We were up early this morning again tracking deer. Liam knew exactly which way to go but mom kept double guessing him 🤦♀️ the nose knows everytime! With every track we learn something new (or relearn to always trust the dog).
Favorite way to start our morning! Perfect cool temp, 350 yards, 2 90 degree turns, sat for 9 hours, and Liam nailed it! Our last practice track before our season starts this weekend!
Call, text, message or find us on the Trakr app if you need us! Good luck everyone this season 🦌
Practice Track - 400 yards
This morning we were finally able to get out and do a practice track. We've had a busy summer and the heat hasn't helped much either. Track was 12 hours old and only 400 yards with 2 90 degree turns and no beds. We used hooves only with our new BuckBrade Tracking Shoes!
What I learned with this practice track
- Liam is getting better with 90 degree turns the more we do them (first turn he blew threw but corrected himself after a little bit and searched for the scent again)
- In the past if Liam marks on something this typically means he is off the track and I need to reset him. Today he showed me that although he was off the track he new exactly where to pick it back up and he won't mark on the track
- Although it is early in the morning it is still hot and as seen toward the end of the track Liam was getting a little hot, so I should've offered him water and had him start where he was on the track. I believe this is why he circled a few times in the last 80 yards of the track as well
- Our "leave it" command is still solid. Although Liam knows he is tracking a deer, a few times he got distracted by frogs and mice that were in the grass, but each time he was told to "leave it" he left the critter alone and continued the track!
- As always- Trust the dog because the nose knows. This track wasn't marked much but if needed it was outlined on my phone as well. There were a few times I wondered if I should restart Liam based on his head and tail position but each time he reset himself without my help
There is always something to learn, whether it is a practice track or a real track. Every single time this boy teaches me something new and amazes me with what he can do. At the end he did play some tug with the hide and got to carry it back to the car as his reward too!
We are 1 month away from our season starting!
Post track hide tug reward! This was shortly after being called off a rabbit halfway through the track. We continue to work on our tracking and drive with the hide tugging during our off season!
