First, can I just say I hate coming up with titles every time? I know they're necessary, but it's hard to be creative when this is just a simple training blog!
Today's theme was pushing limits. I worked with Basil upstairs instead of in the basement, and first we worked on go-outs. I set up the broad jump chute over and over again in the breezeway, so that we can start working on generalizing to "go straight ahead, not to the last location we went to." I did have to take him by the collar and show him where to go a few times, but by the end of the session on go outs, he was getting it! I wish it had been nicer out today, because it would have been great to work on this outside.
We also worked on scent articles; since the breezeway is maybe 10-12 feet long, I put out eight articles for the first time in quite some time. No mistakes. Good boy!
We did a few retrieves with a tossed glove, and he's getting better and better. A few of the retrieves were longer than I've done before, maybe 7-8 feet away. Included in the toss itself is a mark; I'm not just throwing the glove any which way, but I'm bending low and thrusting it forward while my hand makes a marking movement. So far, so good.
We didn't work on signals at all. There really wasn't any room, and I didn't feel like going down in the basement with Basil.
I did take Teagan downstairs, and she did some SUPER long retrieves! She's up to 15-20 feet, depending on the bounce of the dumbbell; prior to today, she'd only been doing ten feet. My personal admonishments to move faster are working out well! If I notice any problems, I'll just shorten them up a bit. I do plan on shortening them up when we go outside to help her a bit....if ever the rain would stop...
Teagan's doing well on out-of-sight sits and downs; we did two sits today, each about 3 min 15 secs. During the first sit I rewarded about every 30 seconds or so, but on the second one, I randomized; she got treated at 15 seconds, then 45 seconds, etc. This seems to be going a lot faster as well. I think because I did such long stays with her for Novice (she could easily do 3-4 minute sits and 5-6 minute downs) that this is a lot easier.
We also worked on the broad jump. Teagan is such a bad jumper, the first Scottie I've ever had who's not a natural. I have two theories on this: her short legs and short back, and the fact that she was never taught to jump on anything (even a couch) as a puppy. Her breeder simply lifted her up anytime she wanted up. Because of this, she's just not a confident jumper. She really has to think about it, and she often pops jumps...although she's a lot better than she used to be.
She's struggling a bit with fronts on the broad jump, but I think that will come with time. I'm using a jump bar laid just off center along the broad jump boards to force her to jump straight and then make a turn, but she does come in a bit crooked.
We haven't worked on the high jump in a while, but the high jump seems a bit easier for her. I think we'll start doing that soon. If all goes well, I should be able to get Teagan into the Open ring this summer...it would be lovely to finish her CDX before I breed her. Wishful thinking.
