Gimme has really been pestering me because she doesn't think she's getting enough training. Seriously, 4 training days a week and three 3 mile walks a week is not enough for her. She'd train every day, several times a day if I didn't have this ridiculous need to sleep and work and other foolish habits.
Tonight we did the scent discrimination with the Altoid tins. She did better at it. Still brings me some wrong tins, but less than last time. I've noticed the first time she always brings me the wrong tins first and then the right one. I think next time I'm going to start the session with just one simple retrieve of the hand-scented tin and see if that makes a difference. I do find it helps a LOT if I make her sit beside me and settle for a moment before letting her go get it.
After that we worked on her "foos" behavior, that's the paw whack on her yellow mousepad - the basis for her agility running contacts. It's just amazing how much she loves this. It doesn't matter where I put it, she still gets to it and paws at it. Sometimes she hits it with both feet and skis a bit on it - so I have to be careful not to set it too near the couch or loveseat, unless I have a burning desire to move furniture.
Nosework class was great as always. Gimme is very good and so fast at finding her hides. When the hides started getting harder, she initially spent extra time finding them, but has since gotten back to pretty close to her original speed. She does continue to have trouble with hides that are near the threshold, though she did a little better tonight - getting one of the two really quickly.
All the dogs continue to progress pretty steadily. Our friend Grafton is in the later class, but sometimes they come early and do a run in our class, so it was great to see him tonight. Gimme is easily the best and fastest of those in her class. As much as I hate a braggart - I am one (especially when it comes to the Empress of the Cosmos); it just can't be helped.
I have everything ready for our Home Depot field trip, which I plan to do on Friday. I'm really looking forward to it. On Sunday I'm going to try to find some place suitable to do an exterior field trip.
2 comments:
Home Depot doesn't mind if you use paired hides?
I only go to a Home Depot that permits dogs - this one has known Gimme since she was a puppy. I asked a shift manager once if it was okay to use the building to do "search training" and he said "yes". So I just do it. Honestly I don't think they pay any attention to what I'm doing.
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