The quest continues….

https://youtu.be/apvLt_HPUWM?si=YHksdT4xfWOMT4DK

Fletch has now been on high dose steroids for one month.

Plan: stairstep at 4 hours. Goal: build his confidence with age.

Reality: I ran it at 3’45”. I got nervous about how old it was going to be! Laid it with a S10-20, walk 20-30, food at 10-15, pattern. Scuffed all turns, woods entrance, and little projection of deeper cover by pink flags. Food in article in woods, and article after woods (very small article). Restart cookies, and restart scuff, after every article.

Lovely start and first turn. For some reason he clearly thought it should go left, but made no effort to go there, and indicated strongly when he found it to the right. Crisp down on plastic (I think when he is thinking ‘down’ he responds crisply to the cue, when he’s not thinking down there’s a slower or absent response). The flag did throw him (as planned), nice recover. Turn at woods still hard, he figured it out and took the leg well. Loved how he worked through the little projection by the pink flags, and adored his woods entry. A bit rough at first in the woods, then he found it and was excellent. Metal article confirmed what I suggested above! After the tree root obstacle he changed—he clearly became more confident and bossy. Adored the turn out of the woods. He overshot the last turn, to my eye he had smelled something interesting up ahead, he checked that out and came nicely back to the track. Loved the down….look at me…..and then allowed him to fetch it.

I think I did better staying close/getting back to close on this track. Perhaps still too much “good boy” although it was thoughtful, as I felt his confidence was a bit low and I was hoping knowing I had his back might help. I do like how he worked challenges out in the woods….and how its teaching me to be patient.