As mentioned previously I have decided that after reading the Clean Run articles on Pigs Fly Dogs.... I will use free shaping methods to train Bern's dumbbell retrieve. We practiced some "retrieves" this morning. He now is understanding that the cookie (chicken chunk) only gets dispensed if he manages to hold the dumbbell long enough for me to take it. Picking it up and dropping it does not count. Several more sessions of this behavior and I can start making the retrieve from a bit further away. For now, he is picking it up off the floor and handing it to me.
Grace's next "must learn" task is the weave poles. This morning her poles were much improved. The agility light bulb is really shining in her now. She is starting understand that the weave poles are another part of the agility game. Based on past training experience with her, she is up on the learning curve for the weaves where she should be weaving much better in just a few more sessions. Yippee!
