Today I set up another food distraction exercise. I used the Costco boxes again... this time I put the same bite of cheese in each and cheese-and-odor in one. I'm trying to make clear to her that even though she gets to find food a lot (like every time we pair), its only FOOD WITH ODOR that will pay off for Miss Gimme.
The first one she found right away. The second time there was a couple of false alerts... the same for the third round. The fourth round... she was just batting the snot out of the wrong boxes, over and over again -- then she suddenly stopped looked at me and then went to the right box and was much more insistent with that one. Time will tell if this approach works.
I do think I need to set them up and then come in the office with her and read emails for 5-10 minutes... to let the odor "cook". That means to let odor escape.
I'm also thinking about drawing up a plan so that I can use my tiny space in such a way that I don't place a "wrong" box in the same spot where the odor box was. I know she has to learn the difference between source odor and lingering odor. Howevah... we all know that part of good training is, as much as possible, to break it down so you are only teaching one thing at a time.
Well - Gimme is teasing and tormenting me with one of her toys. I think she's trying to tell me something...
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