We started the day going to Susan's for nosework practice. Gimme did well. As we were setting up we saw a little mouse running along the edge of the wall and then saw it here and there throughout our practice. I was sure that would be the end of things for Gimme and I was happily shocked to see her ignore the enticing mouse smell with just the tiniest reminder. I sure didn't expect that, given her fascination with all things rodentia.
I wasn't entirely committed to getting out to the fort for a walk, but decided after being such a good girl about the mouse, she deserved a walk where she could poke her nose into any mouse hole she could find. Six, to be exact.
Tonight she was especially good in agility class. It was the fastest and longest run-yo-kiester-off course Blynn has ever set for us. There were four puppy accelerators (tunnels) and one place the course had three of them set back-to-back. Gimme was a tiny bit unfocused on her first run, but once she got focused, she was great.
For the second run, she was just plain brilliant, so Blynn was able to really focus her attention on my handling. Because we were able to refine my handling, we got through a couple of really challenging sequences. Gimme continues to astound me at how quickly and confidently she picks up totally new stuff in agility. I think since she's only seen APHS handling, which is so intuitive to the dogs, she is able to make big leaps in understanding. Its unusual for me to need to show her something a third time. She doesn't always generalize something new, especially if we don't see it again right away, but overall I think she does generalize faster than the average dog.
Sadly I forgot to take a disc with me, so don't have videos for you. However William is going to hold them on his computer, so I can probably get them next week.
We are off to Salem Oregon for an NW2 trial (Saturday). I'll be leaving mid-afternoon tomorrow. So there probably won't be another blog entry until we get back. Cross any body parts you can spare.
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