Tonight we played a training game called "Timmy in the Well". Results were interesting. Dogs that usually aren't the best in class seemed to do better; while a couple of the best dogs (Gimme included) had difficulty. Her problem had a unique cause.
The set up is that we use barriers to make a smaller than usual search area - ours was an oval about 9 x 20 feet. The size of the area is intentionally small to reduce distraction and reduce inhibition caused by the handler's lack of movement. In our class all the dogs did well moving to the far end, except Kia, a Pomeranian. There is nothing in the area other than 9 boxes (1 with odor) and one chair.
You walk in with your dog, get your treats ready in your hand and let the dog smell them, then give the search cue and let the dog go. While the dog searches, you sit in the chair, remaining silent and still. When the dog finds the right box you get up and walk toward the dog as long as they stay at the box. If they leave the box, then you stop and wait for the dog to return to the right box and then walk toward them again, treating when you get all the way there.
The dog is considered to have left the box if they turn away from it or take steps away, except they can take one step toward the handler. The idea is for the dog to be shaped by your movement toward them into sticking with odor. Movement closer is reinforcing; stopping is not.
Gimme had a problem because she really wanted the treats (sugar-braised beef heart) and when I sat down she turned to me and mugged my hand, which I lifted up. Then Joyce told me to put both hands on my knees and wait. That posture is similar to one I use when I shape from sitting down and Gimme decided that's what we were doing, so naturally she threw every behavior she could think of at me, along with a lot of barking. I didn't expect that there, because its where we always do nosework and the boxes should have been a big clue for her. On the other hand, we are in the Targeting and Shaping class in that same room (once or twice a week). Often I've been on my feet all day, so I've probably sat for shaping before.
I tried after our turn (which seemed to take forever) to explain my thinking to Joyce... but she just thinks the boxes should take precedence over everything. I honestly didn't think that Gimme had really processed the "wherezit" cue before she saw what she thought was a visual cue for shaping (my posture) and visual cues take precedence over verbal cues. Also I'm not certain she'd really noticed the boxes. While she was throwing behaviors at me, she had her back turned to them as well. It wasn't until she'd worn out her entire repertoire that she finally turned and looked at the boxes and went to check them out. From the time when she went to check out the boxes until she got her treat, she was about average in time for our class.
The second time I purposely did it different, to make it clearer to her. I took her leash off and put my hand in her harness, then got the treats in the other hand and let her check them out, but not get any. Then I just paused holding her by the harness and waited until she really looked in the direction of the boxes and then I gave her the cue. She started toward the boxes, but my movement to sit in the chair caught her attention and she came back. This time she only threw a couple behaviors at me and barked a few times and then went back to the boxes and had it very quickly. So she did a lot better the second time and I think my changes had a lot to do with making the task clearer.
Our third session was a simple exterior search with odor stuck in a pinecone, placed under the common pee bush. I brought Gimme from the car with leash in her collar and let her potty nearby. Then I switched her to the line attached to her harness, walked her straight to the start line and sent her to find odor. She moved off the start so quickly that she went past it, but then quickly doubled back to the cone. Only one dog was faster than her.
Switching the leashes is a little cumbersome, but I want a real clear distinction for her. BTW on our last walk on a cement trail near the house (a nice 4.5 mile round trip), I really studied Gimme's marking behavior and precursors. I noticed she tends to find a spot where she wants to mark then side steps her heiney over it before squatting. So I'm hoping I'll be able to see that side-stepping in time to use it to interrupt any marking during nosework.
Also during that walk I saw the biggest raccoon on the planet. I swear he was 35 pounds - simply huge. I was sooooo thankful that I had Gimme on leash, so I was able to make some noise until he noticed us and moved off. I wouldn't have wanted Gimme to tangle with him. Raccoons normally retreat if they have the chance, but if they have to fight they are pretty nasty. Gimme surely would have won, but could still have gotten badly hurt.
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