Gimme hasn't done much lately and she's missed no opportunity to remind me. We had a few gaps in the nosework schedule. Then Gimme and I missed a nosework class because of my back and we haven't been walking much for the same reason. Missed tracking because of my back and had just one RFE practice. I'm getting better and we're trying to get caught up on walking. This was our first nosework class in a few weeks and I thought Gimme might be too excited to do well. She was indeed excited, but did well anyway.
I will say I wasn't clear on the purpose of this class' exercises. Normally Dorothy explains them very well, but didn't this night.
Container 1 video - This first search was a threshold hide. Gimme overran it, as usual, but must have caught the scent because she turned herself back to it, indicating in just 7¾ seconds. The other instructor said I ran her into the search, causing her to pass odor. I've watched this video repeatedly and don't see any running - I walked fast to keep up with her and have exactly one step, which was faster than a walk, and which was also just as Gimme turned back. I really don't see how we could have done a nicer job of it.
Container 2 video - This was pretty much the same start, me walking as fast as I needed to keep up with her. Gimme had the hide in 7½ seconds. She wasted no time at all.
Container 3 video - This didn't go as fast because my position was between Gimme and the hide at first. I was just thinking about moving outside the row OR getting Gimme to search on the other side of me when Dorothy asked the question. "Where do you want her to search and where could you move yourself?" Before I could reply, Gimme took matters into her own capable paws and went straight to the hide. Gimme is so talented, she really doesn't need my help. Howevah... what other handlers do to help their dogs, I need to learn so I'm not a hindrance. Even with my unintended blocking of odor, Gimme still had the hide in 30 seconds. BTW I did take three "running" steps. I do this to keep the line slack, so Gimme doesn't get an unintended leash correction for hitting the end of the line. I do the same thing in tracking.
Interior 1 video - For this off-leash search all the hides were in the near part of the room and the larger back two-thirds was blank. I really expected Gimme to zoom through the near area and then work her way back to it. Actually Gimme caught the threshold hide from the doorway/startline - stretching her nose toward it (sadly not caught on video) and caught it right away. She circled a little into the back two-thirds, but came back quickly to catch hide two on the black cart. From there she again circled a little deeper into the empty part of the room, but then brought herself back to the black cart. She very briefly paused to see if I'd pay a second time and when I didn't fall for it, went quickly to detail and locate the last hide. She had all three hides in about 1:15... very nice.
She did a nice job in class, despite being cooped up for a couple of weeks and bored out of her mind. She was happy to see Auntie Janice waiting to give her a manicure. I don't really think she likes the manicure, but she loooooves all the peanut butter she gets.
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