We did more training for breakfast today and what a wonderful session!
Instead of starting out with signals, I started with articles. We were about 8 paces from a full (10-article) pile, and my goal today was to start mixing it up a bit. Instead of doing a few metal retrieves, then a few leather retrieves, I decided to start with a leather, do a couple, then go to a metal, then back to a leather, etc. In other words, be a little less predictable and make Basil work a little harder. He did goof once, when he was expecting another leather article and I had put out a metal while his back was turned. But other than that, he did great! I want him thinking on his feet. It was a fun exercise.
We also worked on gloves (not so great...feel like I'm kind of fumbling a bit with that one, and it's totally my fault), go-outs to ring gating with jumps in place (awesome!), some directed jumping (mostly good--need to remember to slow my signal down and exaggerate it quite a bit), and signals. Signals ROCKED! I think it was the only exercise today where he didn't have a single mistake. We worked at about 12 paces away (roughly 22-25 feet) and he was great!
I also worked with Teagan on retrieving over the high jump, ring gating on either side of the jump to help her. She only attempted to come around the gating twice, and it was after she'd "lost" the dumbbell in the grass and couldn't find it. Otherwise, she did very well...I even shortened the gating to about 3' on either side of the jump. We'll start there next time and shorten it yet again.
I'm about to go work on stays with her in the driveway, and then it's off to the post office for a behavior modification session for Miss Peach...
