Our first day of tracking was awesome! We started at 9:30 am, it was sprinkling a little off & on. Trapper was ready to run & wasn't waiting well...so we were the first handlers to track with our dog this morning. Trapper & Rob hid with one trainer in the thicket on the other side of a big field. Then master Trainer, Jeremy heald onto Zion and I followed as best I could to watch how Zion tracks. It was amazing...Zion is a great tracker! After our track a couple others in our morning class tracked.
The photo above of Kayla (trainer for tracking dogs) is of one of the other families track. We were not able to carry our camera as Zion is super fast at tracking and there was no time for a photo shot.:0). The above photo is of beautiful little Erin, her mother Renee & her auntie Cindy, & her amazing service dog "Bubbles". This family just moved from Alaska to Virgina just a month or so before the training.
During our track, I followed on one & Rob followed on two other tracks (for other children & dogs) as well. On the last track, the Felix family started off & the rain began to pour down! We were all wet after that, but the Felix family & trainers got soaked.
Zion found Trapper & trainer right away. So exciting to see. He is such a good dog! At the end of the track, Zion was given his favorite treat & highly praised for his awesome job!
While waiting on a couple of the tracks to finish, we started 
playing a game of chase with Trapper & Zion...Trapper loved it! Of course Zion was very excited that his boy wanted to play with him. The only issue we're having with the two of them is that Zion loves to play & Trapper gets easily overwhelmed. Also Trapper doesn't want to give Zion his toys or allow him to eat his food (without sharing with Trapper)! :)
Trainers Jeremy & Jennifer answered many questions & concerns today. We are feeling a lot more confident with Zion & are starting to understand that Zion needs a bit more correction & thrives on Love, Praise & hot dogs.;)We need to lay-off on yummy chummy treats & treats in general...maybe give more praise & less treats...because he was pretty sick last night & today. Trapper said "Zion" today once & hugged him (with encouragement a few times). He loves when Zion plays "chase" with him & was caught several times running his fingers through his dogs fur.We love seeing Zion's concern for Trapper every time he cries...and Zion wants to be
next to Trapper whenever he is upset.I am so tired & need sleep...tomorrow we track again first thing. Oh & I absolutely love the "Spring loaded" class! What a great group of families!
Hi Leeth family,
ReplyDeleteWow!!! It sounds like you are having a wonderful time and learning a lot. Zion seems like such a smart dog. Tomorrow I am going to set up my computer with the projector so that I can show the class what Trapper has been doing.
We all miss Trapper and look forward to him coming back to school :)
"Miss Kim"