Last Earthdog

Saturday was the last Earthdog class in this session. Carolyn started us off by having our dog drive into the liner. Carmie was a bit distracted at first. We built up to driving into a liner and right angle and then 8 liners with 3 right angles! Amazing.

Carmen was not initially committed to the eight liners. We moved the liners a wee bit apart – less than an inch and dropped food in between them. Once she started working she made it through. We discussed that although in general dogs have excellent night vision due to Carmen’s PRA we need to REALLY work up some confidence and drive for those liners. Carolyn told us about a friend’s Cairn who was afraid of the dark initially and has since BLOWN through the master level due to lots of time spent making the liners a place where good things happen (food and eventually RATS!).

We did a little bit of rat work. After which we worked on the dog driving into the liner with rats at the end. Big party! Food and rats. Rats and food! Hooray. While Carolyn was setting the liners up to have the dogs drive to the rats, Cassie started barking at the rats. Then Carmen started getting interested in whatever Cassie was barking at and started whining. Hopefully this will continue. It is hard to undo six years of "Quiet, Please!"

I am definitely planning on doing the next session. I just do not know if I am going to try and do both dogs or just Carmie.