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Final post for this evening and I will give it a break until this weekend. I will start working through lesson 3.
Zucca is starting to use an active alert (pawing and nose bump) as well as passive alert (sitting) after she signals with her nose and paw.
Here are responses to last week’s questions.
If it was morning, raining, and the wind was blowing from the (work with us here!) left side of your picture, how would you approach finding a target located in the left 1/3rd of that photo?
If the wind was coming from the left side of the picture, I would start by tracking from the right side of the picture, I would work either perpendicular into the wind with the dog.
What if it was early fall, hot out (say 72 F or 20 C), late afternoon, how would you approach the same scenario with a target on the left, with the wind coming from the left.
If the weather was warm, the odor would likely be closer to the ground especially in the afternoon (when it is likely warmer). I would use a similar approach and move perpendicular (back and forth) from right to left.
Here is a session from last week. I still am unable to get good video coverage of her general demeanor but I will keep trying. She continues to show more enthusiasm for sessions.
I will definitely respond to those questions tonight.
Zucca and I have been improving. She is showing more enthusiasm with high value treats like chicken or turkey treats. Also, it really helps to have a continuous flow to the box session by throwing a treat to the side and avoiding commands for her to come/sit/etc.
Without much pushing, she is also moving toward active alerts by pawing at the box and then sitting for her treat. I will continue using those alerts that she has basically implemented on her own.
I hope to post some longer videos of our sessions this weekend including several from these areas posted above.
Thanks,
Anthonyp.s. You may not recognize Zucca in the next session because she got her summer cut last week and is a whole new pup! She seems to enjoy life with less hair given our recent warm weather.
Recent training session posted below. I will post several more videos including a recent “ball” session to show you her general play demeanor.
My general thoughts on the latest sessions:
Zucca loves chicken and so those higher value treats worked much better.
I tried resetting with less commands by throwing her some of the chicken to another part of the yard. This seemed to work very well and kept a constant good vibe to the training session.
I also tried a session last night with different “boxes” by using small soccer cones with holes. She seemed to like those so I may try to use those for a bit of a change of pace between sessions. Let me know your thoughts.
I totally agree with the need for a more upbeat attitude. I am too keen to get this right and need to just relax.
Sorry, I guess that second video defaulted to private. I changed my settings so I hope that doesn’t happen again.
She may have more success with higher value treats. She really likes chicken and deli meats so I will try those in the coming sessions. She likes her ball quite a bit but I think higher value treats may be the first attempt before I completely shift gears to toys.
I will post today’s morning session once I get home later tonight.
Thanks for your insight and help.
Anthony
To answer your other questions:
What are her favorite treats? Zukes (peanut butter small bites)
What are you using for training? Using your Truffle Training Solution: Pacific Northwest Truffle Training scent in a small metal tin with small flower paper planters as the boxes.
Does she like toys? Yes, she loves tennis balls and fetching. She also likes nylabones and any harder chew toys because she rips through everything else.
Here is tonight’s session. I will post a general video tomorrow morning of her playing ball or perhaps a play session tomorrow night. I agree that the basement and leash seems to have some negative associations now.
Thanks,
Anthony
