Nosework class (2/44)

Container 1 video - There were 4 hides and we weren't supposed to go back if they missed one.  Given Gimme's issues with pollen right now, I went back for one of them anyway.  

Container 2 video - This time there were 3 hides and she caught every one right away. I think she has to work harder with the pollen issue, and it just takes her a bit to get her brain in gear.  She has a long history of it being easy, so perhaps she just expects easy and then has to remind herself to work at it.  I'll never know, since she doesn't tell me these things.

Container 3 video - With just two hides, this was easy peasy.

Container 4 video - Dorothy thought I was lunging Gimme around the containers giving her permission to check all of them - whereas I was thinking in terms of not getting between her and the one hide.  There's no guarantee she would have searched different if on a shorter leash - we don't know.  In a trial I wouldn't know where it was, so probably would go with her.  Hard to say.

Vehicles video - Three vehicles and 4 hides, nothing on the first truck.  You can see Gimme pays no attention to it.  She gets right to the first hide under the trailer bumper.  She follows the scent out and then right back to the hide on the trailer tires.  Gimme gets the truck license plate hide as soon as she gets to the front of the truck.  The only real challenge was the trailer hitch hide.  I think she would have gotten it faster, but she saw me getting treats out of the pouch and then she assumed she was close enough.  I just had to wait her out and then she got to source.

Overall she did very well.  I've started her on bee pollen and hope it will help her soon.  I usually start her on it in late march and end in October, so this is late to start it, but I just couldn't get it sooner.

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.

Nosework class (3/43)

Around noon, Gimme and I joined a couple other students to run some searches for Dorothy, for use in her webinar. Gimme did a great job and had a lot of fun, since they were pretty easy searches. Dorothy said she'd share the videos, but I haven't seen them yet. <pout>

This first part of class was about indications - does the dog communicate their find. Gimme always does, but sometimes too vigorously (especially with containers), so I tried to get in quickly with a reward. She really did a nice job... batted a couple boxes aside, but didn't paw or stomp them.

Container 1 video - Gimme worked really fast, she indicated in ten seconds, without bashing the box. She tends to get more and more forceful with repeat container searches.

Container 2 video - I forgot my camera, so Dorothy taped our runs with my phone (Paul thought of it). You miss Gimme zooming off the start because she had her finger in the way. I was really proud of Gimme for catching the threshold-first-box hide - she normally zooms by really fast and outruns her nose. She indicated in about 2 seconds. For a couple seconds she noses around the box near the second hide (fringing), but then moves to the correct box on her own. She's such a smarty.

Container 3 video - This time she does bypass the threshold-first-box hide, but gets right back to it. Then she goes on to find the second hide. Her indications were so clean.

These last two searches were about high hides. Gimme loves high hides. There were three height choices and we started with the highest, then went lower for the next search.  Gimme was the only one to do the highest choice first.  Two others did it as their second high hide search.  Since Gimme already did it, it makes it easier for them, since she would leave scent clues.

Interior 1 video - This hide was 8 feet high and on the external point of a wall, making it even harder. Right at 1:06, you'll see her nose tip up as she passes by the hide location. Then she starts doing a bunch of searching in the area of the hide. She does move away for 8 seconds before coming back. I take this as her making sure about what she is smelling. Once she's back it takes just 12 seconds to go right up the wall. She was so very proud of herself and got a lot a treats for her efforts.

Interior 2 video - For our last search I chose the 6 feet high search. She scans the room and when she's ready goes right to the ladder and puts her feet on it. She's really very good at high hides and enjoys them.

She likes high hides so much, during one period of her early training I needed to toss treats on the ground for her to find while we were walking, just to encourage her to check for low hides too. I put a lot of effort into making sure she understood low hides pay too. Now she uses her nose to guide her decisions.

She's brilliant. Just sayin...

Nosework class (2/43)

This is our first week back at class. Actually class restarted two weeks earlier, but I misread the email. Don't tell Gimme, she'd be very annoyed.

NACSW has a skills program with video entry. Our class is doing the program and anyone who wants to participate can have their runs taped. I always have mine taped for my own instruction and my blog, so I thought I might do it. Then when I got home and looked at it, I decided it was too much money to spend for a "certificate".

The first three interior searches were about whether the dog had the skill to go to source.

