Gimme was into her false pregnancy during this class, but just starting. I didn't even take the "baby" along.
Vehicle search video - This is a quick vehicle search. Gimme goes to the far hide first and then works her way back to the near hide. I called finish after the second hide without taking Gimme to other side of the van. Gimme hadn't shown any sign of interest for the other side when she was working the near side, though it was more of an unconscious thought process on my part.
Exterior search video - The two orange cones near the sheet of plywood are to indicate it's not in play and as a safety reminder, since there were nails sticking out. Gimme showed no interest in it. Gimme showed interest in the upside down bucket three times before she actually indicated it. There was a pee spot really close to the hide, so I think she was distracted. Gimme did a great job finding the second hide. There were areas she showed no interest in and after she found the second hide I walked her by them to see if she'd changed her mind.
Interior search video - She checks a couple of "usual" places (cataloging), then moves on and goes directly to the hide on the black cart. She checks out a lot of possibilities in the far end of the room, then goes to the first area and indicates on the chair, which she'd checked as she came in. She checks a bunch of other places and finally settles on a third hide on the folding table. She checked and left that spot a couple of times before going back to it and indicating.
Overall she did a nice job, especially given her condition.
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Urban Tracking (139-141)
On Thursday, May 16th, Nadine and I met at Auburn Cinema. I asked her to lay a track starting just like the last time we were there, but to turn left after the end of the building toward the main parking lot. I thought Gimme got mentally fatigued last time with all the challenges presented, so I wanted to only present half of them. It turned out to be a good idea since we ended up with an unexpected challenge.
Between the time she laid the track and when Gimme ran the track 45 minutes later, a guy came through with a riding mower and mowed over our track (lime colored line shows where his mowing overlapped our track). He even crossed the pavement, essentially mowing down our track in a reverse direction. I didn't really expect Gimme to be able to track through the mowed grass, but I wanted to see what she would do with it - fully expected to break off, and restart further down at the third article. I should be ashamed of myself for underestimating her capabilities.
She had a tough time starting out. Fortunately Nadine laid the start article at the base of a tree and the mower didn't get to it. Gimme went back and forth over the track, 10-15 feet to either side, studying the area and slowly moving forward. I thought maybe she was just working with the subtle clue presented by the direction I faced her at the start of the track. It soon became apparent she was actually reading the little bits of information on pieces of grass with Nadine smell that were blown far and wide. From those she was able to deduce the general direction of the track. I was astonished and amazed to watch her do this, especially when you consider how much information tracking dogs get from crushed vegetation and on this track there was no crushed-veg information available. She found the first article, a much battered sock, which had been picked up by the mower and thrown to one side.
When we got up on the pavement under the portico, where the mower had traveled the reverse of our track, Gimme developed a new strategy. She still went back and forth, but now she was reading the edges of things where track scent must have blown. She read the bases of the pipe railing, brick columns, and trash cans. From those she was able to deduce the track direction in a general way.
When she got back to the narrow area of mowed grass on the other side of the portico, she actually worked the nearby sidewalk. The second article pulled her into the grass, after which she went back to the sidewalk. Once she got to the parking lot it was easy-peasy to finish the track.
I don't have big enough words to express how impressed I am by Gimme's ability and persistence. Someone recently suggested I should have used corrections to teach her how she is "expected to behave" around other dogs (referring to limitations because of her reactivity). I've seen this person's three dogs, which are all good at only one sport (obedience) and how slow and resistant they are to learn new stuff in my parkour class. I think I prefer a dog with creative intelligence and an abundance of confidence, who thrives solving hard challenges, instead of a dog who is so limited. Gimme works in 7 different sports and has 63 titles. I love her versatility.
On Sunday, May 19th, I laid a short track in the vicinity of the MDSA building. Because the presentation time got away from us, we didn't do any shooting, so I couldn't follow my usual plan. I normally lay a track, then we do shooting, then I run the track, which is then about 90 minutes old. This time the track was only 25 minutes old. It was about 70°, with a very light breeze.
As I laid the track I was accosted by a ground-nesting bird trying desperately to lead me off to the right. She got within five feet, flapping and fluttering in her broken-wing act. I didn't know what else to do, so I continued straight ahead and after about 30 feet, Mrs. Killdeer lost interest in me. The area where I saw her is shown with a green square next to our line of track. I laid an article about five feet onto the pavement, figuring it would be a good reward if Gimme made it through bird-distraction-country. She isn't normally interested in birds, but I rightly figured this would be distraction at a whole 'nother level. On a side note, it was fascinating to see mommy-bird's instinctive behavior, trying to save her babies from a potential predator. I made a mental note to be sure to shorten the amount of line I gave Gimme in this part of the track, since I didn't want to risk injury to mommy-bird.
Gimme did well with the first part of the track. She struggled a little bit with the first corner. It turned near the edge of a building and between a utility pole and a wheeled trash bin. I figure the breeze was moving in an interesting way. The track between that corner and the bird-zone was uneventful. It was a good thing I shortened the line before we reached the bird-zone, since she was very intent on Mrs. Killdeer. The only thing I could do was to encourage her to move straight ahead - she wasn't tracking at this point, but I figured it was what I'd do in a test. As we got further along and the bird went on about her business, I was about to re-scent Gimme when she caught the scent of the article and rushed to it.
From there to the end of the track was again easy peasy. I love Gimme's decision to go right back to work once we were away from the extreme distraction.
On Thursday, May 23rd, Nadine and I met at Game Farm Park. Since Gimme was now deep into her false pregnancy, I asked Nadine for a simple track (starts in upper right corner of picture) and we ran it while it was only 45 minutes old. It was overcast, about 60° and minimal breeze.
There was nothing particularly challenging about this track - all stuff we've done fifty times, in this same location. Gimme was willing to track, but I found her a little distracted and needing more support. She seemed to know which direction to go, but not enough to commit. Her best corner was the first one. The second corner wasn't as clean, but she did know where it went.
