FoxTal Training Center

08/10/2026

Tantoo earned her FH1 on Saturday with 90 points. It wasn't what I had hoped for or even expected but I am happy for the accomplishment because it gave us a clearer picture of what to work on.

When I started trialing Birdie in FH this particular test did not exist. There was only FH1 and FH2. Later the FH-V was created, an 800 pace track laid by the handler, with 3 articles, 4 turns and 5 legs aged 90 minutes. Essentially a handler-laid IGP3 on steroids. At that time it was an optional test and only a BH was the prerequisite for the FH1.

The latest rule changes changed the FH-V to be called FH1 (really dumb as it is confusing in scorebooks) and it is now a required step in the FH progression. The resting/aging time is now only 60 minutes.

Bird was 6 years old when she tried for FH1(the old one). Tantoo is 3.

Tantoo was more distracted by another tracklayer and then by the group of people observing, both things that we have not included in our training because we just dont have a group of people tracking together. It also says that if she was not anxious (long track, no food, people and a change in routine) she would have been more attentive to the track and not become distracted.

So, clearly we have work to do but she is young, enjoys tracking and I am confident she will only improve with experience. Today SG....tomorrow the world. Or World's?

08/04/2026

4 more days to trial.
Ran a half sized track with turns and arcs and one article at the end. Tomorrow I'll run just long first leg with an article and one turn to end.

08/02/2026

Tantoo Aug 1 2026 snapshot

08/02/2026

Tantoo's full track from yesterday. The last full track she will do before her FH1 next weekend. Really tall clover and wet! My poor little doggie disappears in it but maintains her attention to the track.
She has multiple cross-tracks, as well, when I direct my "helper" who is walking close to me and putting down flags, to cross over.

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08/02/2026

Tantoo's track card from yesterday. There are no crosstracks in the FH1 (pretty much an IGP3 on steroids) but we never practice for the short game.

07/29/2026

The bigger the machine gets the more expensive and the more we lose the personal interaction we valued.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Ua5H6f1C/

The Trump Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating veterinary consolidation amid petflation costs.

The Trump FTC has issued Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs)—legally binding requests requiring companies to produce documents and information—to all parties involved in the proposed Covetrus-MWI Animal Health merger as part of an investigation into potential antitrust concerns.

If approved, the merger would reduce the number of major national veterinary distributors from three to two, with the combined Covetrus-MWI company controlling up to 75 percent of the market.

Local antitrust attorney Joel Thayer told the Daily Caller the merger would dramatically reshape the veterinary distribution market, arguing it would leave one company with overwhelming control over prices and terms.

“It’s looking more like it’s going from, instead of a 3 to 2, it’s looking like it’s going to a 2 to 1, where one company is going to basically dictate all the terms and prices for that type of veterinary service.”

Research from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has also found that some pet owners have surrendered their animals because they could no longer afford or access necessary veterinary care.

Recent numbers also show that 22 percent of pet owners now carry more than $2,000 in pet-related debt, as the lifetime cost of owning a dog has climbed to roughly $35,000, with the cost of owning a cat not far behind, according to a Gallup poll.

Full story: http://dlvr.it/TTlFw4

07/28/2026

July 27 Tantoo's complete and unedited track for the crazy people in the back.

77°, winds had increased from 7-12 mph at our back.on the first leg (from s). Half length of FH1.
100% humidity but had not started to rain yet. Unbeknownst to me at the time, within an hour our area would be hit by a tornado. 3 articles, 4 turns.

Pull back on 3rd left turn. Wind at our back but it was also at our back for first turn. Speed seemed good and attention was to track but she continued past. She fights to get back to the track. On the next turn she checks to the right (wind direction) but keeps rear feet on track and pivots, being more careful. The stress shows in her speed increase on exit but she balances quickly.

Our next tracks will be article tracks to a turn. I am working on her clear understand of the article position, and how to adjust happily if it isnt correct. On this track I lured one back, one was perfect and one she correct with only a verbal help. It was a good learning day and I have a plan for tomorrow.

07/28/2026

Last 2 articles, learning to fix

07/27/2026

Something to be aware of. As I walked back to the van from laying Tantoo's track, I noticed a dead rat. Not chopped by a mower, just dead. I have never seen a rat on those fields before. 5 steps from the rat was a pile of dry dog kibble. Both of them were near my start flag.

It could be an odd coincidence. It could be poison. I generally allow my dogs to romp loose on our return to the vehicle. Thank God I noticed this first. A farmer can certainly take steps to control vermin and varmints and if it is poison, he likely did not even think of the tracking dogs he gave permission to a year ago.

When working SAR dogs we were always alert to potential traps or other hazards. Poison around cornfields in particular is not uncommon. Tom will reach out to the farmer and see what the scoop is, and hopefully it is nothing but my suspicious nature.

However, it is a good reminder to make sure you ask questions when you obtain permission:
1) are there any traps, poisons or other hazards I should be aware of or areas to avoid?
2) any loose dogs
3) any time/season/date restriction for use?
4) provide your contact information

07/26/2026

Tantoo's track today. One of those times I wish I would have recorded my tracks!!

Up at 0430 to track this morning. Nice short grass, cool temps (74 by track time). The track was 930 paces, 7 articles (3 one-third size, 4 trial size), 4 turns, 1 large arc. And cross-tracks!!! A teen girl who has been attending schutzhund club training without a dog said she would like to go tracking with me. Trust me, that impressed me! She got up super early to have her mom drive her over, learned a lesson about tennis shoes and wet grass and walked the tracks with me. I had her walk next to me as I layed the tracks, 4-6 steps away and placed the markers. I directed her here and there to cross the track to mark turns. That meant Tantoo had to work out cross tracks put down at the same time.

First leg- Really nice start. At the first article, a small one, she was a little forward and it was too close to her chest so I just used food to help her fix her position. She got two little pull backs for lifting her head to pay attention to something in the hedge row to our right and another for leaving the track to check the cross track before the turn. Those are new and I just brought her back prior to that and she tracked through it concentrating on the correct scent and taking a perfect corner, exiting without a change of speed.
The pull backs just serve to increase her focus to the track; they are not "pops"/corrections and do not leave her anxious or unsure. The goal is to address speed or inattention on the legs and avoid punishment at corners.

The remainder of the track was SO NICE! Her turns are excellent, articles indicated directly. I had several places where I deviated from straight lines, making an angle to avoid a fence line, a little s curve to get off the tire lines and a big arc (with a cross track she ignoted). Just follow your nose, little one.

She wont see another long track now until her FH1in
2 weeks. Until then it will be back to pieces and parts.