TRAINING A DOG

Devon is so stinking smart, and remember I started her weave entrances by clicking with 2 poles. So, she took one look at the poles and went, "Oh, I know this game!" and raced through them so fast I didn't have time to get the cheese out of the baggie for her reward!

As Susan Y. warned me, I should have practiced throwing (I did practice with the toy!). Plus, string cheese rolls! Let's just say Susan Garrett would have been horrified at where my rewards landed, but Devon got the idea.

I was also so frazzled that she got it so quickly, I forgot to count how many times we attempted the poles so I could calculate her accuracy. I do know she was successful 100% of the time, and she only came back through the poles once. I was able to get the entry arc in the low challenge area and dropping into the entire entry area to the sides.

After reviewing my notes from the DVD, I decided to move the poles outside for the afternoon session and use a toy. We were ready for the "H" in the DASH principle. The DVD comments that you shouldn't stay too long on one area and use latent learning. Devon is a big latent learner, and the way she got right on the two poles told me we could move ahead.

I got her tugging with a brand new tug toy (which really sent her over the edge) before I asked for the poles. I used a lot of voice and started with the restrained release. I did all of the entry arc in 180 degrees. She nailed every one of her entries and never came back through them. On the third attempt (see I counted this time), she wanted to keep the tug toy and roll on her back. While this is very cute (which is why she does it), it stops the flow of training. I kept her moving and didn't allow her to stop the flow after a reward.

In 12 attempts she was perfect every time and wanting more. We stopped. I did noticed two things as we trained. First, she wanted to turn to her right as she went through the poles, and once even wrapped her nose around the second pole. Because she's done weaves before and was clicker trained entries on 2 poles, that turn to the right and nose wrap told me she knows what we're setting up. I'm hoping this leads to greater understanding as we move to two sets of poles.

Second, she wasn't as drivey through the poles as the dogs on the DVD (of course they were border collies). However, I believe this was more of an individual dog thing. Devon is very thoughtful, and she's not one to get so high she doesn't think. For example, in field she'll never be one of these dogs who flings herself in a belly flop into the water after a bird. She trots with purpose into the water. That doesn't mean she's not intent or intense about her work. She's just sensible.

I think combining those two observations (she wanted to go right to more "ghost" poles and she was thinking) is what caused her to be a little less "drivey," but I absolutely know she was learning.

More tomorrow!