The Great Goose Fiasco of Oh-Nine

It was the best of tracks... it was the worst of tracks....

After introducing new terrains (loose leaf, short grass, pavement, dirt, etc) the next step to training in tracking is to age the courses..

So. I set up 1 line and kept it fairly simple and then started a second a distance away. Since the track will be aged I'm using hot dogs more frequently to help him stay on the line.

I age the first one 40 min. By the time we get to the second it's been aged a good 45 min.

It was 45*f when we arrived at the park. Nice and sunny... and I wore fluffy socks with rubber boots, since it's swampy in places. During the time I run the dogs and lay the track the temperature starts plummeting (a period of about 90 min). It's now nearly freezing and I'm unable to feel my fingers or toes.

We start off strong... off we go. I notice a huge flock of geese (think 50+) are all over the last 150 yards of my track including the last turn and over a gravel path! Logan, not to be deterred, keeps tracking, the geese start running ahead of the giant gray bird dog... trying to escape certain death.

Logan has amazing work ethic and completely (ok, more or less) ignores them and is diligently trying to find the track. ... nose to the ground, weaving around, running around me in circles, casting-out... every trick he knows he's attempting trying to pick up the scent.

I'm realizing I cannot remember where the turn is, but figure he'll find the hot dogs at some point and I'll know where the turn was... no. No hot dogs. ANYWHERE. Geese are still running, fleeing for their lives, flying around us... honking, flapping their wings. Logan, running... me losing all feeling in both feet. My balance is now uncertain as the terrain is uneven and i have a 75lbs dog at the end of a 25ft lead pulling me around.

5 min. later, STILL NO HOT DOGS... and I'm fairly certain the article at the end is missing. as I could SWEAR I put it right over there (just about 20 feet off the gravel path) ... Logan is still working hard for me. I have now lost all feeling in my fingers... and I'm starting to worry about the entire lower half of my body.

Finally I wise up, as the dog nearly pulls me over, again, I drop the lead. "FIND IT LOGAN!"

Dog puts his nose in the air.... starts air scenting. Goes straight to the article that is across another path and nearly to the lake (a good 50 yards from where I placed it), looking pleased he comes running back with it. Delivering it to me... i attempt to release the few remaining hot dogs that have survived the Geese and give him some treats I'm carrying.

Not, exactly "tracking" but, we got my glove back AND about an hour after coming home and soaking my feet I regained all feeling. Somewhere, I hope at least a few of those horrible beasties had at least a bad case of stomach cramps. Paying for their ill begotten hot dogs.

Next, time I will loose the hound and forget the track.