The third corner is on the top of a circular mound (about 4' higher than the surrounding area) and she missed it. She went straight ahead and pulled like she meant it, so I followed her and Nadine had to call us back. When we came back to the corner from the other direction, Gimme picked it up and went in the right direction. From there to the end of the track she did well enough. I certainly wouldn't want to enter a test with her in this mental condition. Once we were headed back toward the car, I ceased to exist and Gimme only wanted to get back to Lenny-baby.
I've noticed this issue before and I've asked Sil to focus on this tendency in our lesson (coming up in 2 weeks). I suspect it is something I've unintentionally taught her to do. The big problem is my inability to read when she's left off tracking in favor of a walkabout. Nadine said she lifts her head higher than her usual tracking posture. I'll be looking forward to what Sil says.
Between the time she laid the track and when Gimme ran the track 45 minutes later, a guy came through with a riding mower and mowed over our track (lime colored line shows where his mowing overlapped our track). He even crossed the pavement, essentially mowing down our track in a reverse direction. I didn't really expect Gimme to be able to track through the mowed grass, but I wanted to see what she would do with it - fully expected to break off, and restart further down at the third article. I should be ashamed of myself for underestimating her capabilities.She had a tough time starting out. Fortunately Nadine laid the start article at the base of a tree and the mower didn't get to it. Gimme went back and forth over the track, 10-15 feet to either side, studying the area and slowly moving forward. I thought maybe she was just working with the subtle clue presented by the direction I faced her at the start of the track. It soon became apparent she was actually reading the little bits of information on pieces of grass with Nadine smell that were blown far and wide. From those she was able to deduce the general direction of the track. I was astonished and amazed to watch her do this, especially when you consider how much information tracking dogs get from crushed vegetation and on this track there was no crushed-veg information available. She found the first article, a much battered sock, which had been picked up by the mower and thrown to one side.
When we got up on the pavement under the portico, where the mower had traveled the reverse of our track, Gimme developed a new strategy. She still went back and forth, but now she was reading the edges of things where track scent must have blown. She read the bases of the pipe railing, brick columns, and trash cans. From those she was able to deduce the track direction in a general way.
When she got back to the narrow area of mowed grass on the other side of the portico, she actually worked the nearby sidewalk. The second article pulled her into the grass, after which she went back to the sidewalk. Once she got to the parking lot it was easy-peasy to finish the track.
I don't have big enough words to express how impressed I am by Gimme's ability and persistence. Someone recently suggested I should have used corrections to teach her how she is "expected to behave" around other dogs (referring to limitations because of her reactivity). I've seen this person's three dogs, which are all good at only one sport (obedience) and how slow and resistant they are to learn new stuff in my parkour class. I think I prefer a dog with creative intelligence and an abundance of confidence, who thrives solving hard challenges, instead of a dog who is so limited. Gimme works in 7 different sports and has 63 titles. I love her versatility.
On Sunday, May 19th, I laid a short track in the vicinity of the MDSA building. Because the presentation time got away from us, we didn't do any shooting, so I couldn't follow my usual plan. I normally lay a track, then we do shooting, then I run the track, which is then about 90 minutes old. This time the track was only 25 minutes old. It was about 70°, with a very light breeze.
As I laid the track I was accosted by a ground-nesting bird trying desperately to lead me off to the right. She got within five feet, flapping and fluttering in her broken-wing act. I didn't know what else to do, so I continued straight ahead and after about 30 feet, Mrs. Killdeer lost interest in me. The area where I saw her is shown with a green square next to our line of track. I laid an article about five feet onto the pavement, figuring it would be a good reward if Gimme made it through bird-distraction-country. She isn't normally interested in birds, but I rightly figured this would be distraction at a whole 'nother level. On a side note, it was fascinating to see mommy-bird's instinctive behavior, trying to save her babies from a potential predator. I made a mental note to be sure to shorten the amount of line I gave Gimme in this part of the track, since I didn't want to risk injury to mommy-bird.
Gimme did well with the first part of the track. She struggled a little bit with the first corner. It turned near the edge of a building and between a utility pole and a wheeled trash bin. I figure the breeze was moving in an interesting way. The track between that corner and the bird-zone was uneventful. It was a good thing I shortened the line before we reached the bird-zone, since she was very intent on Mrs. Killdeer. The only thing I could do was to encourage her to move straight ahead - she wasn't tracking at this point, but I figured it was what I'd do in a test. As we got further along and the bird went on about her business, I was about to re-scent Gimme when she caught the scent of the article and rushed to it. From there to the end of the track was again easy peasy. I love Gimme's decision to go right back to work once we were away from the extreme distraction.
On Thursday, May 23rd, Nadine and I met at Game Farm Park. Since Gimme was now deep into her false pregnancy, I asked Nadine for a simple track (starts in upper right corner of picture) and we ran it while it was only 45 minutes old. It was overcast, about 60° and minimal breeze.
There was nothing particularly challenging about this track - all stuff we've done fifty times, in this same location. Gimme was willing to track, but I found her a little distracted and needing more support. She seemed to know which direction to go, but not enough to commit. Her best corner was the first one. The second corner wasn't as clean, but she did know where it went. The third corner is on the top of a circular mound (about 4' higher than the surrounding area) and she missed it. She went straight ahead and pulled like she meant it, so I followed her and Nadine had to call us back. When we came back to the corner from the other direction, Gimme picked it up and went in the right direction. From there to the end of the track she did well enough. I certainly wouldn't want to enter a test with her in this mental condition. Once we were headed back toward the car, I ceased to exist and Gimme only wanted to get back to Lenny-baby.
I've noticed this issue before and I've asked Sil to focus on this tendency in our lesson (coming up in 2 weeks). I suspect it is something I've unintentionally taught her to do. The big problem is my inability to read when she's left off tracking in favor of a walkabout. Nadine said she lifts her head higher than her usual tracking posture. I'll be looking forward to what Sil says.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Nosework (5/37)
This was an interesting class with unusual goals.
