RFE practice (100)

I don't have a lot to report for this practice. I mostly used the time to do some videos for a skills test, sticking to things Gimme knows well.

Oddly she is still struggling with "turn" (CW spin), which she's been doing on cue for 8 years. This may be a residual from the seizure, although at the time it seems to be simple confusion, since she keeps offering "izzy" when she hears the cue. I want to watch the video clearly and see if I am unintentionally giving conflicting body cues.

Warm-up video - I thought she seemed to be more ready to work with me than she was last time. I had set up a line of four toys for a prop-weave video, so she was eager to check them out. I am not asking for much in the way of behaviors as I introduce this new warm-up routine. I'll increase my expectations gradually. Ilona, from the MDSA list, suggested I put the go-sniff on cue. I think it's a brilliant idea; it'll make it clear when we are approaching the sniff-worthy stuff as a distraction vs. as a reward.

When I let her check out the toys as part of her reward, she pawed at the feet of each toy trying to make them squeak. She was certain one would and despite my assurance they wouldn't, the fourth one did cooperate. Note how much faster her tail wags once she gets the squeaks. Also I found it interesting she only persisted with the toy with actual squeakers inside. Makes me wonder if she can smell the plastic. With her nosey prowess, I wouldn't be surprised.

Overall her attitude was much better than it was just two weeks ago. I'm not saying we are out of the woods though. She still went to the door a couple of times, telling me she had enough. I always get her to work a little more when this happens.

Looking back at Gimme's response to the toys, it occurs to me I should be using them as part of her reward. She was excited about having the toys as props to weave around. She was also very interested when I moved them off the floor to a chair. When she realized we weren't going to actually play with them, she was less enthusiastic about working. So next time I will bring some toys I can toss and tug to reward her efforts. Also, play is a better barometer of emotional state than food, so it'll help me gauge her progress.

I got a whimper from her when I brought my hand rapidly down to the floor next to her, trying to use treat placement to improve her alignment. Later in the day in nosework when I was told to get right in there fast with her reward, she did it again. I think it is a combination of startle and residual anxiety. Tuesday night I spent a considerable time contemplating different ways to help her get over this particular fast-moving-toward-her anxiety. There are also some residual anxieties around the house I want to see resolved.

On Wednesday morning I was thinking about it and gave myself a big talking-to. It's only been 2 weeks since Doc started us on the program of Adaptil and diet change for Gimme. He thought it would take up to 5 days to see a change and instead I saw a difference by the end of the day. Still, it may take a long time to get the full benefit. After all, Gimme was in her blue period for 2 months and 3 weeks - so there is a bit of history there to overcome.

I have to resist the urge to try and fix everything right away; she deserves the time to decompress on her own schedule.