Snow Tracking

Snow tracking is great for working with your dog on different surfaces.  Snow really holds the scent, so it makes variable surface much easier.  Get lost in the snow and Magnum and I will find you! 

While in Michigan over the holidays with over 3 feet of snow, we tracked.  Our only problem was me.  Magnum demonstrated why he is a springer in that he sprang through the snow.  I struggled to make it through the 3 feet of snow.

Now in Ohio with 6 inches or so of snow, the tracking is great.  We tracked Sunday in a business parking lot with part of it plowed.  The track was through a lot of snow and then on more cleared areas.  The track hugged the curbs.  I continue to have Magnum work on curbs because they hold the scent.  I am trying to convince him that concrete holds the scent, if he will just keep his nose down and not use his eyes to look for articles.  He is still struggling with just tracking just on concrete.  The week before on concrete with no snow he did well but used his eyes more than his nose.  My friend and I threatened to blindfold him.

On the parking lot with snow he did very well.  About 80 feet or so on the 1^st leg he indicated there was an article.  I looked for it, but couldn’t find anything in the snow.  I turned and asked Alan if there was an article and he said not there but further along.  We didn’t find the article on that leg, but he made the turn and found the next article. Magnum continued on and found all the articles (plastic, metal, and leather). 

After we finished, I told Alan we would go back and look for the missing 1^st article Magnum hadn’t found.  Magnum and I went back to the 80-foot area and I re-scented him and said, “Find it.”  Magnum sniffed around then used his nose as a scoop and pulled up the article.  It had been there all along, but had gotten smashed down.  Alan was impressed that Magnum found it and I was too.

Don’t use snow as an excuse not to track.   Your dog can do it.

Peak Performance

I heard a discussion on NPR about peak performance – have we reached it?  It got me thinking about the concept.  As a baby boomer, I have believed in my endless youth.  I now realize that my youth is over.  And in fact, for many of the activities I do, I am past peak performance.  It doesn’t make the activity less enjoyable, just I am not as good as I once was.  I am slower and more cautious.  For most athletic activities, youth is needed for peak performance.

Then I saw an article in the Parade magazine in the newspaper about Olga Katelko, a super senior.  At 77 she took up track and field for master’s level.   She brook 20 records at 85 and at 90 is still competing in long jump and high jumping.  Whew, you go girl.  One of the interesting facts is that she rarely sits still, constantly jumping up and doing stuff.  It got me moving too.

But there are other activities that youth isn’t the key factor.  I read more now and read a wider variety of books and think my comprehension is better.  I tried to be a good mother and was the best for my ability, but probably wasn’t the best.  Now I have a chance to be a great grandmother.  I am sure there are many other activities that aren’t reliant upon youth.  I am just pleased that I still ride my bike, walk, cross -country ski, track with my dog, and am half of my dog’s agility team.  Maybe peak performance isn’t important.