06-05-2009

I'm behind again. On Monday, June 1, We put some scent out by the barn and I put the lid on top of a door leaning against the barn and about 5 feet away from the scent source. Again Duece took off to the PVC garden and worked his way around the yard. He was distracted a couple of times by the other dogs barking inside the fence, mainly Ziva, and he had to be reminded to get back to work. He's starting to sort of develop a search pattern surrounding the area where I walk. I try to not influence him and even walk with my hands in my pockets. We came around the corner of the barn and Duece went to the door leaning up against the barn, scratched at the bottom of it and then sat. When I went to check on what he was doing, the lid from the scent source had fallen down and the wind had blown it partly under the corner of the door. Very good find for Duece and he got a lot of praise and a treat before I moved on and gave him a "check" command and walked on. Duece then found the scent source and he didn't need a reminder to sit at the source at either find. We're progressing!
Later all three dogs went for a ride in the Ranger again. Someone threw up and I figured it was Duece but when it was washed out, a couple of Joker's pills were found in it. All we have to do is drive up to the gate with the Ranger and when it's opened, three dogs race to get inside for their ride. It seems like they all climb through the roll cage at one time.