Vehicle 1 video - The first hide was set so there would be a strong breeze blowing under the vehicle toward the hide. Gimme had no problem solving it. Then we were to continue searching the whole vehicle, which she was happy to do.
Vehicle 2 video - This search had one hide per vehicle. None of the dogs went to the hide on the first vehicle direct from the startline. They all found the hide on the second vehicle first. Then half found the hide on third vehicle next and half went back to find the hide on the first vehicle. Gimme was efficient and sure - I was just a strap hanger.
These interior searches were about doing dumb handler moves, to prepare the dog for it happening at a trial. Also, some dogs have learned unintended patterns when they get their leash put on or taken off. For instance they might have learned putting the leash on means searching is over. So doing it repeatedly and unconnected to their expected meaning helps to unlearn the association. Gimme didn't have either issue, so the instructor was instructing me to do it whenever she showed a change of behavior near a hide. Gimme thought I was more inept than usual, but she couldn't be bothered to pay attention to my whackadoo stuff.
Interior 1 video - I really thought I'd get the infamous Gimme eye-roll, but it didn't happen. Gimme quickly went into "ignore Mom" mode. She found both hides, despite my handling ineptitude. The we put the leash on her one last time and let her find both hides again.
Interior 2 video - For the last search they altered the hides a bit and we came in through the back door. Gimme never has any issue about walking on icky stuff, like the underside of the big tables. She was unaffected by the leash on/off changes. I normally don't pay her for re-finding hides, but did for purposes of this class. I will not do it for the next bunch of classes, otherwise she'll start to expect it.
The comment about her being offended had to do with the toy. Normally Gimme checks the toys and lays claim to them. This time a classmate ran her toy obsessed youngster first and he slobbered on them. Gimme wrinkled her nose in disgust and wouldn't even get close to them.
She did a nice job on these searches and didn't let my weird handling throw her off at all. Good girl!
Vehicle 1 video - The first hide was set so there would be a strong breeze blowing under the vehicle toward the hide. Gimme had no problem solving it. Then we were to continue searching the whole vehicle, which she was happy to do.
Vehicle 2 video - This search had one hide per vehicle. None of the dogs went to the hide on the first vehicle direct from the startline. They all found the hide on the second vehicle first. Then half found the hide on third vehicle next and half went back to find the hide on the first vehicle. Gimme was efficient and sure - I was just a strap hanger.
These interior searches were about doing dumb handler moves, to prepare the dog for it happening at a trial. Also, some dogs have learned unintended patterns when they get their leash put on or taken off. For instance they might have learned putting the leash on means searching is over. So doing it repeatedly and unconnected to their expected meaning helps to unlearn the association. Gimme didn't have either issue, so the instructor was instructing me to do it whenever she showed a change of behavior near a hide. Gimme thought I was more inept than usual, but she couldn't be bothered to pay attention to my whackadoo stuff.
Interior 1 video - I really thought I'd get the infamous Gimme eye-roll, but it didn't happen. Gimme quickly went into "ignore Mom" mode. She found both hides, despite my handling ineptitude. The we put the leash on her one last time and let her find both hides again.
Interior 2 video - For the last search they altered the hides a bit and we came in through the back door. Gimme never has any issue about walking on icky stuff, like the underside of the big tables. She was unaffected by the leash on/off changes. I normally don't pay her for re-finding hides, but did for purposes of this class. I will not do it for the next bunch of classes, otherwise she'll start to expect it.
The comment about her being offended had to do with the toy. Normally Gimme checks the toys and lays claim to them. This time a classmate ran her toy obsessed youngster first and he slobbered on them. Gimme wrinkled her nose in disgust and wouldn't even get close to them.
She did a nice job on these searches and didn't let my weird handling throw her off at all. Good girl!
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Pictures
Clearly I'm behind again.
This picture is Gimme's haul from the UKC nosework trial of two weeks ago. She came away with 4 qualifying runs, two fourth placements, one third placement, one second place and a new title. Gimme doesn't care about ribbons. She cares about her new toy, Terry the Pterodactyl. She played with Terry a bit at first, but has since gone back to the Lenny the Leopard. Lenny is her baby for the current false pregnancy. At least they both have spots, eh.
=====<<--->>=====
 |
| On Sunday I got this distant picture of Yelling bird on the wire across the street. |
 |
| On the second day of the feeding strategy Yelling bird is coming within 10 feet of me for peanuts. |
Carol suggested I feed it, so it would know I was a safe person. She kindly gave me a bag of unsalted peanuts in the shell. Before I could try the peanut strategy, it became quiet and I thought it had moved on. Then Monday it reappeared and resumed yelling at me. On Tuesday I laid out 6 peanuts to see what would happen. When I came home they were gone. So, I laid out 6 more and later they were gone. When Gimme and I went to nosework class I left 4 peanuts, which were gone when we got back.
 |
| Yelling-bird is renamed Crazy-bird for planting a peanut hedge. |
This morning while I was getting ready to go, I saw Yelling-bird sitting on a wire across the street for a long time, then it was gone. Later it was back. So when I left for my appointment I put out a large handful of peanuts and when I turned to lock up the back door, I looked over and saw it on the gate and then on the ground, just 10 feet away. Apparently I am officially safe.
 |
| Cleverly named Dark-bird |
When I got home from work today, Crazy-bird immediately showed up to see if I was inclined to lay out another smorgasbord. I was. I wanted to get these pictures.
 |
| Dark-bird is handsome, but shy. |
In no time I saw yet another show up. This bird is smaller and even more timid. Showing even more naming cleverness, this one has been named Third-bird.
 |
| Third-bird. Picture taken through a dirty window. |
It's been fun playing with the birdies. If I had the time to devote to such things, I might be tempted to see how bold Crazy-bird will become. On the other hand, I do think wild-things are best left wild, for their own safety.
It do see a fairly strong political statement shaping up here.
"If you hand out free goodies, they will come."
