Nosework (4/7)

Joyce has just come from an instructor training and brought back some games.  Gimme did well at them, though I'm not sure she considers them "real" nosework.  Usually after she's done her first search, she settles down and waits patiently and quietly.  Not tonight.  She whined and fussed throughout the whole class until after our third set, which she considered a "real" search.  Then she was quiet.  After class we went with Mary and Grafton for a short walk.  Then she proceeded to whine all the way home - having done only one "real" search.  At least that is my take on her behavior - it could be something entirely different.

Raced home to make sure I got my trial entry in for the November 4th trial in Renton.  If I don't get into that one, will enter another trial for the same weekend in Oregon.  Of course neither are guaranteed and even if we get in, if Gimme comes in season at all late, we'll pull rather than have an experience like our third ORT attempt when she was in season.

So about the games in class.

The first game I'll call the One-Two Game...

• The purpose is to teach the dog to go directly to odor when they notice it nearby and its also about letting them tell you its there, instead of them waiting for you to tell them to look.  
• ONE hide is set up in a spot that is super easy to find.  You start the dog from five feet away, and without giving them a search cue, let them notice the odor and pull you toward it.  A dog with less desire than Gimme might not pull, so you keep a very light tension on the line and let them tell you the odor is there.  If they get to it in a direct line and don't pass source, then reward at source.  If they go past it, then you walk in a circle turning away from the odor and returning to the start line.  Do this as many times as it takes until they go directly to source.
• Repeat three or four times so they understand the pattern.  After each iteration, circle away, returning to the start line.
• The next step is to repeat the ONE hide and as the dog is getting rewarded, someone sets the TWO hide about five feet away.  Wait for the dog to notice the second hide and head toward it.  If they get to it in a direct line and don't pass source, then reward at source.  If they go past it, then you walk in a circle turning away from the odor and returning to the start line.  Your assistant will take up the TWO hide while you are returning to the startline.  Repeat starting from the start line and the ONE hide.  Once the dog is successful, repeat three or four times.

Gimme was pretty good at the One-Two Game.  Once she realized she had to go direct, she got very good at doing it.  Even though it wasn't "real" nosework, she was happy to get the treats.

The second game I'll call the Line Game... 

• The purpose is the same - to teach the dog to go directly to odor when they notice it nearby and also letting them tell you its there, instead of them waiting for you to tell them to look.  
• The hide is set up in a spot that is directly in front of the dog, pretty much in plain sight - such as a tin on rough pavement.  You start the dog from three feet away, and without giving them a search cue, let them notice the odor and pull you toward it.  If they get to it in a direct line and don't pass source, then reward at source.  If they go past it, then you walk in a circle turning away from the odor and returning to the start line.  Do this as many times as it takes until they go directly to odor source.  
• Repeat three or four times so they understand the pattern.  After each iteration, circle away, returning to the start line.
• After that, as you are circling back to the start line, your assistant will move the hide about three feet further away, in a straight line from their original approach.  If they get to it in a direct line and don't pass source, then reward at source.  If they go past it, then you walk in a circle turning away from the odor and return to the start line.  Each time they are successful it gets moved a little further away.  
• You will only move it away four iterations from the original location and the last two can be less visible.  Such as in a spot where there was a chunk of concrete missing and then behind the little concrete curb you often see in parking places.

Gimme was pretty good at the Line Game.  She is normally moving so fast that she had to collect herself and move slower to not overshoot the odor and be circled away from it.  This was especially apparent as it was moved further away and she had a chance to build up some momentum.  What I liked about this game especially was that Gimme chose to slow down, rather than me slowing her down.

Joyce says we will play these and other games again and that over time the dogs will learn to be more efficient.  Gimme loves searching and she could stand to be more efficient, because no matter how good I make the rewards, its clear she still loves the hunt more than the goodies.

Our last search was a "real" search, three hides out for her to find in a courtyard.  She was very content and quiet after that - until she realized it was the only real search she was getting.

Joyce also asked me to share with the class about the trial, how we did and what I learned.  She asked about whether Gimme indicated any boxes other than the one she fringed on.  When I said "no", we talked about how she has basically given up the extra indications.  I had to laugh when two of my classmates said they would miss seeing Gimme destroy boxes because she's so funny.  So, its not just me...