I Forgot

I forgot to mention - the other evening I decided to make a simple braided fleece tug.  Gimme likes to chew them up until they get so small I throw them away.  There's a four way braid I like better because its sturdier and the tugs last longer, but I don't have the dexterity and strength to do that right now.

Gimme was pretty funny when I was making it.  She lay on the couch watching as I was cutting the strips.  When I put one end together with a knot, her head came up.  When I started braiding it, she sat up to watch.  When the braid was about a foot long, she attacked it.  I had to resort to putting her on a down-wait so I could finish braiding it.  Then we did some rousing tugs and she was happy.  I finally unknotted the ends and then put them together in one big knot to form a ring.

In the past I haven't brought tugs to classes much.  Gimme has very minimal interest and even that is only one time.  Thus, its never seemed to be of any value in that setting.

Last night I brought it and at one point where she did a really nice sequence, we had a nice rousing tug for her reward.  Of course, after that she wasn't interested.  Still I'm pleased that she tugged with such enthusiasm.  Someday she'll tug more than once.  I need to go watch the clips I have for tugging to improve my technique...

I'm thinking in that setting it might be good to let her win and then chase her down to get it back.  Maybe that would build more value...