Monday, May 13, 2019
UKC trial - New Title
Saturday
Master PreTrial - Gimme did not pass this. She alerted on a box four boxes past the odor box, despite going back and forth and checking them all thoroughly. I think she may have been smelling lingering odor from one of the three prior PTs - which are much more familiar scents. J'Anna says Myrrh is much harder than the other odors. She thinks it's heavy, while I'm betting it's less volatile. Gimme has only been exposed to Myrrh twice and did very well, but there were no lingering odor distractions. I guess I'll actually have to train it, eh. [especially now that we move up to Masters in the interior element]
Superior Containers - Gimme Q'd for fourth place in 38.07 seconds. I thought sure she would have faulted, but she didn't. There is supposed to be a distraction, but she gave no sign she noticed it. J'Anna's dog false alerted on the first box off the startline, so it was likely there. The first place dog was 11 seconds faster than we were. We had 3 minutes for this search.
Superior Vehicles - There were 5 vehicles, one of which was a red self-propelled cart. Gimme went off the start line angling right to two vehicles. She didn't' act interested, and then pulled me to the cart and indicated off the back of it. From there I had her finish searching the first two cars then we went to the other two. Gimme showed interest between them on the white vehicle, then pulled me around the front to the other side, where she went back and forth briefly before indicating on the back wheel. Gimme got 3rd place with this Q in 2:15.07. It didn't seem like it took that long - we had 4 minutes to search. The first place dog was a full minute faster.
Sunday
Superior Interiors - Gimme Q'd for second place and a new title. She finished this search in 1:15.06 and we got favorable comments all day - there were a lot of people watching. The first place dog beat us with just 9 seconds. There were two search areas, with two hides and one distraction. Gimme paid no attention to the distraction, a Triscuit cracker at the leading edge of the first table in the first search area. I learned we could leave one area and go to the other whenever, provided we first did the search areas in order and starting between the cones. The first area was a 64' long line of tables next to the wall and about 8' wide.
Then perpendicular to the far end was a slightly rectangular area with some benches and a stack of trashcans.
We started in the first area, walking the length of the table and Gimme never brought her nose up off the floor. We walked back down the line and she did the same thing, so we went on to the second area. I really shouldn't have bothered with the second walk down the line, since I knew I could go back to the first area if we didn't find two hides in the second area. If I hadn't wasted the time on a second walk, we likely would have gotten first place, since there was less than 9 seconds separating us.
In the second area, Gimme passed through the area to the back side, then up between those tables against the wall to the end of the last bench, where she alerted under the end/edge of the seat. From there we checked the other two benches, then went to check out the other bench and trashcans. Gimme alerted at the bottom of the trash can (the hide was in an indentation on the bottom, a grip for fingers when dumping the trash). This was a second place Q and finished Gimme's Superior Interior (SI) title.
Superior Exterior -
The judge put the hides exactly where I thought they'd be. During the walk-through I noticed a pile of 3 fist-sized rocks at the base of a tree, clean and looking like they hadn't been there long. And then next to the wall in the corner was a large pile of benches and tables, an obvious place for a hide. When we started the search, Gimme got quickly around the trees to an orange cone and the judge said it marked a spot where a dog had peed. I told Gimme "don't even think about it". She gave me an annoyed look for interrupting her in the process of reading pee-mail, but she did leave it.
As we went around the trees again I saw her look at the rock pile and then obviously veer away from them. As we moved a little further, she made a sudden bee-line to the bench/table pile and alerted within 2 seconds. I was still pretty certain there was a hide under the rock pile, which was just 2 feet from the pee cone. So I took her around and had her check all four utility covers in the ground, then around a big rock and back to the trees, presenting the rock pile again. Gimme indicated, but I wasn't fast enough calling it to suit her, so she swiped the rocks away, exposing the q-tips. She looked at me, looked at the hide and then rolled her eyes and I managed to get "alert" out before she had to be even more obvious. Poor Gimme. It's a good thing she loves me or she might have traded me in long ago...
Even with my doltery, Gimme finished this search in 1:52.08 for third place, we were allotted 5 minutes. When I was checking times, one of the Division A people was bragging about how all the Division A qualifiers had faster times than the fastest Division B qualifier. I just had to point out that all the Division B dogs had to deal with the pee in the search area, left by one of the A dogs. It takes a lot of time to maneuver around a search area, get your dog to all the hides and not present the pee contamination over and over again.
It was a really nice weekend. And Gimme gave me a very nice Mother's Day present.
Master PreTrial - Gimme did not pass this. She alerted on a box four boxes past the odor box, despite going back and forth and checking them all thoroughly. I think she may have been smelling lingering odor from one of the three prior PTs - which are much more familiar scents. J'Anna says Myrrh is much harder than the other odors. She thinks it's heavy, while I'm betting it's less volatile. Gimme has only been exposed to Myrrh twice and did very well, but there were no lingering odor distractions. I guess I'll actually have to train it, eh. [especially now that we move up to Masters in the interior element]
Superior Containers - Gimme Q'd for fourth place in 38.07 seconds. I thought sure she would have faulted, but she didn't. There is supposed to be a distraction, but she gave no sign she noticed it. J'Anna's dog false alerted on the first box off the startline, so it was likely there. The first place dog was 11 seconds faster than we were. We had 3 minutes for this search.
Superior Vehicles - There were 5 vehicles, one of which was a red self-propelled cart. Gimme went off the start line angling right to two vehicles. She didn't' act interested, and then pulled me to the cart and indicated off the back of it. From there I had her finish searching the first two cars then we went to the other two. Gimme showed interest between them on the white vehicle, then pulled me around the front to the other side, where she went back and forth briefly before indicating on the back wheel. Gimme got 3rd place with this Q in 2:15.07. It didn't seem like it took that long - we had 4 minutes to search. The first place dog was a full minute faster.
Superior Interiors - Gimme Q'd for second place and a new title. She finished this search in 1:15.06 and we got favorable comments all day - there were a lot of people watching. The first place dog beat us with just 9 seconds. There were two search areas, with two hides and one distraction. Gimme paid no attention to the distraction, a Triscuit cracker at the leading edge of the first table in the first search area. I learned we could leave one area and go to the other whenever, provided we first did the search areas in order and starting between the cones. The first area was a 64' long line of tables next to the wall and about 8' wide. 
