Day 2 and 3 in our new homes

Swing and Beau (Hank) spent just over 24 hours apart before they were reunited at training Tuesday evening.  A group of us get together for agility training and of course the pups were along for socialization as well as starting their tracking training.  We met at the farm just before 6pm to give us time to get the pups out, meet Bill and Carolyn (the owners of the farm) and then with Carolyn's assistance we started both pups.

Tracking with a puppy, even as early as a 9 week old, is meant to be fun and short.  We don't worry about a harness the first couple of sessions, we just want the puppy to run out to the glove.  So we let both puppies play with the glove (I like to see them grab it and tug a little) and then Carolyn (our track layer/helper) teased them with the glove while we held them back.  The puppy should watch the helper as they walk 5 steps away from them (in a straight line preferably), waves the glove and calls their name, then drops the glove and walks back on the same path (you double lay the first couple of sessions).  Once your helper walks past you it is time to release the puppy towards the glove.  If they've paid attention (hard for a youngster) they will begin to move forward to which you follow.  When they reach the glove you make a big deal of it, treat them and play and then you take the glove and start again.  Here is a video of Hank doing one of his short tracks (10 steps I believe)...

As you can see, Hank watches Carolyn when she passes and tries to go to her but Howard encourages him to find his glove.  When he goes the boy goes!  He shows a ton of promise and will probably pick up this sport quite easily.  Swing did well too, she has a nose on her but doesn't pick up and carry things like her brother does (we are working on that).  I look forward to our next session next week and hopefully in another couple of weeks we'll fit them with harnesses to get them use to the feel of that.

Today I took the opportunity to start playing with the clicker and doing a little shaping.  I started with Swing reacting to her name and within 2 minutes I had her turning her head and coming to me when I said it.  Next I pulled out a new bed that I had bought to see if I could shape her to get in it.  When she showed interest in the bed (put her nose to it) I clicked, gave a verbal "yes" and then gave her a treat.  By the third try she had her front feet in the bed and by the fourth she was all the way in.  Here are a couple of shots showing her progression...

You want me in here?

Ok, I'm in!  Click/Treat!

Am I too cute or what?!!!

I think I'll use that bed to work on a variety of things.  She seemed to like the fact that she can burrow down in it, I'll upload shots of her rolling around in another post.

We'll take a quick trip to the training bldg tonight to pick up the xpen.  I'm sure the Sportsmen will be there shooting at the clay shoot so she'll hear some gunfire.  After the big bang from the lightning strike up behind the house Monday night I doubt she will be phased by any of it.