RFE practice (67)

We started with some heeling practice and distraction work. So I expected Gimme to have her full brain when we went to work on other stuff. Not so much. 

Down-Stand video - I can't explain why Gimme had such difficulty getting to "down" - clearly she wasn't using her listening ears. Maybe because there really isn't much listening required in heeling, so we haven't warmed up her attention to cues. I wanted to focus on where her butt was on the down, often angled out about 45º. I gave her an extra cue one time, but then went to simply moving away without rewarding. When I get her to stand relaxed in heel it is better, but still out 30º. I was also rewarding waiting-for-the-cue. We never got better than 30º in "heel", but she did it perfectly at "side". So will need to practice "heel" more and maybe with a barrier to get better muscle memory. 

Switch back video - Just an easy run through of both sides for the switch back - done beautifully.

Circle transitions video - Another easy run through - done beautifully.

Figure-8 video - More quick run throughs. It's too easy to forget the novice behaviors, so I want to try them from time to time. 

Circle Handler 3x video - The biggest challenge I see here is her going around and always nosing my hands, checking for a treat. I didn't have any food in my hands, she just expects it. I think I want to train this with her special bowl. I think if there aren't treats coming from my hands, I can use the clicker to mark clean "around" & "behind". I think it would look better. 

"Thru" to front video - I don't know why she was hesitating about going "thru". I can see my cues where terribly late, but there were some where it was late and she was doing it just fine and some where she wasn't. I did see some hand checking, so special bowl might help with this, as would not having treats in my hands. I saw my posture was getting more and more bent over as we were having problems, but I don't think it was the reason. 

"Near" & "Close" video - I'm teaching Gimme to move her rear feet a step or two on cue. It's similar to "izzy" and "otto", except I only want a couple of steps. I think it can help with a couple of behaviors, in particular backward weaves, but without confusing the meaning of "izzy" and "otto". "Near" is clockwise and "close" is counter-clockwise. Gimme has picked up the meaning really quickly, but isn't comfortable using it to "beep". I think I need to set up for "beep", do it a few times so she's comfortable and then introduce these new cues. 

Walking weave video - I wanted to do a short practice with Gimme finding the smaller opening when I walk the way Ray Underwood said is more elegant. It doesn't look more elegant to me, though it does feel more elegant. Gimme did a good job; I need to reward in position. 

"Away" video - The goal here was to get center-stand with her facing "away", using her special bowl. It seems her release to the "bowl" cue has lost it's power. I'm not sure why, since I haven't ever put emphasis to avoid the bowl. I think I need to do a bowl tune up, so she really dashes to it when I release her, with something along the lines of a restrained release.  Maybe I need to run to the bowl with her, to add power to her dashing.  I'm also considering a cue to stare at the bowl - not sure. Despite this issue, at times it looked like she was getting the idea for "away". Maybe some foot targets, in addition to the platform, would help. 

"Fanny" video - Happily, this is coming along better than I thought - seems to be clicking for her. I think I'll just keep doing the same thing and when it's solid, mixed with other positions, then I'll fade the platform. 

"Izzy" & "otto" video - Just a quick run-through to keep these strong. Nicely done Gimme...
 
Backing in heel positions video - Backing in "side" continues to be more challenging than backing in "heel". I am seeing a little improvement with the use of "near" to get her heiney in. I do think I'm progressing too fast on the distance/duration.  And, I probably should use a barrier for "side". 

"Back" in center video - Gimme does this better than backing in "side" position. J'Anna thinks Gimme can't back except with a target, which I then show her. I'm using the target to establish a habit of backing straight. I noticed something interesting in this video. When Gimme is backing from center, her tendency is to drift her rear clockwise, just the opposite of what she does in "side". She does start offering "scoot", but with better clicker timing I was able to clarify what I was going to pay for. 

"Scoot" video - I'd like a little more distance, but if not, this is still good. Gimme really enjoys this - probably because she invented it. You know how she is about doing her own thing.

I think we are making better progress on many behaviors with my new approach to a training plan.