Then perpendicular to the far end was a slightly rectangular area with some benches and a stack of trashcans.
We started in the first area, walking the length of the table and Gimme never brought her nose up off the floor. We walked back down the line and she did the same thing, so we went on to the second area. I really shouldn't have bothered with the second walk down the line, since I knew I could go back to the first area if we didn't find two hides in the second area. If I hadn't wasted the time on a second walk, we likely would have gotten first place, since there was less than 9 seconds separating us.
In the second area, Gimme passed through the area to the back side, then up between those tables against the wall to the end of the last bench, where she alerted under the end/edge of the seat. From there we checked the other two benches, then went to check out the other bench and trashcans. Gimme alerted at the bottom of the trash can (the hide was in an indentation on the bottom, a grip for fingers when dumping the trash). This was a second place Q and finished Gimme's Superior Interior (SI) title.
 |
| start line 2 large cones at right |
 |
| red arrow to hide on bench pile |
 |
| red arrows show hides yellow arrow points to pee cone behind rock |
 |
| The judge said the benches and between them and the wall, but not including the wall, was all in play. Clearly only the smallest dogs could get in there, so I was sure there wouldn't be a hide there. |
Even with my doltery, Gimme finished this search in 1:52.08 for third place, we were allotted 5 minutes. When I was checking times, one of the Division A people was bragging about how all the Division A qualifiers had faster times than the fastest Division B qualifier. I just had to point out that all the Division B dogs had to deal with the pee in the search area, left by one of the A dogs. It takes a lot of time to maneuver around a search area, get your dog to all the hides and not present the pee contamination over and over again.
It was a really nice weekend. And Gimme gave me a very nice Mother's Day present.
Friday, May 10, 2019
Nosework class (4/37)
This is our first Tuesday with RallyFrEe practice in the morning and Nosework class in the evening. I was curious to see how Gimme would do. It didn't seem to make a difference.
Interior 1 search video - For this search they had two paired hides placed in a way where the dogs could access them, but only if they were pushy. I didn't think this would be an issue for Gimme and I was right. Dorothy always wants to pick up the toys, but I prefer us to have the chance to work through it. Mostly she leaves them on her own and will definitely leave them if I call her away from them. I love how willing she is to just shove the boxes aside and get in to source the hide. You'll note I take the opportunity to add treats to the paired hide. If I don't she starts ignoring me. I'd rather she wait to see what I will add. As a classmate noted, Gimme doesn't care if there's a box on her head, she's gonna do what she's gonna do. How can anyone not love such attitude?
Interior 2 search video - This time they removed both hides and the dogs got to search for about a minute with no hides available. Then surreptitiously they brought a hide in. I love how Gimme rushes in, then when she doesn't quickly find something to track down, she slows herself down and searches more carefully. For the other dogs they brought an odor box in and placed it on one of the stools - Gimme was last, so Dorothy just opened the door to the bathroom.
Interior 3 search video - Gimme solved this search in no time flat. There was just one hide in one of the ORT boxes and she found it very quickly. I went barefoot for this search because we had to do it on leash and moving fast in the thongs was very uncomfortable. I didn't realize the search area would be so small. Clearly I won't wear thongs to class again, eh.
Interior 4 search video - This time they piled all the boxes in the middle of the room with an odor box in a middle. Gimme got right to it and seemed to be considering jumping in, until she found a "crack" she could push through to get to the hide. Again she was totally unconcerned about the large box falling on her head.
Fun class and good to see the RFE practice every other Tuesday won't be hampering her in nosework class.
We have a UKC trial this weekend at the Superior level. We have one Superior Interior, so it's possible we could get another title. We are also doing the Master PreTrial, so we could get it as well. Wish us luck...
Interior 1 search video - For this search they had two paired hides placed in a way where the dogs could access them, but only if they were pushy. I didn't think this would be an issue for Gimme and I was right. Dorothy always wants to pick up the toys, but I prefer us to have the chance to work through it. Mostly she leaves them on her own and will definitely leave them if I call her away from them. I love how willing she is to just shove the boxes aside and get in to source the hide. You'll note I take the opportunity to add treats to the paired hide. If I don't she starts ignoring me. I'd rather she wait to see what I will add. As a classmate noted, Gimme doesn't care if there's a box on her head, she's gonna do what she's gonna do. How can anyone not love such attitude?
Interior 2 search video - This time they removed both hides and the dogs got to search for about a minute with no hides available. Then surreptitiously they brought a hide in. I love how Gimme rushes in, then when she doesn't quickly find something to track down, she slows herself down and searches more carefully. For the other dogs they brought an odor box in and placed it on one of the stools - Gimme was last, so Dorothy just opened the door to the bathroom.
Interior 3 search video - Gimme solved this search in no time flat. There was just one hide in one of the ORT boxes and she found it very quickly. I went barefoot for this search because we had to do it on leash and moving fast in the thongs was very uncomfortable. I didn't realize the search area would be so small. Clearly I won't wear thongs to class again, eh.
Interior 4 search video - This time they piled all the boxes in the middle of the room with an odor box in a middle. Gimme got right to it and seemed to be considering jumping in, until she found a "crack" she could push through to get to the hide. Again she was totally unconcerned about the large box falling on her head.
Fun class and good to see the RFE practice every other Tuesday won't be hampering her in nosework class.
We have a UKC trial this weekend at the Superior level. We have one Superior Interior, so it's possible we could get another title. We are also doing the Master PreTrial, so we could get it as well. Wish us luck...
Thursday, May 9, 2019
RFE practice (93)
This is the first time we've done RallyFrEe practice on Tuesday when it wasn't an RFE entry video day. It feels very odd and I really wasn't mentally prepared. It'll take a bit before I get into this new routine.
