Backtracking...any advise PLEASE
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:19 am
I have two younger dogs that have only been on a few bobs last year, and they did great for not having any experience with cats. They chased a handful this year but I haven't caught any yet.
This year was their first on lion and they have done GREAT catching the first one they ever smelled all on their own and then several more all on their own!
But lately they have been running bober tracks backwards.
Last time out we cut a 12-hour-old track. They took it great and trailed outa hearing. I caught up to them about 1 or 2 miles down the trail where they had made a tough loose in a brushy canyon. We (the two dogs and me) tried very hard for the next hour to line the cat out but we only moved it several hundred yards further down the canyon.
It started snowing pretty well and eventually the dogs did line it out, BUT going backwards, down the track they just trailed (the only difference is it had 1or 2 inches of fresh snow in it). They ran it all the way past the bike (where we started) and I caught them well beyond the bike, it made for a very frustrating day!
It snowed another 2 inches that night.
Then the next day I cut another track, again probably 12 hours old. They tried to start this one backwards but (being ready for it now) I quickly stopped them and they took it the right way. Ran it fast for only ΒΌ mile, made a quick loose, then lined is out fast again. When I finally cut their tracks I see they left the 12-hour-old track (with no snow in it) for an older track (probably 36 hours old) with 2 inches of snow in it. PLUS they were running the older track backwards!
What do you guys think? Am I wasting my time with these dogs, or is there something I can do? I really liked them last year, and they did great on lion this year!
Thanks for any advise.
This year was their first on lion and they have done GREAT catching the first one they ever smelled all on their own and then several more all on their own!
But lately they have been running bober tracks backwards.
Last time out we cut a 12-hour-old track. They took it great and trailed outa hearing. I caught up to them about 1 or 2 miles down the trail where they had made a tough loose in a brushy canyon. We (the two dogs and me) tried very hard for the next hour to line the cat out but we only moved it several hundred yards further down the canyon.
It started snowing pretty well and eventually the dogs did line it out, BUT going backwards, down the track they just trailed (the only difference is it had 1or 2 inches of fresh snow in it). They ran it all the way past the bike (where we started) and I caught them well beyond the bike, it made for a very frustrating day!
It snowed another 2 inches that night.
Then the next day I cut another track, again probably 12 hours old. They tried to start this one backwards but (being ready for it now) I quickly stopped them and they took it the right way. Ran it fast for only ΒΌ mile, made a quick loose, then lined is out fast again. When I finally cut their tracks I see they left the 12-hour-old track (with no snow in it) for an older track (probably 36 hours old) with 2 inches of snow in it. PLUS they were running the older track backwards!
What do you guys think? Am I wasting my time with these dogs, or is there something I can do? I really liked them last year, and they did great on lion this year!
Thanks for any advise.