Jo set up a low platform in the middle of a circle of 8 props, which were: bucket, carwash, box, barrel, jump, jump upright, table and bench. Each sequence we had a different task. Sorry you can't see it all, I had to have the camera out on the floor and didn't realize I didn't get the angle right.
Sequence 1 video - For this first sequence we were to start on the platform in the middle and do each prop one at a time, then return to the platform before going on to the next. It was challenging to get the presentation right for some of them.
Sequence 2 video - This time we just went around the ring doing each behavior in turn, which goes really fast. You'll see Gimme does "hands" then steps across the prop doing "table" as I'm trying to move her around it and onto the next prop. I really have to move her away in a larger way to prevent this.
Sequence 3 video - This time we repeat the first sequence and follow it immediately with the second sequence. Since we've just done a fast trip around, the challenge is to have the dog respond to cues and not just assume it's another speed circle. You'll see how I pull her away after doing "hands", to prevent her from stepping across the prop.
Sequence 4 video - The challenge here was to do props in pairs across from each other. It wasn't hard to do physically. The hard part was keeping it straight in your head.
Sequence 5 video - The task for our last sequence was to use each prop in a different way. Naturally I chose to use this sequence to show off Gimme's backing up skill on every prop. Everyone thinks she's amazing and would make a very heroic action figure. Her special power will give her the ability to get really close to the bad guys while they think she is moving away - truly a very special power. There are plenty of action figures for boys and a few for girls. It's about time there was one for dogs, doncha think...
This next Wednesday is a skip week for us. Gimme will be disappointed to miss class, but I welcome the extra time in my week.
Linda and Ron just moved and before they left they gave me a nice couch and loveseat, almost new. They are currently outside, between the house and carport, covered in sheets and a tarp. I have some guys who will be moving them in and the old stuff out on Friday and I have a lot of decluttering to do before then. The forecast shows sprinkles on Thursday and Friday, but I hope the forecasters are as wrong as they usually are.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Monday, May 29, 2017
Nosework (3/25)
I forgot to take my camera, so I just have a description of our three searches.
The first search was 14 boxes lined up behind the building, with 4 hides. The wind was strong, 6-8 mph. There was some light trash behind the building and it was swirling around and up in the air as the dogs were searching. It was really interesting to see what the air current was doing. All the dogs did well on the search, though Gimme seemed to have the most fun with it. She enjoyed getting paid for finding the hides again on the way back to the start.
The second search was 2 vehicles and 3 hides. We got to pick where to place the hides. There was one on the bumper, one on the stabilization leg (inaccessible and likely to have scent show up on the far side of the truck). The third hide was in a back wheel, aligned with the stabilization leg. We alternated the dogs' start position from left side to right side. Gimme was last. Based on how the dogs searched, the front bumper was the easiest. Then the stabilization leg and finally the dogs would get the back wheel. Both of the not-bumper hides were locations I suggested.
Gimme started from the right side. She went around the near front bumper, straight to the back wheel hide (pale green line). She was the only one to get it first. I saw her tip her nose toward the bumper hide. She started back to the front and then turned back, reading the front tire (pale blue). She went up and down the side until she settled on the hide location. From there she went around the front of the other vehicle (lavender) to the far side, sniffing briefly before coming to the bumper hide. She was really very fast.
The third search was a submerged hide in one of six water bowls. Gimme charged into the area so fast she went right by the hide, then quickly circled right back to it.
Dorothy said she thought it looked like Gimme enjoyed searching in the wind. I think this may be true. She is talented and experienced enough to not be confused by it and I think the way it pushes odor to her is exciting. I believe it may be a little bit like the high dogs get from sticking their heads out a car window.
The first search was 14 boxes lined up behind the building, with 4 hides. The wind was strong, 6-8 mph. There was some light trash behind the building and it was swirling around and up in the air as the dogs were searching. It was really interesting to see what the air current was doing. All the dogs did well on the search, though Gimme seemed to have the most fun with it. She enjoyed getting paid for finding the hides again on the way back to the start.
