2013 Water Training-Group training #1

Today Olive worked on going to 2 people and going to a row boat.
1. 2 people
    2 people were in water.  First at wading depth and one person called her name.  Olive had no problem going out to get treats from the calling person.  No problem going to 2 different people (not-so familiar people).
2. Swimming to a row boat (a person on a boat calling her with treats).
    At wading depth, she had no problem.  But once she reached to her swimming depth, she refused to get close enough to the boat to get treats.  We were trying to make her come to right side of the boat (bow facing to beach) which a steward usually calls from.  I needed to physically guide her to get close to the boat.  Then another person behind the boat (who was in water to stabilize the boat ) called her.  She went to the left side of the boat and swam around the boat (counterclockwise) without problem.  So, we tried again to make her go around the boat in the same way.  She did go around without problem again and swam really close to (was almost "against") the boat, then she could get the treats from the person in the boat (she just came from behind instead of front).  At the NCA water test, a dog can approach the boat from either side.  My concern is most stewards are right-handed and can reach further with their right hands.  It would be nice if I can convince Olive to go to right side of the boat.  However, I would still be happy if she is "consistent to get really close" to the boat from left side.  I think I will try her today's approach at the next training to see if that's how she wants to do.  Today was a good reminder of "I need to observe and read my dog well while training."  I cannot always push my dog to do in "my" way.  I cannot always use the same technique worked on my previous dogs to my new dog.  Olive and I need to find "our" way.

Winter draft work-the beginning

10 days ago Olive and I started working on sledding toward the NCNE winter draft test.  Maya, my last  draft dog,  was a natural drafting dog...I hoped Olive will be just like Maya.  Oh, boy, I was so wrong (lol).  I knew she is not as bold as Maya, but she was 100% scared of the sled which was "chasing her".     I don't know if we will be ready to take a test in one month, but no matter how long it takes, we will eventually take a test in the future.

The starting point was she gets used to be around the sled.  Absolutely NO hitching.  I, as usual, used the clicker training.  I clicked and rewarded every time she gets close to check out the sled.  Then I started making her step in between shafts.  One leg at a time.  At the Newf draft test, a handler basically has two options to hitch his/her dog to the cart/sled.  One by pulling the cart from behind the dog.  The other by asking the dog to step in between shafts.  I used the first option with my previous dogs.  However, I chose the second option with Olive.  Why ?  Because I know she hates something behind, especially something which makes loud noise.  I expected to be harder to teach her to stay still when I bring up the sled.  No need to scare her more.  While she was learning to step in, she hit a shaft and made a little bit of noise.  But the noise was much quieter than the noise I could make from pulling.
Here is our first practice video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkOAtWOmMvI

Here is the second practice on the same day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDLs_-R94sQ

In March, Olive passed the NCA draft test.  Now she is Kilyka's Amity Lights Up Snowhaven DD.