Nosework (3/15)

Class tonight was good.  Gimme peed on the exterior for the first time in a long time.  I'm not too worried - since the dog that went before her peed, so that's a factor.  Of course, that could happen in a trial.  Its very hot today, so the dogs are drinking more water... thus increasing the likelihood of peeing.  Other than that, Gimme did a nice job.

Her paw indicator continues to be more moderate and improving all the time.  So much so that Joyce even noticed and commented on it.  She asked what I was doing to change it.  When I started to explain that I held off doing anything to change it until I could think of a reward-based answer, she agreed saying coming up with non-punitive ways to train things is very important.  I guess she's forgotten all the times she recommended correction.  In any case, she has now noticed and complimented my results.  When the process is all done, I think I'll write it up and share it online. 

I spent the weekend at my parents and did some training.  I already taught Gimme to "touch" my hand with her nose pretty much anywhere I offer it to her and I wanted to introduce an "up touch" for heeling.  I tried working with this at my parents' and it started out well, but then fell apart and Gimme got really frustrated and spent a good deal of time yelling at me (i.e. barking loudly).  I had to end the training and making her lay down to calm herself.  I realized later that she had every right to be frustrated.

When she was beside me in heel position and I put my hand out with my palm parallel to the floor, she did fine.  But then I wasn't focused on what I was doing (showing off for my parents doncha know) and I let her move in front of me, then the hand was no longer parallel to the floor or even fingertips toward the floor - which is what she is used to seeing for "touch".  Instead my hand was at an angle with fingertips upward - essentially the same cue I give her for "high", "five" and both for "ten" - which is what she was offering me.  So when I wasn't rewarding what she was giving me for the cue - she had good reason to tell me off.  She's never been bashful about speaking her mind, eh.

Later in the motor home I did the up "touch" right and she was fine at it.  We also practiced "high", "five" and "ten" correctly.  Gimme was no doubt pleased that I'd come to my senses.  We also got in a lot of "front" practice.  On Sunday we did some shaping of her backing her feet up onto a stool while Mom was at church and I was staying with Dad (he was napping).

I love that Gimme provides commentary on our training (especially when I'm not doing it right).  I think people who are still using compulsion would hate it though... they want compliance no matter what.  I'd hate to think I'd confused the training by forcing compliance when *I* was the one in error.  Gimme keeps me honest and makes me a better trainer.

BTW we are still fighting the battle of the fleas, but improving.  I'm down to finding about one a day.  I think they've gotten into the upholstery and area rugs.  So I treated them all with Diatomaceous earth.  Tomorrow I will clean out the car in preparation for the weekend and will vacuum it and dust all the carpeting, around the crate and her crate bedding with Diatomaceous earth.  For awhile she was getting hot spots and hives in reaction to the fleas.  Given that I picked 37 off her in 2 days... I think her body reacted allergically.  I gave her a maximum dose of Benedryl for three days, reduced dose for one day and one last dose this morning.

Benedryl does affect their scenting ability, so I was glad to see that she could search good today.  We are trialing on Sunday, so want her off it well in advance of that.  Gimme is still itchy, but at least there are no more hives or hot spots.  I'm putting hydrocortisone on any of the extra pink or itchy places once or twice a day.  Now that its evening, we'll sit down to watch a movie and she'll be belly up in my lap so I can gently rub the itchy places.  She always likes to do that in the evening, but particularly now.

Well, tummy duty calls me...