The second search was 2 vehicles and 3 hides. We got to pick where to place the hides. There was one on the bumper, one on the stabilization leg (inaccessible and likely to have scent show up on the far side of the truck). The third hide was in a back wheel, aligned with the stabilization leg. We alternated the dogs' start position from left side to right side. Gimme was last. Based on how the dogs searched, the front bumper was the easiest. Then the stabilization leg and finally the dogs would get the back wheel. Both of the not-bumper hides were locations I suggested.
The third search was a submerged hide in one of six water bowls. Gimme charged into the area so fast she went right by the hide, then quickly circled right back to it.
Dorothy said she thought it looked like Gimme enjoyed searching in the wind. I think this may be true. She is talented and experienced enough to not be confused by it and I think the way it pushes odor to her is exciting. I believe it may be a little bit like the high dogs get from sticking their heads out a car window.
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Urban Tracking (31-33)
I decided to drop back quite a ways in our urban tracking to straight tracks on hard surface, but with no curbs. In fact, I'm trying to stay away from curbs and greenery - sort of going cold turkey on weaning away from Gimme's reliance (preference) on them. I know she is capable of tracking on hard surfaces without them, but she knows they work and its natural for her to gravitate to what she knows and is comfortable with. Thus the cold turkey approach.
Last Saturday (5/20) - I laid her two straight tracks in the big rig parking lot behind my Shopko account. The first was 100 yards and the other 75 yards, with drops every five yards, aged to 40 minutes and the weather was neither warm or cool. For the first track Gimme was all over the place, only coming in to the track when she caught the scent of a food drop (beef jerky).
We walked along some vegetation on our way to the second stop and Gimme showed me she really wanted to track there. I brought her out to the start sock and she was happy to get paid for it, then went over to a curb around a light pole, about 20 feet away. I let her check it and then encouraged her to come toward me and didn't give her enough line to get back there. She started her all-over-the-place approach and then caught her first scent of jerky. She continued going back and forth (much checking of bits and pieces of parking lot trash), until she'd catch the jerky scent and come in to get it. Finally for the last 30 yards it was like a lightbulb went on and she started following right on the track and scooping up the treats. Woohoooo!
I talked to Sil about it (via email) and he recommended repeating the exercise until she was comfortable and reliable at following these tracks. He said they are comparable to U2.x in the new book (still a manuscript, which I'm reviewing for him). He has developed a really exciting and thorough program to get you and your dog all the way to a VST. I am continually amazed at some of the creative ideas he uses, woven neatly into his usual methodical approach. If you are into tracking, Modern Enthusiastic Tracking, is a must have for your training library.
On Thursday (5/25) - we met Nadine and her girls at the Auburn Cinema. I asked Nadine to lay us the same 75 & 100 yard tracks, aged the same, and again with drops every 5 yards. Right as we were about to go run the track, Nadine laid a 30 yard warm-up track, with drops every 5 yards and no age. We ran it as soon as she finished and Gimme had a great time.
From there we went over and ran the other tracks. Gimme did sooooo much better. She mostly stayed right with the track following her nose along and getting all those goodies. It was so exciting to see her getting into the game. Of course, she did sometimes have to go check out some piece of parking lot trash and would then have to check another and another. When I reminded her with "C'mon Gimme, let's track-on"... she'd give me her "Oh yeahhhh" look and would then come right back to the track and go back to work. I wasn't reminding her where the track was, so she clearly knew all along.
I don't know if the practice track was the reason she did so much better or whether it was just latent learning from 5 days before. Either way, it was quite exciting.
Today, Saturday (5/27) - I laid her another series in the Shopko rear parking lot and one more in the far end of Burlington's parking lot. We had three tracks of 75, 100 and 125 yards. I spaced the food drops at 7½ yards and aimed for 40 minutes in age. The age turned out to be 45 minutes by the time someone finished dawdling at her potty break.
