Joyce is just back from camp and naturally brings back new games. She was all about
high hides and a new way to teach them - sort of shaping (without a clicker or marker word) by rewarding any look in the general direction of where the hide was. Based on what I saw with the five dogs in class, I don't think this new way is any better.
In the past we have gradually increased the height of the hide from the floor in a carefully incremented way, as the dog demonstrates success. That has worked fine for all the medium to large dogs in class. The only two that are having trouble are both small dogs and not as focused in general. Honestly, I think the hides have not been carefully moved up for those two little guys - since they usually are doing the same hides as the larger dogs.
I accepted that, taking her guarantee at
face value. The other dogs did okay, since they aren't that bold and Joyce had
all the time in the world to get there and steady the hand truck. Gimme was at
it and had her paws up on it in no time. It scooted away - Joyce was still 5
feet away and just standing there, not having started to move. Needless to say, Gimme wouldn't put her feet up on the
hand truck after that.
Our next hide was on the bottom of a 6ft
table tipped up on its end - yet another unstable surface for a bold and pushy
dog like Gimme. Fortunately, at least the other students learned from the hand truck
experience and volunteered to brace/stabilize the table from the back side
during Gimme's search. I was also prepared to stabilize the table by reaching
up and grabbing the leg. It took Gimme much longer than usual to get up and
indicate odor. Since then, she has shown a reluctance
to put her feet up on things that are new/different. She's never had that
concern before; honestly I don't think it occurred to her that things might move.
On Sunday we went over to Grafton's house for a play date. She spent much of the time squealing at him. She'd squeal, he'd dance away and then immediately come right back to bounce up and down close to her and make her squeal again. Grafton is definitely the boy who would have been guilty of sticking some cute girl's braids in the inkwell. Lest you think I'm a mean Mom and subjecting the Empress of the Cosmos to unconscionable torment - she was having fun. Yes, she is in season, but he was neutered very young and barely seemed to notice THAT. The two of them have a funny relationship and both really like the back and forth. Gimme knows perfectly well how to get Grafton to leave her alone when she really doesn't want to deal with his uncouth. If she completely ignores him, he'll stop. She can trot along with her nose stuck in the air, just dripping "you are so beneath my notice" attitude. Her other method is to drop into heel with me, again with attitude.
After the play session, Mary and I did some hides in her exercise/laundry room. I had her set mostly high hides that would require Gimme to get her feet up to properly indicate them. It took several hides before she regained her usual confidence about putting feet up on things. Of course, she then decided there's a new rule that odor will always be high. For the third round she came in and started the old business of trotting around the room with her nose stuck up in the air. So we set a couple of hides very low. I hate having to repair problems caused in class.
I'm looking for someone else to train with after we get the NW2 title. I've reviewed the list of CNWIs on the NACSW website... there are only a few anywhere close that I'd consider. One is close enough for weekly classes, but I don't know anyone who trains with her. The others are pretty far away, so I might have to take monthly or semi-monthly private lessons and continue working on my own. It isn't that I don't want to drive... I just don't want to spend twice as much for gas as I'm spending for the class itself. Its a pickle...
Today we went out to the training area and walked 3.75 miles. Then I set up our food distraction exercise. I set up 9 bags with food in a large circle, with two odor bags in the middle. Gimme got to sniff and snoop all she wanted and we had a party when she went to the odor bags. I haven't done this as often as I'd planned, but she's getting it. Today I noticed there is a difference in the way she acts around distraction bags vs odor bags. There is a lot more sniffing, nosing and nose pushing on distraction bags. She only pawed at them the first time or two and if I walk past them, she leaves them pretty quickly. With odor bags, she goes to pawing faster and sticks them much better. So I feel like she'll have a solid understanding by the trial date (Sunday 4/28).
Naturally then my car wouldn't start. I was able to flag down a motorist who checked the car and said it was likely the battery, but he didn't have his jumper cables. We dithered around about a solution and finally settled on calling Les Schwab in Yelm. They came out and jumped the battery at no charge, provided I buy the battery (if needed) from them. So the guy drives 10 miles to the middle of nowhere on "sorta" directions, checks out my car, jumps the battery and gets me started, drives back to Yelm, verifies the battery was broke and installs a new one. That took about 1:45, all for the profit on one battery sale. Now that's service.
While I waited for him to find us - Gimme and I walked another mile along the road he'd be on - for a 4.75 mile total today. My foot is killing me, but Gimme is very content and we all know that's what is important. Long walk AND nosework on the same day! Woohoo!!!
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