RFE practice (78)

My goal for the day was to get a video for the MDSA compilation and to practice all the behaviors for our AKC Intermediate tricks title, just in case I could get the evaluator to stay a little late to watch them for us.

Beginning routine - As I said for the last RFE practice blog, Gimme has developed a bad habit of going off on a sniffing walkabout when I first take her leash off. My plan was to take her leash off and if she didn't stick with me (which I expected), I would just follow her in a neutral manner until I could put her leash back on. This is might be considered aversive; I intended it to be informational. I did it today, worked her another minute on leash and the second time I took the leash off she stayed focused and ready to work. In the later sessions, she stuck with me. I'll keep doing this, just to clarify my expectations.

Doodling video - Our first session was mostly fine tuning our 30 second routine for the MDSA collaboration. It was coming together nicely until the new people in doggie daycare let two Great Danes stand at the door and stare at us. Gimme was a good girl and didn't go over there, but it was very distracting for her. So I practiced some other things in the far end of the room. Before the second session I set up two of the visual barriers so she couldn't see them, then she was fine.

MDSA Freeway to Love, segment video - We were supposed to record a 30 second routine. Gimme did a nice job once I worked out my part. In going through the different recordings to pick the best one, I noticed an odd thing. I do some movements with a dance-like look to them, until we get to the "otto" and then I stop all movement. Gimme is quite capable of doing "otto" while I pivot in an opposite direction, so I'm not sure what was going on. I guess in the future I need to do the opposite pivot to keep from turning to stone.

Freeway of Love, MDSA video - We were segment 10, so Gimme doesn't show up in the finished product until 4:30. Kathy McCoubrey and Wesley are segment 4. I love these video compilations... it's such a good way to get your feet wet in freestyle. Someday I really will do a routine - maybe.

The rest of the time we spent warming up our trick behaviors for AKC intermediate. I was hoping I'd be able to coordinate with one of the other instructors (has to be a CGC evaluator) to watch our tricks. She did and we were able to complete all the tricks. The form has been completed and sent in. I have videos of each of the tricks and as soon as it's "official" (i.e. certificate received) then I'll compile them together. It'll probably take 6 weeks.