Gimme did not do as well as she had on Thursday, though she was much better than last Saturday. I realized right away it was just a lot warmer than before. When I got back to the car the temp read in at 68º, but the car was parked in the shade. By the time we got to where we go walking, it was saying 75º. I figure down at nose level, closer to the asphalt in direct sun it was likely 80-85º.
In hindsight, I should have accounted for the heat. Temperature is not a factor I can control directly, but I certainly could have gotten there earlier while it was still cooler. Otherwise, I could have adjusted the other factors which are more directly under my control - treat spacing, age and length. I could have kept the drop spacing the same 5 yards from the week before. I could have reduced the aging a bit since warm/hot asphalt dries out and disperses scent molecules faster. I could also have opted for shorter tracks.
Now that we are into summer (finally) I'll have to start taking weather seriously and factoring it into our tracking plans. It got to a high of 85º today and Gimme has been expressing her inner camel all day. So I'll also have to make sure she is extra well hydrated before tracking.
Last Saturday (5/20) - I laid her two straight tracks in the big rig parking lot behind my Shopko account. The first was 100 yards and the other 75 yards, with drops every five yards, aged to 40 minutes and the weather was neither warm or cool. For the first track Gimme was all over the place, only coming in to the track when she caught the scent of a food drop (beef jerky).
We walked along some vegetation on our way to the second stop and Gimme showed me she really wanted to track there. I brought her out to the start sock and she was happy to get paid for it, then went over to a curb around a light pole, about 20 feet away. I let her check it and then encouraged her to come toward me and didn't give her enough line to get back there. She started her all-over-the-place approach and then caught her first scent of jerky. She continued going back and forth (much checking of bits and pieces of parking lot trash), until she'd catch the jerky scent and come in to get it. Finally for the last 30 yards it was like a lightbulb went on and she started following right on the track and scooping up the treats. Woohoooo!
I talked to Sil about it (via email) and he recommended repeating the exercise until she was comfortable and reliable at following these tracks. He said they are comparable to U2.x in the new book (still a manuscript, which I'm reviewing for him). He has developed a really exciting and thorough program to get you and your dog all the way to a VST. I am continually amazed at some of the creative ideas he uses, woven neatly into his usual methodical approach. If you are into tracking, Modern Enthusiastic Tracking, is a must have for your training library.
On Thursday (5/25) - we met Nadine and her girls at the Auburn Cinema. I asked Nadine to lay us the same 75 & 100 yard tracks, aged the same, and again with drops every 5 yards. Right as we were about to go run the track, Nadine laid a 30 yard warm-up track, with drops every 5 yards and no age. We ran it as soon as she finished and Gimme had a great time.
From there we went over and ran the other tracks. Gimme did sooooo much better. She mostly stayed right with the track following her nose along and getting all those goodies. It was so exciting to see her getting into the game. Of course, she did sometimes have to go check out some piece of parking lot trash and would then have to check another and another. When I reminded her with "C'mon Gimme, let's track-on"... she'd give me her "Oh yeahhhh" look and would then come right back to the track and go back to work. I wasn't reminding her where the track was, so she clearly knew all along.
I don't know if the practice track was the reason she did so much better or whether it was just latent learning from 5 days before. Either way, it was quite exciting.
Today, Saturday (5/27) - I laid her another series in the Shopko rear parking lot and one more in the far end of Burlington's parking lot. We had three tracks of 75, 100 and 125 yards. I spaced the food drops at 7½ yards and aimed for 40 minutes in age. The age turned out to be 45 minutes by the time someone finished dawdling at her potty break.
Gimme did not do as well as she had on Thursday, though she was much better than last Saturday. I realized right away it was just a lot warmer than before. When I got back to the car the temp read in at 68º, but the car was parked in the shade. By the time we got to where we go walking, it was saying 75º. I figure down at nose level, closer to the asphalt in direct sun it was likely 80-85º.
