Today was a heavy day on tracking. Zion has been doing awesome, but in the last two tracks Jami handled & I hide with Trapper, there have been some issues with tracking (not for me, but for Jami). I think mainly due to the fact that Trapper is still so new to Zion and it takes more time than what we have had so far to develop that strong bond, plus Zion is looking to us to see if he has done well & we need to kick up his excitement a little more...he's still learning what we are asking of him or who we want him to track. Still, Zion has done remarkably well in tracking Trapper.
Today we started with two tracks at a local park in Xenia, OH. The first one was difficult as we crossed tracks with another family who had just walked over the trail that Trapper and I made as we walked through the grass/woods.
Also, it was pretty windy so the scent was really pushed around quite a bit. After the first attempt we did another track in a different direction. Zion did very well with this one and located Trapper within minutes of starting the track. Before starting the second track my mom and Katie came to the park to visit and Katie got to hide with Trapper. She enjoyed it very much and wanted Zion to track again. We had to remind Katie that this wasn't exactly a hide and seek game. The last thing we need is Katie and Trapper running off to play hide and seek with Zion.:)
After tracking in the park we headed back to the facility for more obedience/intervention training. Zion did well but was pretty tired from all the tracking earlier.
In the afternoon we headed back to the big mall in town and did two tracks in JC Penney. Zion did well there also and found Trapper quickly. Once hidden in a changing room and once hidden amongst clothing racks. Zion works pretty efficiently in public. He is impressive at all tracking, but it's pretty amazing with all the scents @ the mall...he is so quick to find Trapper. Also he has been trained to bark twice when he sees Trapper walk away. That we love.
Also, I took Trapper to the Pool again tonight. Jami was busy doing laundry & packing a couple boxes to ship back to Alaska. Trapper screamed the entire way @ a very loud volume all the way back to our hotel room, and then for about ten more minutes while Zion tried to "Nuzzle" him. The kid loves water and has absolutely no fear.
We have 2 more days after today and everyone is getting pretty tired. Training with the dogs and keeping kids in check wears on you pretty quickly. After the two days are up we get to look forward to a long day in the airports again on our way back to Alaska. Ugh! I will be glad when Saturday night comes and we are back in our own beds and off planes!
Written by Rob (Trapper's Daddy)
Note from the Mom: I can't believe it! Someone stole Trapper's shoes at the mall today! The only shoes I can get him to wear are these little Keens & someone actually took his shoes from the kids play area today!
No comments:
Post a Comment