Tein tänään iltapäivällä Merlinille kolme makkararuutua, joissa ei tosin ollut makkaraa vaan sen omia nappuloita liotettuina. Ruutujen tallauksen ajan Merlin harjoitteli hihnaan kytkettynä odottamista mikä sujui melko huonosti. Kun se oli sitä mieltä, että henki ei kohta enää kulje ja kuristuu ja vaikka mitä, huusin sille "istu" ja se vähän helpotti asiaa.

Työskentely ruuduissa sujui ihan kivasti, joskin Merlin jostain syystä asettui helposti maate imuroidessaan ruokaa maasta. Ruudusta toiseen vain mielestäni siirryttyä sopivissa kohdin ja sujuvasti ja Merlin kävi ruutujen reunalla sopivasti ja palasi itse takaisin tallatulle alueelle, eli ehkä jotain oivallustakin tapahtui.

Today I started training tracking with Merlin. I stamped / stepped on approximately 1 x 1 m area in the grass and spread lots of food in it. I repeated this in 3 places in the lawn. Merlin was learning how to wait peacefully on leash while I did it - he needs more practice in it. :-D

Then I took Merlin on leash to a corner of the first 1 x 1 m area and showed it to him with my hand. He started to sniff the ground and realized there is food. He got to move in the stamped square eating food and if he went out of the stamped square there was no food - but as soon as he got back to the stamped area there was food again. This way the dog learns that it is worth it to focus on the areas of crushed grass/ground. 

I moved on the next stamped square before the food was all eaten. This way we worked all three squares and the practice was done.