Monitor and Report Chain Update

Because it is my hope to be able to reintroduce the seizure scent as the target scent in this chain, now that Lily knows the Monitor/Report sequence, I am reviewing it every two to three weeks just to keep the chain alive.  I am still using Twining's Earl Grey tea as the target scent.  But I want to balance the eventual extinction of this scent with the possible re-introduction of the seizure scent.

To this end I am utilizing the test tube (both open ended and with the lid on) and the scent stick.

To keep Lily's scent recognition skills current, I use the scent wheel, the periscope wheel, the pipe and the magnetic board.

To keep "using her nose" skill current and fun, I have begun HITT (tracking training) with Lily.

Nose work is one of Lily's most favorite activities.

Lily the Pink: Scent Alert Dog

Day 2

While Andre eats his breakfast, I pop open a vial of scent and grab a handful of kibble.  Vial in my right hand, kibble in the left we stroll around the family room and hallway offering the vial, "Poke", T.
Vial, "Poke", T.  Then switch hands.

Then, no vial and no scent, strolling, "Sit", C/T.  "Down", C/T.

Andre continues eating.  I take the scent stick and, with the scent not in my hand, but a stick's length away, low and high, against furniture, etc the dance becomes canister, "Poke", T.  Canister, "Poke", T.

No verbal cue is necessary for the alert behavior.

Small beginnings but exciting ones.

Putting It All Together

After a vigorous give and take from the expert DAD trainers, Laurie Schwartz and Rachel Thornton, I now think that I have an understanding of the process of putting it all together.

Lily has the three pronged foundation that Rachel has outlined:

• the scent
• the alert behavior
• chaining the two

Granted, this is simplistic at best.

Laurie's explanation (found in Phase 4, the last 2 entries) has lifted the fog of understanding for me.  It doesn't matter if Lily see's the container holding the scent.  It's the scent that matters.  And what she does after finding it.

It doesn't matter if treats are paired with the scent.  It's the foundation of creating value to the scent.

I need to have scent containers and treats readily available in a variety of environments and circumstances.

Scent games and fun are an important part of the process.

SCENT HAS TO BE AS READILY AVAILABLE FOR ON-GOING TRAINING AS EARL GREY TEA.