaying but worse with tracking and handling. I forgot the cue I used in 1.1.1 and improvised this time. Rumor hit the track quickly but was all over the place, resulting in a tight leash as I tried to steer her back to the track.
Session 1.1.3 began with a debate over the wind’s direction. My tracklayer decided it was circling and he was just going to pick a direction and go with it. As he laid the track, the tape on the top of the stake clearly indicated a crosswind, but I kept quiet—he was my ride home 🙂 I decided to track it anyway. This one felt much better over all. Rumor was coming off the track a bit in the direction of the wind but was quickly finding her way back.
After our session, I eagerly reviewed the videos. Big mistake. Watching a friend’s video of her dog’s first tracking session, everything looked so clean. In contrast, my videos seemed like a hot mess. The third track was the best but unfortunately, we do not have the full track on video. Was it as good as I remembered?
My videos weren’t like the polished ones other trackers post. Discouraged, I questioned my ability to do this and even questioned the method itself. Right field? Closer treats? Enough pad stamping? Am I holding the leash correctly? Why is this leash getting tangled around her feet?
Evaluation: I revisited the book and read the evaluation section.
If he used his nose at all, even for just an instant, you have had a very successful session.
— Sil Sanders
The line “If he used his nose at all, even for just an instant, you have had a very successful session” stood out. Rumor did use her nose, especially in the third track where her head barely came up. I felt much better. Plus, her motivation was undeniable—she couldn’t wait to hit the track every time, and that’s invaluable.
Following this session and my emotional ups and downs, I found the Facebook group, Modern Enthusiastic Tracking Group. What a great resource and confidence booster. I was thrilled to get feedback from group members and even Sil himself.
My positivity meter is rising.
Below is a video of track 1.1.1, our first track ever!
