Nosework class (4/43)

We are continuing to work through the NACSW skills tests.

Container 1 video - Eight boxes with 2 hides: The idea was to demonstrate how "methodical" the dog is - i.e. does she find the hides in the order presented. I was certain Gimme would bypass the closest one, especially since this was her first search of the day. I was right. Fortunately she searches very fast, so she ends up with a good time even without being methodical.

Container 2 video - Eight boxes with 3 hides: Right away you can see her time is better on this second search. It just seems to take her a search (sometimes two) to completely get her head in the game. In our early trials I used to stop somewhere close to a trial and set up a container search in a parking lot - otherwise she did poorly on the first search. You'll note it only took her 5 seconds to find the first hide (as opposed to 30 seconds in the first search). She was much better about quickly getting back to a hide she passed. Then she went back and got the first one she'd passed. As Dorothy comments, this was a "methodical Gimme search".  Gimme has her own style and tendencies.  Dorothy encourages us to improve, but doesn't push us to fit some mold - I sure appreciate it.

Container 3 video - Twelve boxes with 4 hides: You can see right away she is getting a little rougher with the boxes, which is normal for her on multiple container searches. At least she was only kicking them around and not pouncing on them. She gets to the first hide in 13 seconds. She bypassed the first box, a threshold. I knew it was there, which is why I paused at the startline - it sometimes draws her back to the threshold. However in the last few weeks we did searches where I wasn't supposed to leave the startline until she found a hide (independent searching skill), so perhaps she didn't respond to my pause because of those searches. Then again, I didn't pause very long. She almost picked the wrong box for the second hide, but corrected herself nicely. She kept lifting her head on the fourth box, it seemed she just hit it wrong on a stride. There were distractions this time, so perhaps they were a factor.

Inaccessible Interior 1 video - This was the easiest one. It's considered easy because she can get all the way around it. Gimme really scans the area and then when she gets close to the chair, she gets serious about it. It was a nice job, especially since we haven't done inaccessible in about 6 months.

Inaccessible Interior 2 video - This was a little harder - she couldn't get all the way around it, but it also wasn't very deep. Even though this was a little harder, Gimme was still a little faster. She loves a good puzzle.

Inaccessible Interior 3 video - This was the hardest of the three searches - she couldn't get all the way around it and it was under the seat of the chair toward the back. She was a little faster again, on her first indication, which I didn't respond to. She was a good girl, persisted and indicated a second time. I don't count the extra 2 seconds since it's not her fault I'm obtuse, eh...

Gimme sure is happy to get back to class and so am I.