#dogparkour with #scentwork items? We're progressing slowly but steadily through @theschoolofcaninescience #scentforsix course, and our next big task is to retrieve random objects scented with catnip. So far we've just been retrieving scented fluffy paintrollers and macrame fleecy toys (some are actually old duvet cover rather than fleece), but now I need to build the awareness that Cad needs to specifically identify the singular catnip scent, not catnip+fleece or catnip+cotton smells. The fun way to teach this is to scent random other household crap, so that only the catnip smell remains constant. So in the jar we have: A lovely sock he stole from me last week and tore a hole in the heel of An inhaler cover, already pocketed with toothmarks A fluffy cat toy he generally tries to pluck A jam jar lid A new folded bit of card A pre-ripped (by him) bit of card One sad leg from his favourite octopus toy A shoelace cat toy A loop of velcro A pen that's dead because he stole and chewed up the lid the other day A broken rodent water bottle lid A spare cat collar complete with bell A dried ash twig His toy tomato We've taken a long time to get to this stage as Cadvan doesn't find holding or retrieving items intrinsically reinforcing, so I had to teach the #retrieve from scratch. Convincing him to put something in his face to later spit out in return for food was HARD. If thing is in face I can't eat food? Why put thing in face in the first place?! I'm so impressed with his massive progress in such a relatively short space of time. It's doing wonders for his general self confidence and self belief too. (p.s. the #canineparkour was also a challenge, because small area slippery surface) #scentforsix #schoolofcaninescience #scentdog #scentworktraining #nosework #dogtraining #forcefreetraining #positivereinforcementtraining #workingchihuahua #smalldogsbigadventures #chihuahuauk #jackchi https://www.instagram.com/p/CFX8yYZsdML/?igshid=o77cciodxagu