In hindsight, I should have accounted for the heat. Temperature is not a factor I can control directly, but I certainly could have gotten there earlier while it was still cooler. Otherwise, I could have adjusted the other factors which are more directly under my control - treat spacing, age and length. I could have kept the drop spacing the same 5 yards from the week before. I could have reduced the aging a bit since warm/hot asphalt dries out and disperses scent molecules faster. I could also have opted for shorter tracks.
Now that we are into summer (finally) I'll have to start taking weather seriously and factoring it into our tracking plans. It got to a high of 85º today and Gimme has been expressing her inner camel all day. So I'll also have to make sure she is extra well hydrated before tracking.
Saturday, May 27, 2017
RFE practice (43)
Last week's RallyFrEe practice was so frustrating. My goal was to do the video for this month's MDSA project. We practiced last time (two weeks ago) and Gimme did very well, so I expected it to go smoothly. NOT!
It's always distracting with the daycare and other things going on, but this time was the worst ever, multipled. We came in the building and were just starting when they started squeaking toys in the daycare room. Gimme lost her brain. I worked with her and was just getting her focus when they started up again. Of course, this time it was even harder to get her focus. Unfortunately the turn was facing the same direction as where the squeaking was coming from, so I kept losing her there. Each time the turn was really wide as she'd take a gander.
On the second session, I started with some other work. First was side-stepping - Gimme is better when she's moving to her left than to her right. This is the direction she first learned to pivot, so she's more comfortable moving her rear left. I see I need to click while she's moving, instead of when she stops with me. From there we practiced backing in side position. She's much better in heel position, so I practice it more in side position. Naturally she threw in an offered "otto" for me. We got two instances of good backing in side position, so I quit there. Side-stepping & Backing video
As soon as we moved into place to do some sequences for the MDSA project, then the people for another class started traipsing by. They can't just walk by and be done with it. They have to stop and watch and talk and play with their dogs. Gimme left me and started over there once, but stopped halfway when I said "leave it", then a moment later came back to me. A year ago she couldn't have stopped and come back to me without me taking her by the collar, so I was proud of her. When I got her focused and was starting up, then the private lesson people squeaked a toy in the ring next to ours and Gimme lost her brain, again.
When we came in for the third session, I brought one of her toys in. We played some and it helped to get her focused. As luck would have it, when we were doing final runs, then the daycare dogs all started barking really loud. It was so loud I couldn't even hear our music and it would be intrusive in the videos. We could have waited until they stopped, but Gimme was pretty much used up, so I just quit and hoped there was something useable. I did find four clips to meet the criteria and one was better than the rest. I will include the link for the MDSA project when its ready.
In hindsight I should have moved our ring markers and to the other end of the space. Then we would have been further from all the distraction and our corner/turn where she was getting distracted would then have been toward a boring wall. I wish I was better at thinking of these solutions in real time. At least now I'll have it as a back up plan the next time we have problems.
It's always distracting with the daycare and other things going on, but this time was the worst ever, multipled. We came in the building and were just starting when they started squeaking toys in the daycare room. Gimme lost her brain. I worked with her and was just getting her focus when they started up again. Of course, this time it was even harder to get her focus. Unfortunately the turn was facing the same direction as where the squeaking was coming from, so I kept losing her there. Each time the turn was really wide as she'd take a gander.
On the second session, I started with some other work. First was side-stepping - Gimme is better when she's moving to her left than to her right. This is the direction she first learned to pivot, so she's more comfortable moving her rear left. I see I need to click while she's moving, instead of when she stops with me. From there we practiced backing in side position. She's much better in heel position, so I practice it more in side position. Naturally she threw in an offered "otto" for me. We got two instances of good backing in side position, so I quit there. Side-stepping & Backing video
As soon as we moved into place to do some sequences for the MDSA project, then the people for another class started traipsing by. They can't just walk by and be done with it. They have to stop and watch and talk and play with their dogs. Gimme left me and started over there once, but stopped halfway when I said "leave it", then a moment later came back to me. A year ago she couldn't have stopped and come back to me without me taking her by the collar, so I was proud of her. When I got her focused and was starting up, then the private lesson people squeaked a toy in the ring next to ours and Gimme lost her brain, again.
