04-15-2009

Tonight we tried some new scent material that Duece wasn't very familiar with. It was hidden in a water tank/ flower pot in the yard. It took awhile for him to get his nose close to it and he was praised and rewarded when he did. Then I tried to have him "show me" after we had stepped away from the flower pot. He sniffed around and before I had a chance to stop him, he jumped up into the flower pot and spilled the scent container. Serves me right for not anticipating and setting up the hide correctly. I yelled at him to get out of the flower pot, not wanting him to step in the material, which set training back a little just because I was stupid. A little later we did another search with material he's more familiar with and he didn't do his sit indication when he found it. We have a lot more work to do! Yesterday and today we did short trips in the suburban with the 'cheese in a can' reward. He loves to get the leash put on in the house, but won't load into the suburban, but lays on the seat while we're moving. We added a couple extra miles today and he got some cheese upon loading up and at a couple of stop signs as well as when we unload. Just going to take some time.