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11/29/25 - Woods bounce-offs and parallels

After her strong interest to go into vs away from woods last class day, I asked Mary Ann to lay a track that parallels woods and does bounce-offs from woods. Mary Ann nailed the assignment (and shout out to Kelley who co-laid and was MVP for double lineups!). We ran the track at 1hr 15min old. Notes - what went well: Great start and 1st turn on the rails! Her article indications were really nice today.  I think our slowed down routine at articles is slowing her down and keeping energy / excitement from running wild. She feels more measured at restarts now. Turns - She was really clear to read on all with the exception of the last turn. In reviewing video, she gave a head turn at the final turn before going forward a little and then looking at woods.  Line work was good today - getting back up the line quickly + a behind the back line work on the final turn - felt like I supported her well when she committed.  She drank well before start and at articles Notes - To work on:...
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Warm November Days (Nov 17)

Location:  Robious Athletic Fields

Goal: ~Regulation length TD track (Serpentine)

Cover: cut short dry grass

Track layer: Self

Age: 35 min

Weather: 72*, partly cloudy, winds S 7-14mph, humidity 54%

Pattern: Serpentine with 1st 2 legs long.

  • Leg 1: S5W30F15  (4 food drops)
  • Leg 2: W5 - S5W50F25 (3 food drops)
  • Leg 3: W5 - S5W50F25 (1 food drop mid leg)
  • Leg 4: W5 - S5W50 - no food
  • Leg 5: W5 - S5W50F25 (1 food drop mid leg)

Article: Un-baited bandana at start + un-baited cotton glove at end; Rewarded food from treat bag

Track Map: Estimated 400 yards

Initial plan before I went
Track map with her "meanderings"

I tried out using my GPS watch to follow me (not her meanderings of course) and forgot that it does show speed so you can see how once she got down Leg 2 she was hauling and after taking most turns and an initial slow portion to verify track she was zooming.


3 things that went well:
  1. Great start - I got her to take water before we approached flag and then she was happy to get going
  2. BEAUTIFUL finish this time at an un-baited article - was really happy to have her down almost immediately without any cueing from me
  3. Nice long legs with little casting
3 things to work on:
  1. First turn was a bit messy today.
    Some middle school students crossed all over the 2nd half of Leg 1 just after I laid it and went off diagonally into the woods to go to the climbing gym. This really seemed to throw her today. Evie wanted to go follow their scent to the woods and when I wasn't following, she sat and let out a frustrated yip. I gave her some time to work through the turn and she sat and yipped again. I backed up and offered water (she refused). While she was looking to the woods, I tossed a food drop just after the turn on 2nd leg. When she came back to me, she air scented and then got her nose to work and we finished rest of track well. I know the 1st turn is the most important - today was some information. Will keep an eye on it. Definitely want it sharper
  2. She casted pretty wide on final leg after the turn (she went left and I followed right of the track- hence why the GPS looks like a cut corner).
    She ultimately corrected in and got to the article. The wind was picking up a bit but given the high temp and wind coming from South, I'm going to guess that it was just pushing some of the scent North (left of final track). When she was working the final turn (2nd and 3rd turn where dead on and clean), I did offer her some more water and she took it this time as it was pretty warm. This allowed her to reset and she then took the turn.
  3. Continuing working in longer patterns and no food legs.
    I didn't see a difference legs - she ate most of the food today but there wasn't a lot on any one leg. You can actually see the 4 food drop stops on the 1st leg color scale :). Her turn after the no food leg wasn't as crisp as Turns 2 & 3 - not sure if it was related to food free leg or just that we had a final leg with cross winds. I chose Leg 4 for food free leg because I wanted her to get a food drop on Leg 3 after doing 2 monster legs.
Next goal: Starts and article track. 
I'll be able to track most days over the next 10 days because of fall break so planning to make the most of this week!



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