This first class is from December 5th... I forgot to take my camera so there are no videos. We had three container searches.
Container 1 search - there were three areas, with blind hides, plus I had to call clear or finish. Gimme found one hide in the first area and then wanted to move on, so I called "finish" and was right. She found two hides in the second area, but wasn't eager to move on and yet wasn't really searching, so I called "finish" and was right. Gimme wasn't really interested in the third area, so I called "clear" and was right. This has been one of my biggest challenges, so it was nice to get it all right.
Container 2 search - all in one area, with the same hides and a couple added hides. Gimme found all the hides really fast and was having a great time. She didn't really need me for this search. I did notice she was getting more excited, which she often does with repeat container searches.
Container 3 search - the containers were moved again and some were moved outside the regular pattern, so it was like a mix of containers and interior . Although this was another container search, she didn't go over the top. I think when containers are set up in some way other than a big field of boxes, then Gimme does better. This might explain why she doesn't get over the top when we do an element trial on containers.
Second class is December 19th... with the co-instructor.
Container 1 video - we had containers in two straight lines, with 6 hides. We were supposed to go along the boxes, then reverse course and do the lines again. Gimme missed one the first time around and found them all the second time. She thought eleven hides in 1:24 was a lot of fun.
Container 2 video - the containers were set in one line and we were instructed to stop/pause at every container going down the line, then reverse course and repeat coming back to the beginning Since the containers were only 3 feet apart, this meant keeping Gimme on a very short leash. The instructor wanted us to purposely handle in a way that would frustrate the dogs. For the two slower beginner dogs, this worked okay and they did a better job, actually checking each box. For the two fast dogs, Gimme and Moxie, it had the opposite affect - they got frustrated, not understanding these new idiot-rules. Gimme got so frustrated she snarked my finger once, something she never does. By the time Gimme and I were done, she was both frustrated and confused - so she resorted to indicating every box in hopes she'd make me happy. I see on video her indications on odor were more vigorous, which wasn't obvious in real time. There was nothing here I want to add to our repertoire.
Well, gotta git. While I've been typing this, Gimme has been trying to get my attention. She's dumped at least half of her new toys on my keyboard, one at a time. She's pretty certain she's being neglected.
BTW I came home from work today to discover she'd slept on top of her cozy cave bed. Apparently she thinks it's pretty comfy, but still doesn't understand about getting inside, even though I lured her into it before I left this morning. She was out of it moments later. So tonight I did a free-shaping session, teaching her to get into the bed. I'm hoping this will somehow lead to her getting into it on her own at some point.
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