Sizzle's Training Blog

Sizzle did a track at the fields near the Battlefield Green Community Center and Valero.  She was slow and steady as always eating a lot of the food on the track. She looked around at the turn for just a moment and then took it.  I'm very happy with how she's tracking.  Today in addition to the video I drew a map and used an app called Dog Tracks 2.0.  I like the way the app works and even tho it may not be completely accurate, it gave me a nice map.  

 We just barely got to run the track I laid for Sizzle before we had to get home out of the thunder and lightening so Cheeky and Fanny didn't get to track today.  I even left the flags and clip in the field to come back for them later.  The track was one leg of 70 scuff steps, a left turn and 40 scuff steps with food drops every three steps.  Sizzle was clearly unsure about the weather and was initially trying to stand by me and looked to me to quit.  She kept coming around behind me and putting her front feet on my back which she does sometimes to get my attention.   I was patient and just waited for her to go back to work and she eventually did.  She found the glove and we quickly made it back to the van.  When I got in the van I pulled up a weather app called Carrot and this is what I saw. I did record the track with my chest harness.  I was a little more talkative than I should be during a track.  Please ignore my commentary or ...

I laid another track with two 60-scuff step legs and a left turn and food every three steps.  Sizzle did a fantastic job tracking and ate about every other hot dog.  At the left turn she sniffed the turn and figured out which way the track went quickly.  I did a better job videoing Sizzle's track since it was the second one I recorded and it looks pretty good.  Below is the map of Sizzle's track:

We went tracking at the Community Center near 360 and did Sizzle's first left turn.  It was around 61°F at 3 pm.  I laid a track that was two 60-step legs (scuffing all steps) with a left turn and food every three steps.  I had to abandon Sizzle's first track after the first leg because there was broken glass all over the ground.  So I went to a field across a small road which is right next to 360.  Sizzle did a great job on her track and the turn and wasn't bothered at all by the busy road or traffic.  She kept her nose down and working the whole time.  Below is my map of Sizzle's track.

We tracked at Cold Harbor Battlefield around 4 pm.  It was 64°F and wind was going to the left over the tracks at about 8-10 mph.  I laid three tracks that were 70/80/90 scuff steps with food every three steps.  Sizzle did a fantastic job even though she was blown off to the left a few times.  Each time she found the scent and got right back to work.  She ate about every other hot dog.  I did find out not to put cheese in her articles.  She was having none of that and in the first article that had hot dog and cheese in it, she actually spit out the cheese to get more hot dog.  Too funny! 🤣 Today I took a couple photos of my line-ups.  This was the double line-up in front of me. This was behind me.

We tracked back at the field by the Battlefield Green subdivision/Community Center and Valero on 360.  It was  52°F and wind was 10-15 mph north and we were going west down the tracks so wind was blowing Sizzle to the right quite a bit, but the scent did bring her back to the track.  I practiced keeping pressure on the line and she kept her nose down the entire time.  Today's tracks were  60/70/80 scuff steps with food  drops every 3 steps.

Today we went to Cold Harbor Battlefield for the first time this year.  We have tracked near there, but not actually at the Battlefield until today.  It was very busy around 2 pm (I guess because of the holiday).  It was 41°F and not windy. I laid tracks that were 50/60/70 scuff steps and food drops every three steps.  Sizzle did great and ate a lot of the food.  She stayed right on the tracks and was excited to find the articles.  Today since we were at the battlefield I used clothes pins instead of flags at the start and about 6 steps before the article.  Sizzle is always enthusiastic about tracking.  I laid her tracks in the big field which is always a great place to track.  The grass is cut pretty short right now.

 We went to the fields near 360 and Valero outside our subdivision. I laid tracks for Cheeky and Sizzle 40/50/60 steps.  I noticed Sizzle starting to spot the article about 3-5 feet in front of her and running towards it the same way Cheeky does.  Sizzle's first track had food drops every two steps.  For the next two I did food drops every three steps and she had no issues with that.  She stayed right on her tracks and did a great job as usual.

It was 43°F with 12 mph winds. Sizzle did two tracks of 20/30 scuff steps with food every two steps. She did the same thing Cheeky did and ran for the article once she saw it.

Sizzle’s 80 scuff step track was a bit too much for her but she got to work and found her glove. She’s still very good and eating most of the treats and using her nose but since this was only her third time tracking I need to go back to 15,20,25 with her for a week or so.

 Sizzle did a 50-scuff step track with food every two steps. Sizzle was onc again wagging and very happy the whole time and ate pretty much all the food on the track. She's very cute trying to keep her butt in the air but laid down to get her hot dogs out of the glove.

Today was Sizzle's first time tracking.  We went to a small battlefield near Gaines Mill Battlefield.  She went with Cheeky and Fanny when we went out to practice. I just kept the leash on her collar and didn't worry about a harness for today.  I laid three tracks of 15, 20 and 25 scuff steps and hot dogs every two steps.  She was very happy to be out doing something with me.  Sizzle ate almost all the hot dogs on her track and kept her nose to the ground working.   She laid down on command to get her hot dogs out of the glove.  Sizzle was a natural and happy the whole time.