Nosework (1/17)

We had class at Ursula's training building.  Good thing too, because its unbelievably cold out.  Its just 22 degrees and falling rapidly.  After class we met with Linda for a quick walk.  I still have to get in 35.25 miles before the end of the year to make my 500 mile goal.

Class was pretty good.  Our first hide was under a table edge, then after Gimme found it, Joyce set another one.  That second hide was under a chair pushed under the table, just three feet from where the first one had been.  That was a bit challenging for Gimme to sort out.  The third hide was in a bookshelf and in indicating it, a board fell down at her feet.  Gimme jumped away and then went right back in to make sure I knew where the odor was.

Our second search was all about corners.  We haven't done corners in awhile, so it took all the dogs a bit to remember to check them.  Gimme used to be really great about corners, but I can see I've kinda taken them for granted.

The third search presented a good challenge and a wonderful demonstration of thinking-Gimme.  The odor was under the back corner of a chair seat, with the chair pushed into the corner.  Gimme didn't have any trouble finding it, her dilemma was how to indicate it.  She could get her nose to the odor, but not her paw.  So her solution was to place her paw on the front top of the seat, then put her head underneath and put her nose right on the odor.  Then pop out and paw on seat, followed immediately by putting her nose on odor again.

To me that says she is really understanding what I want.  And more importantly, she is thinking about how to communicate to me where the odor is in the best way she can, using the tools at her disposal.  I was impressed that she chose to sequence the two parts of the indication, since she couldn't do them together, like usual.  I totally love my brilliant girl.