Interior 1 video - Gimme zoomed right past the hide and went to the room where Dorothy stood. Of course, then she had to check it out - for 24 seconds. It took her just 9 seconds to get it once she left the room.  In hindsight, I should have treated this like I do at trials, waiting a little longer at the area entry, since this works well to draw her back to the threshold.

Interior 2 video - Gimme scans the area and hones in on the hide in 20 seconds. Seeing the video is very different from what I thought happened. I thought she indicated on the seat corner closest to where she stood, but in the video she indicated at the middle or just past it. I paid her at the wrong corner (where she moved to as she backed out to look at me); in reality she indicated pretty close to source.  I included a still at the end of the video, showing where she indicated.

Interior 3 video - Gimme zooms in the room and gets to the table-chairs combo very quickly. She indicates right at source (in the center, under the chair seat) in 19 seconds. Very nice.

The three container searches were to see if the dog could hunt at a distance from the handler. We released them from the startline and remained there while they searched. We could move to join them when they indicated. The hides were farther and farther away. It was hard for me to get there quickly from so far away and Gimme got more and more "vigorous" with each search.

Container 1 video - There were six boxes and the hide was in number four. Gimme indicated in 6 seconds.

Container 2 video - There were eight boxes and the hide was in number six. Gimme indicated in 12 seconds. No one in class has ever seen me run before, thus the background chuckling.

Container 3 video - There were ten boxes and the hide was in number ten. Gimme indicated in 7 seconds! She was ready to go into major box-bashing mode, until she saw me running toward her.

Clearly working at a distance from me is not an issue. She's pretty certain she could do the whole thing without me if I'd just let her wear the treat pouch.

Nosework practice 200415

I decided to use plastic Easter eggs for container searches. Although the search area was in the front yard, Gimme was sniffing like crazy as we went out the back door and started up the side. It's entirely possible the breeze was bringing scent along the side of the house.

Container 1 video - I set 4 paired hides, with 9 empty eggs. The main strong breeze was blowing from the street, but it died down intermittently and then there was a swirling undercurrent. Gimme goes to check the plastic shoebox sitting on the steps, which I used to bring the eggs out, including the scented ones. It took her a long time to find these hides, even though they were paired. Given the air disturbance from the traffic and the generally variable breeze, it's understandable.

When she finished the search I went around picking up the eggs. The last two were hard to find. Gimme followed me around for a bit, then laid in the shade and watched me. I finally found #12 and then started walking a grid pattern to find the last one (before the yard guy and his mower find it tomorrow). Gimme watches some more, then sighs dramatically before walking right to it and pointing it out for me. Always helpful, always with attitude.

Container 2 video - I decided to give her a converging odor challenge and set up the same 4 paired hides in my little bathroom. She left the room a couple of times, which I think was just to clear her head. She finds the first 2 hides really fast. It didn't take long to find #3. The fourth one took the longest.  

Nosework class (5/42)

This was an interesting class... for the first two searches, we had to say whether the dog was checking something blank, a distraction or odor. Both of these searches were blind.

Containers video - We learned afterward - there was only one blank container, the first four had distractions, and the last one was odor. The first three Gimme ignored so completely, I called them "blank". They were intended as distractions and contained doe urine, lavender and dirt. She smells lavender at home all the time and dirt on our walks, but I would have thought doe urine would catch her attention. The one she batted around had ground turkey in it. She gets it in her soup three times a day, so I'm sure she thinks it should be hers. She ignored the blank box and quickly indicated odor.

Exterior 1 - There is no video because I forgot to hand over the camera. There were 8 tins distributed among the big cement blocks (you saw them in the videos last week). Four distractions, one blank and three hides. Gimme did really well. She paid a bit more attention to the doe urine, but less attention to the ground turkey - both of them she left readily. She quickly found all three hides and indicated clearly.

Exterior 2 video - This last search was three hides along the front and under the portico of the building. There were four distraction tins. There is a slight breeze blowing from the far end of the search area and Gimme races down to get the farthest hide in just 13 seconds. It takes her 16 seconds to find the against-the-wall bench hide, which is always a very tricky hide.  I think approaching it from the other direction made it clearer. The other dogs spent a LOT more time sourcing it. She briefly sniffed the ground turkey tin again, but then got to the last hide in 16 seconds. She didn't pay any significant attention to the distractions. Even though she bypassed the first two hides to go to the one at the end, her search was still efficient. She did it in half the time of the other dogs, except August, who she beat by about 30 seconds.

