Fall 2024 –
I'm beginning a new section of this blog; once I figure out how to save my material in anything but xml format I will archive everything before October 2024.
We're starting with Millie, who earned her TD a year ago, and Brigid, who almost certified back in the spring but who since has been inconsistent (to be generous).
November 21, 2024
Millie. Goal: Improve handling on turns and isolating her behavior on turns; reinforce reliable article indication of some sort.
Six-turn stairstep, 7 legs each about 50 yards. Track 1:50 old. Articles on every leg. No food drops, but high-value reinforcement (garlicky turkey breast) on finding and clearly indicating article. Generally I try not to use flags with Millie, but this time there was a flag 5 yards (6 paces) before each corner. I tracked with her at 15 feet, so I reached the flag at the same time she reached the corner. Medium to medium-long, ragged cover (field of grass and weeds recently bushhogged), slightly damp; 2 changes of cover as we crossed 20'-wide closely-mown strips. Sunny, 46°, light breeze (Force 2); humidity 62%.
I brought her in perpendicular to the first leg, and after she sniffed around, did a 1/4 circle and peed, she found the leg easily. No problem transitioning from mown area to thicker cover. After pausing briefly to eat grass (??she had had water in the car just before we started) she found the first article and indicated clearly (at present [we're working on more], her indication is stopping, staring at the article, turning her body, giving a shake and finally turning her head to look at me. On this and all subsequent articles I waited for the full routine before praising and coming across with the turkey.) Clear head snap when she reached the first corner, which I messed up by coughing--still, she found the turn.
The second leg/second turn were all in an area under trees which is very crittery, the regular haunt of squirrels, voles, you name it. She got through it after checking out a few minor distractions, found & indicated article. Did ok on the rest of that leg, although the smells really got to her (in the video it looks like I restrained her once, but I'm not sure.) Cut the corner a bit on the second turn, but found the third leg nicely.
I needed to let her have a decent amount of line to search at the third corner (she indicated the direction right away, but decided she had to search and roll in something), but she was very clear about it when she did find it, and leaned into the harness. Fourth turn was clear and decisive from the beginning; fifth leg a bit marred by serious handler mistake (I saw the wrong set of line-ups and was moving too far to the right, and she missed article), but otherwise good.
I loved the fifth turn. Reacted immediately to the loss of scent and the head came over immediately. On the last turn she again reacted immediately and knew that the leg went to the right, but had to check to the left just to make sure.
She was momentarily startled on the last leg when the thick cover gave way to a manicured strip, but recovered quickly. The final article had been moved --she stops and searches for the article where it had been, which I like a lot, showing she is using her nose and not her eyes, although the article several yards away was clearly visible. Finally gave up and went on to the article
Things I liked:
- She gets back to work after being distracted by smells, nearby traffic and the like. I wish she wasn't so distractable, but she does know how to get back down to business.
- When she decides on the next leg at a corner (it may take her a few moments) she is clear and unequivocal: she digs in and really leans into the harness. As the track progresses, her restarts after an article were also more and more decisive.
- She has a strong and clear (to me) article indication, each and every time.
- We need to sharpen turns. On the first few corners she ran through by 10+ feet before starting to search for the next leg. As we went along she got better with each successive corner, doing really well on the last half of the track, but I'd like to see more consistency early on.
- Article indication--over the coming weeks I want to shift the existing behavior to something more generally recognizable, a down or at least a sit. No need to leave the judges in doubt.
- Handling problems. I realize watching this video that I am babbling again throughout the track. The handling mistake on the fifth leg was indefensible; she clearly knows better where the track is. I have to put the message back up on the crate in the car "JUST SHUT UP AND WATCH YOUR DOG."
she is working nicely. personally, i think you should be much much closer to her in training. 10 feet or less, and you can always give her line on the turns then hustle back up the line. maybe judi will weigh in on that. and if 'down' is what you want at the articles, there is no time like the present to start the article games in your house. she can work for her breakfast and her supper. i know you think the article on each leg was 'reward' enough for her efforts, and you mention how happy you were with her restarts - well i sure would be planning a well placed reward for restarts here and there. i am traveling monday so i will try to call you to talk about the plan for tuesday. thanks and looking forward to seeing you then!
ReplyDeleteRalph! The first ?2? Years we worked together, you insisted on letting Ilsa search everywhere so she could ‘figure it out’, while I kept telling you the way to train her was to teach her to stay on the track. Let’s just go ahead and skip the 2 years this time? 😂 You are giving her WAY too much line. Your track isn’t nearly reinforcing enough. Pick a scuff walk food pattern and apply it. The TRACK will teach her to track—not you. And articles aren’t frequent enough to reinforce what you want. Everything MaryAnn said, except you two aren’t ready to play line at the turns yet.
ReplyDeleteDid you lay this using the pattern I specify?
When she is turning clearly and nicely, we can let you play line. Right now, you’re teaching her that turns are the optimal time to be a hound and sniff her surroundings. I’m fine with a dog searching 360 before committing—but I want to see searching for the track, followed by commitment! For now, I’d not give her any more than 6’ on the turns. Dogs earn long line—we don’t just give it out.
Crittery area—did you scuff? Leave more frequent food? Did you make the hard area easy so she’d make the right choice, and learn the track is better than the critters?
She’s a good tracking dog Ralph! When she picks up her little trot (which she used to do all the time), I’d love to see you 6-10 feet behind her (closer is better), supporting her enthusiasm with your movement rather than with your voice. I kinda feel as though this was more testing (can she tighten her turns?) than training (how can I lay this so she successfully tightens her turns?).
She needs more clarity (and yes, less chattering!). Clarity comes from limiting her choices. A 6 foot leash might be best for both of you? If we fix it now, progress will come.