Freeshape "tivo" in a bucket video - She still offers a couple of CCW "pivot" instead of CW "tivo", but I just ignore them. Sometimes I click and she starts to move her feet out and the reward hand gets pulled back until she gets both feet in the bucket. She gives me the first full "tivo" in the bucket in 16 seconds (it was 42 seconds last time). Awesome improvement. She did much better keeping both front feet in the bucket. You'll note sometimes she gets rewarded for just putting her feet in it - which I consider unpredictably easy rewards on a variable schedule of reinforcement. My click timing is awful - it's a wonder she learns anything.
Freeshape back-weave macaroni video - I've decided to only shape one macaroni back-weave through 2 cones. It makes no sense to go further for two reasons. First, I'd have to shape it to four cones to complete the behavior, and second, there is no telling which side they will ask me to do it from, so I'd have to shape the full four cone behavior twice. It makes more sense to shape and put a cue on two discreet behaviors, which can be cued to create the full behavior.
This is the first time we've worked it with the starting cone on Gimme's left, so she struggles getting started. This is the first time I've set the cones up straight, which was too much, especially since I was changing her direction. Gimme is the only dog I've ever known who I can't steer her rear by turning/luring her nose. I don't know why this is. I was so proud of her at 3:42 when she figures out without my help to go around the cone to set herself up.
What you don't see because the camera p.o.v. drifted off of us, is my effort to insert myself into the two cones and how Gimme is able (in just three tries) to do a "boop" out in the open. Before she's only been able to "boop" or "beep" with a barrier limiting her to just one option, so this is a HUGE step forward. Looks like this idea is going to work - Thank You Ilona!!!
Platform work video - I am continuing this work so Gimme can get comfortable standing on the platform while facing away from me - since she always wants to turn it into a spin. Since I'm now consistently farther behind her - I'm noodling about creating a curved target stick, so she can stand normally while I'm behind her, and maybe smear peanut butter on the end and stick cheese pieces to it. This might be just the ticket to bridging the gap between the target stick as a target/lure to becoming treat delivery for a completed behavior. It'll also get rid of her tendency to turn back to me while waiting for the treat after I click (which is worse when I'm on her right and begins the behavior I'm trying to get rid of) and or backing up a step to get closer to the treats.
Back in center & wait on handler return video - We've only done this once before. She knows to "back" on cue, but we haven't done it in a very long time, so I have to refresh her memory. Gimme does fine when I move to her and pivot into position. When I go behind her (as in obedience return) then she turns with me - training required, eh. As always with this girl, she always likes to show me her ideas, ie. "scoot" instead of "back".
Alternative position, "west" & "east" video - J'Anna said I'd used "izzy" when it should have been "otto" and the video shows she was correct. Some dogs can learn a behavior in both directions, but I prefer to have separate cues for each direction, though this shows Gimme will extrapolate when my cuing doesn't make sense - she's so smart. We've only trained this a couple of times and I'm adding cues already because I don't want to muddy the meaning of "izzy" & "otto". She picks these cues up very quickly.
Gimme did well this day - even despite the wiggle-butt tendency.
By the way, the trial J'Anna is talking about is the World Wide I event. I'm not entering Advanced until we can do backward weaves without a lot of gyrations. If she wants to enter Ginger, who she says isn't ready, it's her decision. We clearly aren't ready and I'm not wasting money on the speculation that we could be by mid-June. I don't see any benefit to trying to get the behavior for a video when I haven't trained it enough to be strong in the middle of a course.
Freeshape "tivo" in a bucket video - She still offers a couple of CCW "pivot" instead of CW "tivo", but I just ignore them. Sometimes I click and she starts to move her feet out and the reward hand gets pulled back until she gets both feet in the bucket. She gives me the first full "tivo" in the bucket in 16 seconds (it was 42 seconds last time). Awesome improvement. She did much better keeping both front feet in the bucket. You'll note sometimes she gets rewarded for just putting her feet in it - which I consider unpredictably easy rewards on a variable schedule of reinforcement. My click timing is awful - it's a wonder she learns anything.
Freeshape back-weave macaroni video - I've decided to only shape one macaroni back-weave through 2 cones. It makes no sense to go further for two reasons. First, I'd have to shape it to four cones to complete the behavior, and second, there is no telling which side they will ask me to do it from, so I'd have to shape the full four cone behavior twice. It makes more sense to shape and put a cue on two discreet behaviors, which can be cued to create the full behavior.
This is the first time we've worked it with the starting cone on Gimme's left, so she struggles getting started. This is the first time I've set the cones up straight, which was too much, especially since I was changing her direction. Gimme is the only dog I've ever known who I can't steer her rear by turning/luring her nose. I don't know why this is. I was so proud of her at 3:42 when she figures out without my help to go around the cone to set herself up.
What you don't see because the camera p.o.v. drifted off of us, is my effort to insert myself into the two cones and how Gimme is able (in just three tries) to do a "boop" out in the open. Before she's only been able to "boop" or "beep" with a barrier limiting her to just one option, so this is a HUGE step forward. Looks like this idea is going to work - Thank You Ilona!!!
Platform work video - I am continuing this work so Gimme can get comfortable standing on the platform while facing away from me - since she always wants to turn it into a spin. Since I'm now consistently farther behind her - I'm noodling about creating a curved target stick, so she can stand normally while I'm behind her, and maybe smear peanut butter on the end and stick cheese pieces to it. This might be just the ticket to bridging the gap between the target stick as a target/lure to becoming treat delivery for a completed behavior. It'll also get rid of her tendency to turn back to me while waiting for the treat after I click (which is worse when I'm on her right and begins the behavior I'm trying to get rid of) and or backing up a step to get closer to the treats.
Back in center & wait on handler return video - We've only done this once before. She knows to "back" on cue, but we haven't done it in a very long time, so I have to refresh her memory. Gimme does fine when I move to her and pivot into position. When I go behind her (as in obedience return) then she turns with me - training required, eh. As always with this girl, she always likes to show me her ideas, ie. "scoot" instead of "back".