She does love nosey-works.

Nosework class (2/42)

We had a heart shaped container search, made up of pink, purple and white containers.

Container 1 search video - For the first search we were to only use 3 feet of line and direct the search. I purposely kept strong pressure on the line, so Gimme wouldn't get a leash correction at the start - it seemed to work well. I did a front cross on the inside point at the top of the heart. Gimme gave me the look at the white container and I called "alert" and was told "no". I was also told she didn't alert, and it was because I wanted there to be an alert. In the video I can clearly see her sniff, stop and look at me. I did stop too readily, when my container plan is to keep moving, thus encouraging a false alert. There were no hides.

Container 2 search video - For this search we were to only use 3 feet of line, but let the dog direct the search. Gimme quickly finds the first hide. Then comes all the way around to find the second hide. Meanwhile the instructor moved the first hide across to another spot and Gimme was a little challenged to find it, seeming to get caught in fringe scent. I did a better job of moving and so she was able to work it out and not get "sold" on a false alert.

Container 3 search video - We were allowed full line length if we wanted and the dog could direct the search. Gimme found the first two hides in less than 20 seconds. We went back to check the containers we missed and then left. She had a nice clean, fast search.

Container 4 search video - This search was off leash, which naturally means I was left in the dust. Gimme raced to the first hide. She missed the one on the side, but quickly got the one at the point. It took her several passes to get the one in the mailbox-box. These were hard boxes to catch all evening; they were just too tight. Dorothy said she would modify them if they were being used in a trial.

Overall a good class. The instructors insist they've never told anyone to reward a look, but it's what I learned while training with them and continue to do with Gimme.  If a dog learns something unintended, we generally accept responsibility and change our training.  The instructors have never been able to tell me what her natural "tell" is and I haven't picked it out, despite studying all these videos. So, as long as I keep moving, her "look" is still the most reliable indication I have. Until they give me something better, I'm sticking with it.

By the way, do note she didn't bash any boxes - not one. Yay for Gimme.

Nosework class (3/41)

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.

Nosework class (6/40 & 1/41)

On October 29th we did all our nosework searches in the dark. We've done this every year just before Halloween. We dress up the dogs in glow-in-the-dark necklaces and bracelets and there are some glow sticks around the area. I've had videos turn out in a minimal way before, but this year the camera wouldn't even focus. Actually there was more light this time because they had two strings of lighted jack-o-lanterns and skeletons. I think they provided enough light to "confuse" the camera, so we didn't get anything usable.

In any case, Gimme did fine, as she always has. She just motors around and finds the hides, then tries to get my attention. As we repeated the searches, I learned to "read" her necklaces, so I could sorta tell what she was doing.

On November 5th we had a fun series of interior searches. We had to break up all our treats into tiny pieces, so we'd have enough. The idea was to continue rewarding our dog for 30 seconds and we were being timed. Naturally Gimme thought this was a great idea.

Interior 1 search video - This first search of just one hide was in the foyer. Gimme went right to the tub, but it took her a bit to decide exactly where the hide was. Most of the time for this search was spent rewarding Gimme.

Interior 2 search video - This search was in the front of the room, separated from the back two-thirds by ex-pens. Gimme found the hide in less than 10 seconds. Again she enjoyed the prolonged reward strategy.

Container 1 search video - This search was on leash with one hide. Gimme noticed the thing on the cable, which will later be part of a high hide search. She was the only one to notice it without the hide actually being there. She found the container hide soon after.

Interior 3 search video - There is just one high hide in the front part of the room. Gimme immediately runs to the other end to check the boxes where she last found a hide. She finds the hide in 55 seconds. We were still supposed to prolong the rewarding as much as we could and as close to the hide as possible, so I had her put her feet on me.

Interior 4 search video - Again just one high hide, but in the back part of the room. Gimme found it very quickly, 20 second faster than the prior high hide search. This is the one she saw during the container search. The only dog in class with comparable skill level is August and his nose is already a foot closer to the high hides.

I was glad to see Gimme doing so well in class despite motherhood.  She usually does well despite her condition, but sometimes I see a little less focus.  I love to see her having fun.