I met Lilliana, Jorge, and Juan, (Pat snuck in later) for Sunday tracking. Keeper did better than usual, I had to strongly apply the brakes, as she still tries to zoom down the track and get to the jackpot at the end, but she at least got more than the last two times.
Sinn tried hard considering he had two variables changed in one session...In the future I think I will only change one thing at a time. I increased the distance between incentives, from every other step to every third step. Also, I stopped using the puppy track method and adopted the shuffle step:) Both were suggestions from Dennis in the last tracking session, which I forgot to blog about.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Thursday: Protection Day
Keeper did great her first time out with Kit in a few weeks! Although, the second time we had to exit the field for an impromptu bathroom break. Then, upon entering the field again, Kit cracked the whip and that really put Keeper off for the majority of her time. Luckily she bounced back and went for the puppy sleeve again.
I had suspected before this she was nervous about loud noises, so this is a definite conformation. Now I will work on desensitizing her to them.
I had suspected before this she was nervous about loud noises, so this is a definite conformation. Now I will work on desensitizing her to them.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Random Tracking Practice
I missed the Wednesday morning practice (damn working folk and their punctuality) so Keeper and I did our own practice at the local park. Sinn is still layed up with allergies. Keeper did exceedingly well, if anything too fast down the track, missing most of the treats. The grass was very short and the ground hard packed, I do not think I will use this park again for practice.
To her credit, she kept her nose directly on the track the whole time. The track was about 30-35 feet.
To her credit, she kept her nose directly on the track the whole time. The track was about 30-35 feet.
Improving My Habits
Ok, I have been very bad since returning from vacation regarding obedience practice. So this week I have been making it a point to just do a few minutes of obedience with each dog in random places in my neighborhood daily. First day we were all rusty, but I think it is coming back now.
Tracking at Robbins Lodge was not stellar as they have been. Poor Sinn with his itchy allergies actually flopped in the high grass mid track and started rolling around! Though I couldn't help snickering, it is not a habit I want him picking up. Benadryl has been administered, so hopefully this weekend he will be up to scratch. Keeper, due to the fact initially I was backed off her a bit, needed redirection from me. So Denis directed me to stay close to her side until she makes more of a connection.
Tracking at Robbins Lodge was not stellar as they have been. Poor Sinn with his itchy allergies actually flopped in the high grass mid track and started rolling around! Though I couldn't help snickering, it is not a habit I want him picking up. Benadryl has been administered, so hopefully this weekend he will be up to scratch. Keeper, due to the fact initially I was backed off her a bit, needed redirection from me. So Denis directed me to stay close to her side until she makes more of a connection.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Back From Vacation!
I will have to review some obedience with the mutts since we had a long absence from each other. Tracking on Sunday went very well though, especially Sinn!
I think this was the longest track he has ever done, and I put hot dogs in every other footstep instead of every step, also had a sweeping curve in it. He did wonderful! Looked up only once, but kept his nose very deep the vast majority of the track.
Keeper, I suspect, still has not connected the treats to the track. I helped her by pointing out a hot dog piece and telling her "such." I had to redirect four times, I think much of it is due to her rushing. She did a 20 foot track, treat in every step, big jack pot at end.
My biggest challenge with her is to get her to realize I am expecting something from her and the rewards come when she does the behavior I am asking for. For a dog to be about 5 years, I realize it will take her some time to learn how to learn.
I think this was the longest track he has ever done, and I put hot dogs in every other footstep instead of every step, also had a sweeping curve in it. He did wonderful! Looked up only once, but kept his nose very deep the vast majority of the track.
Keeper, I suspect, still has not connected the treats to the track. I helped her by pointing out a hot dog piece and telling her "such." I had to redirect four times, I think much of it is due to her rushing. She did a 20 foot track, treat in every step, big jack pot at end.
My biggest challenge with her is to get her to realize I am expecting something from her and the rewards come when she does the behavior I am asking for. For a dog to be about 5 years, I realize it will take her some time to learn how to learn.
Friday, June 26, 2009
I Forgot to Mention...
The last obedience day was fun, I don't think either of my dogs were as lively as normal due to the heat though.
Sinn: heeled ok-ish, and we did some recalls. I have to ask Dennis if the recall is done from a sit or down? I believe it is down. Also, when can I start phasing out the food for heeling? I have to work on not saying his name and not using the stay command. And NO hand signals! Sigh, I have more homework to remember than my dog.
Keeper: She was laying down like a pro! So now I am putting a word on it, then I can phase out luring her down with my hand. Heeling is harder for her to pick up...I have to remind myself it is hard for a dog to look up and to the side while walking straight. So at home I have her heel a short distance for her dinner, ending with a square sit at my side and eye contact with me. If it isn't perfect, I pick her dinner up. When it is perfect, she gets the release to eat. Sometimes I just reward her sitting square and looking at me. She has the tendency to want to face me and sit, which seems perfectly natural.
Sinn: heeled ok-ish, and we did some recalls. I have to ask Dennis if the recall is done from a sit or down? I believe it is down. Also, when can I start phasing out the food for heeling? I have to work on not saying his name and not using the stay command. And NO hand signals! Sigh, I have more homework to remember than my dog.
Keeper: She was laying down like a pro! So now I am putting a word on it, then I can phase out luring her down with my hand. Heeling is harder for her to pick up...I have to remind myself it is hard for a dog to look up and to the side while walking straight. So at home I have her heel a short distance for her dinner, ending with a square sit at my side and eye contact with me. If it isn't perfect, I pick her dinner up. When it is perfect, she gets the release to eat. Sometimes I just reward her sitting square and looking at me. She has the tendency to want to face me and sit, which seems perfectly natural.
Thursday: Protection Day
Yea Keeper! Another lovely day with "the white girl." I was actually out there first for once, so Keeper was nice and fresh for her routine. She loved playing with the puppy sleeve, and I put away happy and wagging.
Her second time out was great, Kit decided to introduce the whip in a small way to build her confidence around it. Um, I don't think she lacks confidence. After a small noise (not really a crack) with the whip, she hardly blinked and and instead focused all her attention on getting the neat stick in Kit's hand. Kit promptly threw the whip and declared it was a bad idea. hehe.
I definitely will start physically conditioning her, I think that is holding her back a bit.
Her second time out was great, Kit decided to introduce the whip in a small way to build her confidence around it. Um, I don't think she lacks confidence. After a small noise (not really a crack) with the whip, she hardly blinked and and instead focused all her attention on getting the neat stick in Kit's hand. Kit promptly threw the whip and declared it was a bad idea. hehe.
I definitely will start physically conditioning her, I think that is holding her back a bit.
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