This is our second practice at WinStar. One thing we've discovered is the main door doesn't close well, even if you slam it. Gimme pushed it and got out, but was good and came back when I called her (and was rewarded with some toy play). There's a very busy street out front, not to mention potential issues with other dogs on the premises. For safety, we'll place a chair in front of the door from now on.
Gimme is intensely into her false pregnancy, so she didn't do as well this time as last. I brought in toys and it helped a little, but then not so much. At times she really enjoyed the play and at other times, not.
Join-up video - To begin with we did some join-up work. It's basically voluntary connection. If she disconnects, then I increase the disconnection by moving in another direction. It's not really supposed to be heeling, but I see I had a tendency to wait for her to get into heel before I rewarded.
Miscellaneous video - This was just some miscellaneous behaviors to reward. I thought they'd all be easy ones I could reward, but some were challenging for her. I had to help her get started with "otto" and it's her favorite behavior.
Toy play video - She wasn't excited by the first toy because its squeaker was broken. I encouraged her to pick a different one. Usually Gimme is all in for toys, but this time I had to improve my game to get her to join me in it. Competing to steal her toy makes her want to join in. Even so, her play is short-lived.
Simultaneous "spins" & "turn" video - It takes a little to get this started, but then she does it nicely. I ended the session after a really nice repetition.
Miscellaneous 2 video - Gimme had a really hard time focusing during the second session. Out of 9½-minutes of video, she was able to work just under 2 minutes. I did several different things to get and keep her attention, with varying success. Next time this happens, I think I'll put her on leash, to limit her options. I'm hoping we can get more working attention over a shorter and more concentrated time next time we meet there. We did have two nice play sessions - see next.
Toy Play 2 video - At first she wasn't interested, but when I got more playful and engaged, then she wanted to play. From watching these videos, she is most into the game when she has the toy and I try to get it from her. Trying to tug it away is a fave, but she also looked like she thought it was fun when I stalked her with scary hands. Who knew...
Because this had been mostly unsatisfactory work, I wanted to end on a good note. So I brought Gimme in for one last, short session - focused on "setup" which has a really positive association.
"Setup" video - We hadn't done this in awhile. All she has to do is get into heel position and sit with attention. Gimme did really well in the heel position. She seemed confused in side position - she'd get in position and crouch, but not sit. Then she did a few where she didn't even try to sit. I had her do setup in heel, then spun around and did it in side. She was very slow to sit, but once she got rewarded for it, she was better. I don't know what was going on in her head between side and heel position, but we ended on a couple of nice ones.
I'm looking forward to the end of this false pregnancy and getting my brainy girl back.
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