I just want to talk about a couple of things... First, we've struggled with "spin" (counter-clockwise) and "turn" (clockwise) for a very long time. Every time I'd start making the luring motion smaller, it would fall apart. Recently I happened to train it at my parents' house and it suddenly occurred to me - the motion as it gets smaller becomes verrrrry much like my hand signal to get into "heel" or "side". Thus Gimme would get confused; she likely thought I was the dense one. So then I moved the training out in front of me. Gimme got "spin" all the way to a verbal cue in one lesson, but "turn" just wasn't happening so fast. It has taken about ten sessions, probably because its not her preferred direction to turn. So here's the video from last night where it finally came together.
Interesting it should take so long to get those on cue, when I realized last night how quickly Gimme picks up other stuff. We were getting ready to go for a walk and I said to her "now where is your collar?", since I didn't see it in the usual place. Gimme went right to it and poked it with her nose. I didn't expect a response, since I was just chattering away like I always do. I'd probably do the same thing if I lived alone, but then people would think I was crazy - now I can say I'm talking to Gimme.
Anyway, not only did I not expect her to do anything in response to my chatter, I also have never purposely taught her this behavior. I can only think she decided what to do because of two other cues we use. "Wherezit" is our nosework search cue (its a contraction of where-is-it). I also say "let's put your collar on" or "you wanna put your collar on" or "time to put your collar on" or God only knows how many other variations. She always jumps up on the couch or comes to my front and presents her neck to have it snapped in place. So this brilliant girl took "where" and "collar" and put them together to decide she should locate her collar and show me where it is. Boyoh this will definitely come in handy, since I'm always misplacing it.
Now here's a cute picture of Gimme after a long exhausting day supervising a remodeling crew. Its hard work and really tires a girl out.
Happy 500th...
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