When we came in for the third session, I brought one of her toys in. We played some and it helped to get her focused. As luck would have it, when we were doing final runs, then the daycare dogs all started barking really loud. It was so loud I couldn't even hear our music and it would be intrusive in the videos. We could have waited until they stopped, but Gimme was pretty much used up, so I just quit and hoped there was something useable. I did find four clips to meet the criteria and one was better than the rest. I will include the link for the MDSA project when its ready.
In hindsight I should have moved our ring markers and to the other end of the space. Then we would have been further from all the distraction and our corner/turn where she was getting distracted would then have been toward a boring wall. I wish I was better at thinking of these solutions in real time. At least now I'll have it as a back up plan the next time we have problems.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Parkour (4/7)
Jo wasn't there, so we had a substitute. She's not nearly as good as Jo at coming up with creative and fun things to do. The one positive is - she often has me do the exercise and then demonstrate some part of the next exercise, so Gimme gets a little bit extra floor time, because then she gets to do it again when her turn rolls around.
"thru" sequence video - There's almost no video to show here, since the instructor chose to stand in front of the camera. Gimme got to go through the dividers with the pool noodles and then for extra measure, to "back" through the carwash. I started cuing "bacon", but it only seemed to confuse her. Then when I tried "back" she was still trying to find some way to get her feet on it. What finally worked well was to let her come through normally and stop her halfway, then encourage her to back up from there. Then she totally got it.
Sequence 1 video - You can see our Tervuren classmate through this video. He's a nice, calm boy and Gimme is completely unconcerned about him. I know I can rely on his owner to be careful, so I'm sure my attitude helps. The big deal about the ladder was because it was on the ground and the other dogs just walked through it, instead of on it. Gimme was the only one who immediately walked on the rungs, but she's done it enough to know she won't get paid unless she does it right.
Sequence 2 video - This was a nice sequence and you get to see Gimme "back" through the carwash. She really picks stuff up so fast - this time on cue after getting it right once in the first turn. You'll hear the instructor ask me to show Gimme doing a 180º turn on the boardwalk ("flip"). I don't have to tell her to "halt" first, but I do sometimes if I'm not sure she's completely focused.
Sequence 3 video - This is another sequence. The big to-do was because I had Gimme "bacon" on the tub. We were told to do "two on" and since she didn't specify which two, I was making a funny. Gimme loves backing on stuff, so I try to work it in from time to time.
Sequence 4 video - This short sequence was just more of the same, except with the narrow board. None of the other dogs had done the narrow board. Next to Gimme, her Tervuren friend was the best. It took him a bit to figure it out, but then he did it nicely, being his usual calm and thoughtful self.
Unfortunately this was the end of class for the night. Gimme could have played parkour for another hour.
"thru" sequence video - There's almost no video to show here, since the instructor chose to stand in front of the camera. Gimme got to go through the dividers with the pool noodles and then for extra measure, to "back" through the carwash. I started cuing "bacon", but it only seemed to confuse her. Then when I tried "back" she was still trying to find some way to get her feet on it. What finally worked well was to let her come through normally and stop her halfway, then encourage her to back up from there. Then she totally got it.
Sequence 1 video - You can see our Tervuren classmate through this video. He's a nice, calm boy and Gimme is completely unconcerned about him. I know I can rely on his owner to be careful, so I'm sure my attitude helps. The big deal about the ladder was because it was on the ground and the other dogs just walked through it, instead of on it. Gimme was the only one who immediately walked on the rungs, but she's done it enough to know she won't get paid unless she does it right.
Sequence 2 video - This was a nice sequence and you get to see Gimme "back" through the carwash. She really picks stuff up so fast - this time on cue after getting it right once in the first turn. You'll hear the instructor ask me to show Gimme doing a 180º turn on the boardwalk ("flip"). I don't have to tell her to "halt" first, but I do sometimes if I'm not sure she's completely focused.
