a really good utility practice

The theory is that Bo likes the nice weather. We went in to do some utility practice while Paul was in his fencing lesson. Bo was darned near flawless.

We're still humoring him on the scent articles. I've decided to only do 2 reps in each practice. metal wth 3 unscented metals: no problems. leather with 3 unscented metal and 2 unscented leather: no problem. The go outs were to de for. he did his signals at a distance....

utility ... its enough to drive you nuts. perfect one day, a catastrophe the next.

a near flawless agility practice

Bo and I put in 3 creditable runs in agility practice. It was amazing! I think he is much happier in the warm weather than all that horrid snow and cold and dark.

Hoping for some qualifying runs this weekend: USDAA on saturday and AKC on sunday.

Biking with small dogs (part 2): the smalls approve

Paul and I took Tip and Bo about for a cruise around the neighborhood. Tip looked beyond pleased, seated in his Royal Howdah with a canopy overhead, while his minion (Paul) did all the work.

Bo, of course, was a bit bunched and stood the whole time, with his head poking out, ear fringe flying in the wind. Paul reported that he looked quite happy, too.

Biking with small dogs (part 1): the baskets

Having obtained two bike baskets for small dogs (after careful perusal of options reviewed on DogJaunt, I chose the Tagalong bike basket).

Putting the baskets together was trivial:

Even a child could do it.

For once in my life, I thought I would try taking someone's good advice. In this case, it was MA's advice to train the dogs to get in the basket, instead of just shoving them in, strapping them down, and biking off at top speed.

Both dogs soon came to learn that sitting in the basket earned them treats.

In fact, we turned around during breakfast to see that Tip had voluntarily jumped up and sat in the basket, awaiting his treat.

scent articles

So we practiced again.

1. First a couple of straight metal retrieves. He needed additional commands to pick it up. I worked a batch on holds and carries, and making him move about and actively hold it, even when I tapped it.
   
2. Metal with one unscented metal. Worked and after some delay, brought back the scented one.
3. Metal with 5 unscented metals. worked and brought back scented one.
4. Metal + one unscented leather. First try brought back leather (though had indicated metal). I just stared ahead and he, after a pause of 5 seconds, went back to bring the metal one.
5. Leather + 5 unscented leathers. worked and brought it back.

It's the fetch, stupid.

Writing it down is helping already. Bo is failing to fetch, not failing to scent. So I need to get him to fetch the metal without any of the quavers and hesitations and "ooohhh I think it has cooties" that he currently has.

scent articles -- the ongoing struggle

OK. Maybe if I keep track of it each day, I will see some progress. so here we go.

1. Retrieve solo scented metal: Bo did not want to pick it up at all, and tried rolling it to me.
2. 3 metal + 1 scented metal: Bo worked the whole pile and slightly reluctantly brought the metal.
3. 3 leather + 3 metal + scented leather. worked whole pile and eagerly brought the leather.
4. 3 leather + 3 metal + scented metal. indicated leather article, then deliberately brought back lather. I ignored, smiling at pile for a minute, nothing. so I resent him. He worked sniffed the metal, thought about it, and then picked up a leather. stopped after a foot or two, and stared at me. I stood and smiled. He dropped, went back and considered the OTHER leather. He chose not to and stared running away. I pointed out the metal one and he picked it up and brought it to me.

(sigh)