RFE practice (52)

I was determined to clean up my training this time. I pre-planned the things I wanted to work on.  Some things were much better, some didn't immediately go as planned.

Session 1 video - I started with click/treats for offered attention. I do have to be careful though, because Gimme is prone to deciding the game is I'll-be-distracted-so-I-can-offer-attention-and-get-rewarded. Fortunately she didn't go there this time. Our next effort was to tighten up her heeling. It was very sloppy the last time we practiced here. It still wasn't her best heeling, but there were a couple of nice spots where she self-corrected. Other places I had to help her by moving away. I have to get out of the habit of working "heel" then "side", because it means I spend a lot less time working on "side".

I started Gimme with some free-shaping to get on her stunt dog target. The end behavior will be called "mark". Gimme loves free-shaping, so she'll do this enthusiastically for a long time. The basic behavior is to stay on the target. I decided I wanted her to lay on it and have since added, having her head down on it. Gimme quickly morphed this into "bacon", which I didn't want, so I started tossing treats to the side and behind me to set her up for a straight approach to the target. Tossing treats also meant she got to run to them, adding some extra fun. You'll see me clicking for any lowered head. You'll also hear her "talking" when she gets a little frustrated, but she quickly figures it out. We soon get a half-bow, followed immediately by a full bow. I invariably get barking when I try for duration, but she always figures this out too. She just likes to yell at me when I change the rules. Right after yelling at me, she decides to offer me a bow-to-down, which I can reward with many treats in place - promoting duration. I end on this high note.

I was going to end with some simple behaviors, but then Gimme gets distracted by the people right outside our ring. So I change gears and work the distraction. I did a couple reps of offered distraction and then made it harder by heeling toward the people and turning away. You'll see how quickly Gimme responds to the distraction work. She recognizes the training game and always enjoys a challenge.

Session 2 video - I set up the guides to work on "izzy". Gimme has developed a tendency to turn back the wrong way halfway through the behavior. So I wanted the guides to help her get it right. We start with an "otto", which she can do nicely without the guides.

When I move into the guides, she seems very concerned by them. I don't understand this, since we've worked in the guides so many times over the years. Even my attempts to swing her rear toward them my luring her nose out don't work. After what seems like five minutes (really only 1:30) she gives me one "izzy", then another. I decide to make a full circle of the guides and see if it helps. She starts offering an "izzy" before I get the guides closed. This is her harder direction, so we'll need to put extra work into it. She still seems uncertain and even with the guides open a small amount.

I decide to get the chicken nuggets so I have a better treat for a better effort. Then I work briefly outside the guide, getting her to just move her butt in the direction we need (clockwise). When we go in the guides again, I started twice with her in the flip back spot and rewarded backing in the right direction.  Then I set up our start point so I can click/treat at the place where she usually flips back, before she does so. We do get one really good one and it gets a jackpot, with a nugget. Then we get two more nice ones. After the nugget reload, she does another really nice one with us backed a little bit out of the guides. It's amazing what nuggets will do. We did a bit of treat tossing for a break, the switched gears to a bit of hoop play.

We've never had this much difficulty with "izzy", so I'm still not sure what was going on here. I'm just so very thankful we were able to get through it and end on a positive note.

Session 3 video - I started with some hoop work, using one of the largest hoops set in a stand. In hindsight, I should have picked a different color. I think red is just not as easy to see, especially with red mats in the visual background. With the big red base, it's easier to see, but later when I take it out of the stand, then you'll see Gimme catching her back feet on it. When I get our own, I'll find a way to decorate it so it's highly visible.

We started with the stand and then did a little without it. It only takes one time of her catching a foot on it to put her off. So I put it back in the stand and then take it out sneaky like.

I got out the brick to practice some forehand pivot work. She loves her brick and is trying to get her foot on it before I have it down on the floor. We run through a couple repetitions, then move on to backing up in "heel" and "side" positions. We end with one "otto" and a couple tries at "izzy", ending with a great one and a jackpot.

Gimme seems a bit sensitive these days and I'm not sure why. I did find out today (9/12) during a routine vet visit, Gimme may have a mass near or on her bladder. It'll be a few days before we find out what it is or isn't. Doc wants to wait for all the lab work to come back before we decide what to do next. In any case, we are going to take it easy for a bit, just in case there is something causing her discomfort, though his palpation of the mass didn't bother her. I'll certainly keep you posted.

In the meantime your prayers are certainly appreciated.

LATE BREAKING NEWS...

Gimme did great in nosework class, though a bit more whiny than usual for having to wait her turn.  Came home to an email from Doc saying her blood tests came back all normal.  So now we are just waiting to get the urinalysis - hopefully tomorrow.  Prayers still welcome.