Nosework (6/4)

Last night was the last class of the fourth set.   We started with an outdoor search, which was challenging because of the way the wind was whipping around the building.  Gimme found the first hide easily, but wasn't catching the drift of the second one and so kept wanting to return to the first so she could paw at it and get paid again.  I had to keep her away from it, which put us in a spot where she could catch the scent for the other hide.  Then she was able to work through finding it, but it wasn't easy because of the wind and where it was located.

The second session was indoors and Joyce introduced a new concept.  The dogs are used to finding odor IN boxes, but not quite sure what to do when the tin is on the floor next to the box.  Odor out in the open is just outside their expectation.  The other hide was with the odor tin on a table that was similar to a counter top.  Gimme found the odor on the floor right away, just didn't stick it.  It was obvious she found it, but then she just went on and searched the rest of the room and finally came back to paw vigorously at it.  She really does love the hunt.  Then when it was on the table, it took a bit to find it (the air current sometimes moves very oddly in that building) and when she did she had no problem getting her feet up on the table.  Some of the other dogs were too well behaved.  Gimme has always been good about searching high up - I guess that is because I never discouraged it - I knew there was a reason I'm lazy about such things

The third session the on the floor hide got moved next to cooler on top of another box.  Gimme found that one right away.  Then Joyce had rearranged the stuff on the table so there were two boxes forming a v-shape with a gap at the back and then another laid across the top of those two.  The odor tin was in a little alcove formed by the boxes.  The idea was to extend the challenge, since the scent could drift out the back between the two boxes, but was only accessible from the front.  If they get the scent from behind the boxes, they have to puzzle through to go around the table.  Some dogs had difficulty with that; Gimme got it quickly. 

Today we didn't get to walk because by the time I got in gear it started raining and was pouring shortly thereafter.  I had errands to run.  Am still trying to locate a copy of Animal Wellness so I can see Gimme's pictures in the nosework article.   I am going to weigh in tomorrow and then if the weather is decent, will leave immediately and go to the fort.  Otherwise I'll go to work early and keep an eye on the weather for a good reason to skip out.

Our training session today was more of the listening skills stuff.  Its interesting that doing this is pointing out holes in her generalization of some of the cues.  So glad I'm keeping notes so I can know what I need to work on.  Otherwise with my crappy memory, we'd be in big trouble. 

Before I forget, wanted to share some silly girl creativity.  Gimme was in front of me and I cued her to "grape" (roll over).  She did, while spinning on the ground and coming up in a sit at heel.  I was six kinds of stunned - I just don't know where she comes up with these things.  Don't tell Gimme, but I think she's the brains of this outfit.