Sequence 3 video - This is another sequence. The big to-do was because I had Gimme "bacon" on the tub. We were told to do "two on" and since she didn't specify which two, I was making a funny. Gimme loves backing on stuff, so I try to work it in from time to time.
Sequence 4 video - This short sequence was just more of the same, except with the narrow board. None of the other dogs had done the narrow board. Next to Gimme, her Tervuren friend was the best. It took him a bit to figure it out, but then he did it nicely, being his usual calm and thoughtful self.
Unfortunately this was the end of class for the night. Gimme could have played parkour for another hour.
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Nosework (2/25)
Here is a picture of our container search layout for class. How would you work it? Do you see any pattern?
Dorothy asked us right off the bat what strategy we would use on this search. Everyone else was really at a loss, whereas I saw three circles of boxes with a box in the middle. So I said my strategy would be to work the circles or at least be aware of how Gimme had worked them, without getting stuck in the middle and blocking the center box.
I can't say why, I just saw it. I was sitting there looking at it and thinking about strategy while everyone was chatting before class, and then I just saw the circles. Probably my arts/crafts background. Dorothy said only one other person saw the circles. My classmates needed to be shown the circles. Here is the same layout with the circles in different colors.Container 1 video - The first search was just one hide. Gimme finds it really quickly and then checks the other boxes. One of the things we were watching was to see if the dogs seemed to react to the circle shape. Dorothy has seen dogs react to the 2 lines of boxes for an ORT, but she said it wasn't clear here. Gimme seemed to be doing the third circle, but it could also be she'd done the other two and they were behind her, so it made sense to travel the perimeter.
Container 2 video - Dorothy changed the boxes and put a different odor in the spot of the hide from the first search and you can see Gimme doesn't alert to it right away because it doesn't smell "right" to her. Clearly she remembered from the time before. This time there were two hides and she gets them both fast. Note how her intensity drops after the second hide, as if she knows there aren't any more. She still checks the last group and then goes back to the second hide. I don't usually pay her again, but did this time and then she heads to the door on her own.
Container 3 video - This time there were three hides and we did the search off leash. You'll almost never get to do an off leash container search. Gimme was much faster off leash, 20 seconds less than for two hides. On the second hide she hadn't really indicated. I thought she was going to and had started to move in, but she was moving away by then. She notices I'm coming in and hops back to the hide. I'm sure she thinks she's training me.
Container 4 video - This time Dorothy moved all the hides to the edge of the circles. It looks a lot more like Gimme is responding to the circle shape without the center boxes. Gimme was another 6 seconds faster here. Clearly I and my leash are just one big impediment!
Friday, May 19, 2017
Urban Tracking (30)
Last Sunday I set another track for Gimme and let it age while I worked my Safeway store. It was one hour old, cool and damp, with no breeze. I started on the left side of the picture and went back behind the store and to a space in parking on the right side. Red line is the track and light blue is what Gimme did. Dark blue dots are articles.I wanted to try it again to see if what I saw the day before was really dependence on other stuff instead of following my track on hard surface, OR if it was because she was uncertain about following my track after so long. What I see is, Gimme is still tending to use grass and curbs and the edge of the building to find the track. If it weren't for articles bringing her along and the constraint of the area, I'm not sure she would have gotten to the end. It's also possible I'm unconsciously helping her.
We didn't have tracking this week because Nadine had a conflict. So tomorrow (Saturday) I'm going to lay simple straight line tracks in the parking lot behind Shopko. Its a very big space with no curbs. Thus, there will be nothing else for her to rely on. It's either sink or swim. I've seen her be able to do it when there are no "crutches" to use, so I expect she'll be able to do it there.
I think maybe we need to do this many times until she has confidence in her ability to follow those tracks and then maybe she won't be tempted to take the easy way out. Normally she loves a challenge, so I think she'll do it when she realizes it'll show off how smart she is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)