Alternative position, "west" & "east" video - J'Anna said I'd used "izzy" when it should have been "otto" and the video shows she was correct. Some dogs can learn a behavior in both directions, but I prefer to have separate cues for each direction, though this shows Gimme will extrapolate when my cuing doesn't make sense - she's so smart. We've only trained this a couple of times and I'm adding cues already because I don't want to muddy the meaning of "izzy" & "otto". She picks these cues up very quickly.
Gimme did well this day - even despite the wiggle-butt tendency.
By the way, the trial J'Anna is talking about is the World Wide I event. I'm not entering Advanced until we can do backward weaves without a lot of gyrations. If she wants to enter Ginger, who she says isn't ready, it's her decision. We clearly aren't ready and I'm not wasting money on the speculation that we could be by mid-June. I don't see any benefit to trying to get the behavior for a video when I haven't trained it enough to be strong in the middle of a course.
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Not-freestyle day...
I went to Pawsabilities expecting a workshop on Canine Musical Freestyle and RallyFrEe, but no one signed up, so they didn't hold it. I'd emailed Lezlie that I was coming, but she never replied - so now I wonder if she ever got my email. It turns out the people most interested in the Freestyle class can't do daytime classes, so it's not happening either. They are going to promote it more and see if they can find a mutual time for the instructor and students. Time will tell if we'll be able to attend.
This means we can go back to our regular Thursday schedule for RFE practice and tracking. Unfortunately, J'Anna had already signed up for an advanced obedience class, so she's now unavailable for Thursdays. I've talked to Nadine and we'll be moving all of our tracking to Thursdays so I only make the drive twice in one week, instead of three times.
Since we were already there and the big floor wasn't being used, I set the camera on a tripod and brought in Gimme's bucket prop for a quick practice.
Freeshaping "bucket" video - We hadn't done this for a month, so I was pleased to see how quickly she got to giving me a full "tivo" at just 42 seconds into the video. Interestingly, she offered me "pivot" (CCW) a few times to start. Since she first decided to do "tivo" (CW) in the bucket, even though it doesn't matter which direction she goes, I want to maintain what we originally trained - for the sake of clarity. When she fishtails (back and forth) so quickly it is hard to get a click in and so I miss good opportunities to reward what I want. Of course we are still working on her keeping both feet in the prop - I have to remember to only give her rewards when they are both in.
I love seeing all the progress Gimme is making.
This means we can go back to our regular Thursday schedule for RFE practice and tracking. Unfortunately, J'Anna had already signed up for an advanced obedience class, so she's now unavailable for Thursdays. I've talked to Nadine and we'll be moving all of our tracking to Thursdays so I only make the drive twice in one week, instead of three times.
Since we were already there and the big floor wasn't being used, I set the camera on a tripod and brought in Gimme's bucket prop for a quick practice.
Freeshaping "bucket" video - We hadn't done this for a month, so I was pleased to see how quickly she got to giving me a full "tivo" at just 42 seconds into the video. Interestingly, she offered me "pivot" (CCW) a few times to start. Since she first decided to do "tivo" (CW) in the bucket, even though it doesn't matter which direction she goes, I want to maintain what we originally trained - for the sake of clarity. When she fishtails (back and forth) so quickly it is hard to get a click in and so I miss good opportunities to reward what I want. Of course we are still working on her keeping both feet in the prop - I have to remember to only give her rewards when they are both in.
I love seeing all the progress Gimme is making.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Urban Tracking (138) and field
On Sunday, April 30th, I laid a track for Gimme at Flaming Geyser. It aged for 1:55 and the temperature when we ran it was 60°. Gimme did a particularly nice job with this track, which had interesting challenges.
The first leg was pretty straight forward, though Gimme did go to the right side a few times - going out about 25' and then coming back to the track. She overran the corner, but then came back and made the turn. On the top of the plateau was a large-game bedding spot with our track passing through the middle of it. Gimme stopped right at the edge of it and smelled it for a long time, without stepping further into it. Then when she was done she marched right through it and found the first article 20 feet away.
The second and third turns were both 45° degree turns. On the second turn, she started to follow the track, then turned and went the opposite direction. She checked there several times before committing to the downhill trail. She overran the turn at the bottom of the trail, but turned back and got to the next article quickly.
When I laid the track I walked about 15 feet up the wrong trail. I didn't know where it went, so had to turn back and go on to the right trail. I was curious to see what Gimme would do there. She went just 15 feet up the wrong trail and then without lifting her head, turned back on her track, came back to where I stood and followed the track to where it went onto the next (correct) trail.
She dithered a little bit straight ahead as we came down the trail and out of the woods, but then turned and followed the track. Where it proved most interesting was when we got to the road. The track turned right and followed down the edge of the asphalt. Gimme was certain it had to have crossed the road straight ahead of her. I went with her and let her check things out. She was very interested in continuing straight to the toy-plane flight building, but I didn't go with her. I think in a test where I didn't know the track was behind us and to the right, I might well have followed her. When I didn't go with her she came back to me, crossed back over the road and picked up the track along the edge of the asphalt to the nearby article
The rest of the track was mostly uneventful. There were a couple of excursions to the side here and there, but she wasn't too determined to follow them. She did parallel the track in one long segment, but given the breeze, she may well have smelled track blown out there from the track in front of us.
I'm pleased with how she did and I think I've finally decided what I'd like to do in my free lesson with Sil. At the last seminar I told him she sometimes commits to a line that isn't the track and pulls me hard in a wrong direction. After watching her showcase track, he said she did this when I didn't follow her first, subtler line out. He recommended we only do marked/known tracks. Since I've been doing only marked/known tracks I see she is better, but still sometimes does the false line out. It's possible I'm missing a subtle line out down the track, but I need Sil's expert eye to tell me what I'm doing wrong. After all it can't possibly be her mistake, eh.
