Training Via Iteration

                                 Retriever Training Via Iteration
Iteration is a process for arriving at a desired result by repeating rounds of analysis and adjustment within a cycle of operations. The objective is to bring the desired result closer
to understanding with each repetition (iteration).

                                              Topic #1 Developing a Specific Skill Set
                                               Gigi Retrieving Mallards Correctly

                present skill set - sit (steady), retrieve, hold/carry, deliver & release bumpers
         mid-day first session
         round of analysis #1 – practiced stationary sit, fetch, hold, out with 2” white bumper
                                    note: starting "point" because Gigi "does" the 2" bumper well

                  2" bumper (good), 3" bumper good, heavy canvass orange
                                              bumper (good), Dokken more animated (mouthy) but settle
                                              down and held, duck at first refused, grudgingly fetched and
                                              held only with assistance (hand under chin removed, duck
dropped.....repeated - duck in mouth reinforced with tug
                                              on collar plus reinforced with e-collar ("good dog" when

                                              holding......slow persistent repetitions - positive impact
          early evening session
          round of analysis #2 - Now that I have a better perspective (what to expect), each
                                   object was presented more precisely (better transition). The
                                             first three were good. The Dokken was quieter and the duck
                                             was slightly more tolerated. Hold was maintained with hand

                                             under chin and would have dropped it (not sure).
round of analysis #3 Gigi was now into the routine and knew what to expect (me
                                              too). Each object was held with more energy. And the duck
                                              was held after I took my hand away (did not test). "Good dog!"
                                              and we quit. (brief session)

                       To put this in perspective. If I had tossed the Dokken a short distance away,
                       Gigi would have jumped on it, growling and wildly thrashing it. The duck
                       would have been worse. The objective is to bring the desired result closer to
                       the expectation (bumper) with each repetition (iteration).

after midnight session

            round of analysis #4 - began the same way. "heeling OB" with very short lead on a
                                               flat collar wearing and e-collar beginning with the heeling
                                               with no bumper first...fast & slow with sits plus backward
                                               heeling, sit to leaping fetch and sit followed by heeling with
                                               the 2" bumper....did the same with the 3" bumper and the 3"

                                               orange canvass bumper
                                                       note: good, consistent results with the bumpers
                                               with the Dokken heeling OB was good, leaping fetch was
                                              much more animated with head shaking which decreased

                                              some....but not much BECAUSE of the very short lead instant
                                              control was effective and reinforcing with slight tugs AND
                                              very small nicks with the e-collar (Hillmann)
                                                          note: noticeable improvement (not huge) with each rep
the duck was high impedance.....very animated and interested
with no signs of actually grabbing at it to hold on fetch..IF I had
thrown it on the floor she would attacked it with thrashing and
                                              growling.....However, she was simply expected to open her
                                              mouth and fetch.......clammy was the descriptor with lock jaw,
   back to the beginning and repeated the three bumpers and

                                             those "reps' were good...the Dokken was slightly better and the
                                             duck grudgingly was "held" with hand under chin, repeating
   "hold" and praising......removing hand resulted in a drop.....
   worked slowly and praised the hand assisted holds....then
                                             finished with a 2" bumper (The final step in a teaching session
                                             is "Finish by doing something they are good at."
note: The Gigi's "duck Iteration" will be a slow, ever-progressing process.
      round of analysis #5 1/3/20 afternoon- Gigi's handling of each object went slightly
                                           better than yesterday.....except for the duck....she started out
                                           more animated, but the 24" lead makes it easier to physically

guide and position her into a more accurate heel. Fetch on the
bumpers is consistent (and animated). The heavier orange

                                           canvass bumper has hints of more animation (wanting to shake
                                           it. Decided not to "go to the floor" any more.....today. The duck
                                           was about the same (more excited, but nothing specifically
                                           related to holding. I spent most of the time telling her how good
                                           she was about holding it (with my assistance). Mostly it is about
                                           "If I can't shake it and pull feathers, I don't want it." (plus kind
                                           of mentally "clammy".

            round of analysis #61/5/20 change of pace This morning was again a session of
precise OB with the 2" white bumper, 3" white bumper. 3" heavy
                                        canvass bumper ending with leaping fetches followed by a return
                                        to heel, sit an out. The Dokken was done last and that went well. In
                                        the afternoon, Gigi "did" each of the four once and then did 15
                                        yard retrieves of the Orange bumper and Dokken (no growling or
                                        shaking with a responsive delivery).

             Gigi's negative fetch response is a function of distance. When a fetch is done
             away from the line (and me) there is a different expectation (no anxiety). In this
             case more distance actually reduced the negative responsiveness and restored
             balance. This page was intended to make a training adjustment in balance and it
             did. It is time to return the changes to the monthly journal.