RFE practice (85)

Ray Underwood is leading our workshop this month. What you see here is based on his first video on reverse heeling. He prepared another more detailed video and I think it'll make a big difference once I incorporate information from it.
 
Reverse Heeling video - I've decided the cues for these will be variants of the reverse of the forward heeling cues. So "leah" for heel side and "diss" for the other side. Gimme is picking this up nicely. We first tried it during a walk when she wanted a treat. This is only the second session. I think when I clean up my handling it'll look a lot nicer.

Sequencing for "Java Jive" video - This is the first time Gimme and I worked on this, so we started out tinkering with the sequence I had in my head. It really seemed to work nicely, I just had to get my part working. This time Gimme didn't feel the need to change my choreography. The weakest part as a behavior is the end behavior. We haven't done it in awhile, so I'm sure I need to refresh it separate from sequencing. Then again, I may need to come up with something else, since the turn to face her doesn't seem to work smoothly and with this behavior we'd need it to have good presentation for the camera. BTW I did a lot more sequencing warm-up than I show here.

3 sequences video - Here are three short sequences where it's starting to come together. As much as I hate coffee and/or tea, I do like this song a lot. I like the strength of the beat and the timing.

Freeshaping 1 video - I thought it would help to start with her backing up and sitting on a low stool, to get the idea in her head for sitting on the stuffed cat. The first stool was too high and uncomfortable to sit with her front feet on the ground. The second stool was better for sitting, but it did tend to move. It did work and we got some good sits.

Freeshaping 2 video - I tried doing this with the stuffed cat. We worked at this more than I have here on video, but the battery died on the camera. We made a little progress, but based on the whining, it's clear Gimme was frustrated. This stuffed cat is a broken mechanical cat and has a hard body covered in loose fur. Because of the contouring, it might not be easy to sit on. I'm going to make a trip to Goodwill and see if they have any stuffed cats that might work better.

MDSA Heeling samples video - For the MDSA workshop, Ray wanted to see some heeling samples with Gimme. So this includes a bit of side view, front/back view and a set of leg weaves.

I thought it interesting to see Gimme's heeling position was better here, in a strange place, than it was in the familiarity of our regular training session. I'm pondering whether she may feel more comfortable working closer when she knows we are "just heeling". It occurs to me the times I've lost my balance or mis-stepped have been at the training center when we are doing heeling with behaviors. I've watched since then and the little bit of heeling practice when we are out walking are also closer. Gimme is very smart, so it wouldn't surprise me if she's picked up on the "safe-to-be-close" distinction.