The Hound Retrieves!

Yes, Abby can now fetch a dumbbell! I am actually surprised at how quickly she has put it all together. Here is what "it" is:

1. Sit by my left side while I throw the dumbbell about 5 -10 ft away
2. When I say "Take it", go out and get the dumbbell
3. Put dumbbell in her mouth and carry it back to me
4. Sit in front of me with the dumbbell in her mouth
5. When I say "Give" put dumbbell in my hand
6. When I say "Finish", return to my left side and sit

I only work with her on this exercise for about 10 minutes a day, 3 days a week. I have been using a mixture of her food (kibble), jerky and stinky tuna treats as her reward.

I do vary her reward in that if it is something she already knows how to do, I will just give her a few pieces of kibble. If it is something that I have been waiting for her to do (i.e. sit with dumbbell in her mouth) I will jackpot her with a whole handful of kibble and treats but I give it to her a few bits at a time so it seems like 5-10 "little treats" rather than 1 big one that she immediately inhales. I let her "savor" the reward. 

I guess I should say that there are a few caveats to Abby's retrieving in that 1) I have a bag of treats within arm's reach and 2) we have only done this in my apartment.

We need to take our show on the road! I will try to remember to bring her dumbbell and treats to the park and go back to square one which is Abby simply "taking" the dumbbell in her mouth when there are all those distractions about: squirrels, kids, other dogs, squirrels, people on bicycles, yoga class and squirrels. Yeah, the squirrels are going to be a major distraction.

I also need to work with Abby in the apartment and see if she will retrieve for the sound of an "Atta Girl"and not reward her with food *every* single time she retrieves. Now that she understands what I want, we should be able to transition to verbal praise and begin to fade out the treats.

Dumbbell Update

I think Abby is getting the idea of a formal obedience retrieve!

Just so we are all on the same page, here are the cues (commands) that I am using with Abby for this exercise:

• The dumbbell

• Take it = put dumbbell in your mouth
• Sit = put your butt on the ground (in this context with dumbbell still in your mouth)
• Give = place the dumbbell in my hand

When we started our "play session" on Thursday night, we had to go back to her sitting and taking the dumbell from either my hand or off the couch. Next, I had her do the "take it" part from a standing position, then take the dumbbell and sit. It wasn't always perfect, sometimes she went into the "down" position, and a few times she batted the dumbbell around with her paw as if to say "Hey, I'm playing with the dumbbell, make that click noise and give me a treat!"

Finally, I placed the dumbell a few feet away (~ 2 ft) and asked for all three things:

1. Take it
2. Sit (with dumbbell)
3. Give

She did it twice! Yeah Abby!

But... can she do it a third time? I didn't have a chance to work with her tonight on it, I had to go shopping for her party that is on Sunday. We will continue practicing this weekend.

Once Abby is reliably doing the retrieve from a short distance, we can gradually increase the distance that she has to go to fetch the dumbell (upping the ante). My concern here is that she may not like carrying the dumbbell in her mouth for more than 24 inches.

Some dogs have difficulty transferring things they know to new situations. For example, you may have a dog that sits very well in the kitchen for its dinner, However, asking the same dog to sit when they are people at the door, or even sitting in a yard without any distractions is like teaching something brand new.  With Abby, I have trouble getting her to "sit" when we are walking on the neighborhood sidewalks (another blog topic)

I would like Abby to be able to "take" any object I point out for her, so we will work in retrieving different objects like her rope toy, her new fuzzy kong toy, and maybe gloves. If we get back into doing traditional obedience with St. Hubert's, one of the utility exercises is a directed retrieve of one of 3 gloves. Chances of us getting that far in obedience are slim (right now due to the lack of any trials in the area), but it would be a fun party trick. However, I don't think we will have it ready for this birthday party. Maybe next year.

Blogging for dummies and doggies

Long time, first time. At least that is what they say on the call-in radio shows.

It will take me a few weeks to get Abby's blog organized. However, after playing with the layout and photos of Abby, I couldn't stop until I put something down about the tricks we are practicing.

• "The Cap'n"
• A dumbbell retrieve

This weekend Abby is having a belated birthday party with her new friends. Recap and photos to follow along with the recipes for her birthday feast.

In the next few weeks I will explain what our "Captain" trick is (if you are thinking of a pirate with his foot on a keg, you are on the right track).

Our other break through for today (besides starting the blog) is that Abby picked up her dumbbell that was laying a few feet away, came to me, SAT, and then dropped it in my hands.  Getting Abby to have the dumbbell in her mouth while sitting is something that has been tough work.

Pick up dumbbell? Check. 
Sit? Check (well most of the time).
Sit with dumbbell?  Yeah, right.

But tonight she did it! I jackpotted her with all the treats I had left and ended our "play session" on a very happy note. I can wait until tomorrow to find out if it was a fluke or not.