I saw "color" just a couple hours before class started, confirming Gimme is in season. She's not very poofy, but some. Based on her behavior and total lack of focus I think she's further into the season than is apparent. Nosework is normally not affected, except on "the day".
Exterior 1 video - This should have been such an easy search for Gimme, but she walks hides. The first hide was on the mailboxes, which she goes toward, but doesn't investigate further. There's a hide on the second mailbox, which she passes in favor of the fire hydrant on the right. Notice toward the end of the sidewalk she just stops and repeatedly looks at me, as if she's not sure why we are here. She finally catches drift of the hide under the concrete barrier. To get the hide on the blue pole and on the mailboxes, I basically have to move her close to the hide and then encourage her to stay there.
There have been times because of pollen and such where Gimme's nose wasn't working and to someone who doesn't know her, this could look as if her nose wasn't working. But, having seen it, I know Gimme continues trying to work the puzzle, with strong searching behavior. She wasn't searching with persistence here, just kinda doing a la-la-la search, as if her mind wasn't in it.
Exterior 2 video - Here there are five hides in the concrete barriers and on the fire hydrant. Gimme is a little more into it, but doesn't seem to be interested in putting forth the effort for the one with the hide on top. She finds the low hide (from the last search) immediately and she gets right on the second one where it's on top and close to the edge. The third one has the hide on the top and in the middle, but after finding a treat on the ground she just moves on. She normally loves high hides, but not this night. I tried keeping her by the fire hydrant, but she just wasn't going there. She does go back to the last hide and finds it from the other end, so I pay her again. The second time I bring her toward the fire hydrant she gets it easily. Then when I get her back to the one she missed, she starts working it and finally gets it.
From watching her videos, it's like she has divided attention. She wants to play the game and win treats, she just can't concentrate.
Vehicle 1 video - Her attitude was much better for this last search. She finds and alerts on the first hide in 20 seconds. Normally she isn't fooled by odor drifting under a car, but this time she seems to be; though, the instructor says there are fries on the ground under the car, which could be a factor. She hasn't put her feet on a car in years and yet does it here three times. I think she was just throwing stuff out to see if it'd stick. She finally finds the last hide - it took 2 minutes from the first hide!
I'm just not used to her being less than brilliant. I don't know how people with dogs of just-average intelligence stand it.
She was freaked out by getting her collar put on this morning, so I decided a walk was not in our future. Our tracking friend has a conflict, so we won't meet up tomorrow. I plan to go by Game Farm Park again and lay an article circle for Gimme. I think she needs the outlets until she gets back to normal and she always enjoys article circles.
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