Gimme Chooses Mom

Today we went to a morning workshop on agility foundation with Andrea Dexter.  Didn't know what to expect from the instructor or from Gimme.  Andrea has some really great ideas about foundation work and I highly recommend her foundation seminar to anyone starting a dog in agility.

There were 8 working teams, three with were teenage dogs and the rest younger.  The first exercise was on transitions and I was sure happy that we'd already done some CU work.  The other teams were mostly learning about making the transition and how to get their dog into a thinking brain.  Gimme and I started at the car with reorienting as she got out of her crate, then again out of the car, then again entering the arena.  We walked a few steps which was enough for her to be distracted by the environment, so then I waited for her to choose to focus on me.  This happened a few times and then she was all about her Mom. 

So we did some run away games and Gimme was really wanting to stick with me.  Andrea stepped on her leash and distracted her once, Gimme chose me.  Andrea used my regular treats and distracted her, Gimme chose me.  Andrea took a bit of my peanut butter to distract her, Gimme chose me.  Then Andrea took my whole freakin' jar of peanut butter to distract her and my sweet darling baby girl still chose ME! 

I am misty eyed with the memory of this experience.  I mean, I love this dog crazy-like and I believe we have a great relationship.  But Holy Criminy... GIMME CHOSE ME OVER PEANUT BUTTER!!!!  And that was even knowing I didn't have any at all cuz she saw the transfer of the jar!

Andrea had a lot of nice things to say about Gimme and I was sooooo happy with all the foundation work we've done and what learning CU has brought to the table.  It adds a whole new element to Gimme's abilities.  By then I had so much attention from Gimme that we were able to heel out of the arena and to the car - whilst hearing Andrea pointing out our "lovely heeling". 

For our second working session, Gimme was really ready to go... with just a tiny bit of distraction.  I didn't have anything in particular that I wanted to work on, since we are really just starting agility.  I told Andrea where we are and what we are doing and then said, "feel free to chose something yourself,"  so she jumped at the chance to demonstrate something the other dogs weren't really up for.

So there we are free-shaping a completely new behavior in a strange place with 15 people watching and dogs in crates nearby.  At one point Gimme did notice one of the dogs and started to drift in that direction, yet she came perfectly when called.  After that I tossed her reward cookies in a different direction.  Twice Gimme made a leap in understanding and twice Andrea pointed it out, saying it was "accidental".  I just smiled as Gimme repeated the accidental behavior three or four more times.  After the second time, Andrea didn't say that again.  Gimme loves free-shaping and is verrrrry good at it. 

So it was a very fun day and even if I hadn't learned things, I'd still be very happy with the day because I could really see how far Gimme has come in a relatively short time.  It really is cool living with the smartest and the cutest puppy on the planet.