We repeated the crouch-and-tap routine a couple more times before she started jumping in on her own. It was so exciting—by the end of that second lesson, she was jumping off the big dock!
I’ve always wanted to try tracking with my dogs, and it finally felt like the right time to give it a go. With Rumor by my side, I knew we had the perfect team to dive into this exciting new sport. The only challenge? Finding a class or seminar nearby proved trickier than I anticipated.
The trail kicked off as a packed grassy path, narrow enough to keep things interesting but wide enough for me to easily lead the way. We followed the trail along the coast, and I had to stop every few steps to take in the salty sea breeze and check out the views.
She stood there looking around, completely uninterested in the treat (a tuna brownie, no less—I mean, who can resist tuna brownies?).
I learned a valuable lesson about treats; thin slices of cheddar may show up better on the grass but they melt into a large melted cheddar blob in your pocket on a hot sunny day.
For this session, my helper was none other than my husband, who, after the last track-laying adventure, wisely opted to be the holder rather than the tracklayer.
I’ve never seen urban tracking before, and I can’t imagine how my dog will follow a scent trail along the pavement. My curiosity is piqued, and I’m excited to see how this challenge unfolds.
Training day dawned, and with it came rain. Is that okay? I know we need to practice in all types of weather, but since we’re just starting, should we really be training in the rain? Does it make it harder for the dog or maybe even easier?
He eventually laid the track: a 10-yard stretch that was perfectly straight except for a large curve between the first stake and the article. I dared not mention the arc—didn’t want to end the session before it even started.