March 4, 2025

 QUESTION:  What should you do if your start article has been blown 6 feet directly to the right of your start flag?  

This happened to us today on our 2nd track.  Since Vivi went to the glove, I had her down and gave her a treat.  I then moved it to the start flag where I had her down and treated her before we started to track.  Later I was thinking that was not the correct thing to do because I seem to remember a discussion at the November tracking test about not being allowed to put the article on the ground to re-scent the dog and I thought that might apply in this case.






Some of Vivi's distractions at the start of the 1st track:
  1. A decapitated bird (I thought it was a chicken, but the owner of the property said it wasn't a chicken but she didn't know what it was.  They do not own chickens so something dropped it there.
  2. Knobbin - His friend, Bentley, died earlier this year so he has been alone, but now he has a new friend... hopefully, they are separated by a fence at the present time.
  3. Delilah - a retired show pony that is now staying with the Mashburn's to give Knobbin a friend.
  4. No picture of the black cat that ran across 3 of our tracks right after I laid them all.  
   











Comments

  1. Jack's JourneyMarch 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM

    I think in training, your approach to the blown article was fine. Or as you realize it isn't at the flag, put her up, go pick it up and put it at flag, run as normal.
    In a test, after she downed the first time, pick it up but don't place it down again. I suspect the judges would direct the tracklayer to walk up and drop a new start article. Let's see what Judi says, she has seen it all!

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  2. JudiMarch 5, 2025 at 5:10 PM

    An animal menagerie! I know Delilah (she was an awesome show pony), and I think I know Knobbin! OK, to your question. I’d probably pick up the article, and if necessary, as the judges if you can move it to the flag. In the ‘old days’ there wasn’t a start article for TD—I’m actually unimpressed at its value. BUT, if it matters to you, if it’s part of your routine….ask. On the other hand, now you know this could happen….so train for it! Leave your article 6’ from the start flag, and let Vivi figure it out. I’d make sure there was a jackpot at about 20 ft so she is rewarded for making the correct decision.

    Cat cross tracks happen, as do raccoon, rabbit, fox, deer, bear, possum, etc etc etc. Good practice!

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