On Tuesday, May 1st, Nadine and I met at Auburn Cinema. I asked her to lay a track around the building, sometimes close and sometimes further away. The track was 245 yards long, aged 45 minutes and it was 58°. Nadine laid it in 14 minutes and Gimme ran it in 25 minutes. The breeze was strong and continually changing direction, so it ended up being more challenging than what we expected/planned.
Gimme started out well (upper left starting on grass). She crossed the road readily, but then couldn't' decide what to do from there. She went back and forth along the leading edge of the grass repeatedly and then finally took the plunge and was quickly rewarded by the first article.
The first turn was about 30°, going under the marquee overhang. She did well with this and then was presented with a line of people waiting to get tickets to track through. They were kind enough to move apart a little bit so she could get through. From there we turned 30° in the other direction, down the grass strip, across sidewalk and then into the parking lot. The track basically bounced against the curb turning 90° to the right. Instead Gimme was sure it went along the curb and she followed it quite a distance before she indicated she might not have the track. Right after she turned back, she caught scent of the next article and got across the side lot to it. She picked up the turn there and got through the next turn easily enough.
The next turn proved to be a big challenge. It was a turn away from a landscaping strip back toward the building. Gimme was interested in every direction except back toward the building. She finally did go toward the building and made the next turn easily. The track went along the sidewalk, right at the edge. Gimme followed along somewhat parallel to the track, but in the landscaping and grass between the sidewalk and the building, at varying distances.
She overshot the turn at the end of the sidewalk, but then turned back, took the turn and was rewarded by an article. Our next turn was a left turn between two industrial size garbage containers. One was leaking something particularly foul and it was running right across our track. Gimme went back and forth and wasn't at all interested in going through the stench. (I always thought dogs liked stinky stuff, but apparently not dogs of the Empress persuasion) From there to the end of the track she did a lovely job.
This wasn't a very clean track, but the strong and variable breeze presented us with challenges beyond what I intended. So, overall she did well, given the conditions.
I continue to be amazed at her persistence.
The first leg was pretty straight forward, though Gimme did go to the right side a few times - going out about 25' and then coming back to the track. She overran the corner, but then came back and made the turn. On the top of the plateau was a large-game bedding spot with our track passing through the middle of it. Gimme stopped right at the edge of it and smelled it for a long time, without stepping further into it. Then when she was done she marched right through it and found the first article 20 feet away.The second and third turns were both 45° degree turns. On the second turn, she started to follow the track, then turned and went the opposite direction. She checked there several times before committing to the downhill trail. She overran the turn at the bottom of the trail, but turned back and got to the next article quickly.
When I laid the track I walked about 15 feet up the wrong trail. I didn't know where it went, so had to turn back and go on to the right trail. I was curious to see what Gimme would do there. She went just 15 feet up the wrong trail and then without lifting her head, turned back on her track, came back to where I stood and followed the track to where it went onto the next (correct) trail.
She dithered a little bit straight ahead as we came down the trail and out of the woods, but then turned and followed the track. Where it proved most interesting was when we got to the road. The track turned right and followed down the edge of the asphalt. Gimme was certain it had to have crossed the road straight ahead of her. I went with her and let her check things out. She was very interested in continuing straight to the toy-plane flight building, but I didn't go with her. I think in a test where I didn't know the track was behind us and to the right, I might well have followed her. When I didn't go with her she came back to me, crossed back over the road and picked up the track along the edge of the asphalt to the nearby article
The rest of the track was mostly uneventful. There were a couple of excursions to the side here and there, but she wasn't too determined to follow them. She did parallel the track in one long segment, but given the breeze, she may well have smelled track blown out there from the track in front of us.
I'm pleased with how she did and I think I've finally decided what I'd like to do in my free lesson with Sil. At the last seminar I told him she sometimes commits to a line that isn't the track and pulls me hard in a wrong direction. After watching her showcase track, he said she did this when I didn't follow her first, subtler line out. He recommended we only do marked/known tracks. Since I've been doing only marked/known tracks I see she is better, but still sometimes does the false line out. It's possible I'm missing a subtle line out down the track, but I need Sil's expert eye to tell me what I'm doing wrong. After all it can't possibly be her mistake, eh.
On Tuesday, May 1st, Nadine and I met at Auburn Cinema. I asked her to lay a track around the building, sometimes close and sometimes further away. The track was 245 yards long, aged 45 minutes and it was 58°. Nadine laid it in 14 minutes and Gimme ran it in 25 minutes. The breeze was strong and continually changing direction, so it ended up being more challenging than what we expected/planned.
Gimme started out well (upper left starting on grass). She crossed the road readily, but then couldn't' decide what to do from there. She went back and forth along the leading edge of the grass repeatedly and then finally took the plunge and was quickly rewarded by the first article.The first turn was about 30°, going under the marquee overhang. She did well with this and then was presented with a line of people waiting to get tickets to track through. They were kind enough to move apart a little bit so she could get through. From there we turned 30° in the other direction, down the grass strip, across sidewalk and then into the parking lot. The track basically bounced against the curb turning 90° to the right. Instead Gimme was sure it went along the curb and she followed it quite a distance before she indicated she might not have the track. Right after she turned back, she caught scent of the next article and got across the side lot to it. She picked up the turn there and got through the next turn easily enough.
The next turn proved to be a big challenge. It was a turn away from a landscaping strip back toward the building. Gimme was interested in every direction except back toward the building. She finally did go toward the building and made the next turn easily. The track went along the sidewalk, right at the edge. Gimme followed along somewhat parallel to the track, but in the landscaping and grass between the sidewalk and the building, at varying distances.
She overshot the turn at the end of the sidewalk, but then turned back, took the turn and was rewarded by an article. Our next turn was a left turn between two industrial size garbage containers. One was leaking something particularly foul and it was running right across our track. Gimme went back and forth and wasn't at all interested in going through the stench. (I always thought dogs liked stinky stuff, but apparently not dogs of the Empress persuasion) From there to the end of the track she did a lovely job.
This wasn't a very clean track, but the strong and variable breeze presented us with challenges beyond what I intended. So, overall she did well, given the conditions.
I continue to be amazed at her persistence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)