Reply To: Laurie Mathews

[Alana McGee]

Forwarded Response:

This looks like a great training environment Laurie

0 26 27 you can see tracing odor

0:56 good job rewarding at source. You could have even spent a longer time there engaging at source. We want to build value for remaining engaged at source for increasing lengths of time. Remember that once the truffle is underground, they take more time to get at- and so you want Rudy engaged with you throughout the entire sequence of you digging up the truffle.

The hide at 1:10- watch this again- is that the same hide he finds at 0:08? I think he finds it at 0:08 and quickly comes off and comes to you looking for reward. When reward isn’t readily given instead of going back to location of odor he moves on. It takes a bit of time to get comfortable-but look again at the first few seconds of the video and notice his shift in behavior. it is subtle but he’s telling you he found something. And then I believe the sequence (correct me if I am wrong) at 0:27 looks like he is working the odor for the source that he eventually alerts on as the last hide.

Watch and notice the difference in his behavior after a successful find. Confidence!

At 1:21 good job on the reward sequence, but again, on the repetition of show me put your hand lower and reward at source. After one or two repetitions of that pick up the target (our criteria being truffle in hand) and see if you can have Rudy nose target on the truffle in your hand! (you do do this later!) You can at this point we would suggest fade the pointing at the target on the re-alert. Give rudy a few seconds to offer the desire behavior before you offer assistance. If he does offer a nose touch on this- YAY Party!!! So just be conscious of your own movements. If he needs help- sure, but allow him the opportunity to learn and make a decision which results in cookies 😉

Did you pick up the target after that find- it was a tad hard to tell.

EXCELLENT job at 1:41. Do try to elongate the sequence. Try to extend each reward sequence by 5 seconds.

At 1:51 great job walking to engage in activity.

2:22 EXCELLENT Rudy! Great job you Laurie, and phenomenal exit 😉

Take aways:

When Rudy is sure of the game- no problem! On the first sequence in the field watch for more truncated alert behavior chains.

Your energy levels are good and matched but try to elongate the reward sequence by a few seconds (we will keep asking you to increase it 😉 )

On the re-alert- don’t jump in quiet so fast with assistance. Give Rudy an opportunity to offer the desired behavior.

You guys look great!