Catty says "Nose Work has changed how I experience the environment!"

While I love all the park locations for Nose Work class, I especially love class at Home Depot.  Seems a bit strange that I like this location so much... I love it because it reminds me how far Catty has come thanks to Nose Work.  Before we started Nose Work, going into new environments was a challenge with Catty.  Rewind 3 years ago post Nose Work, in new environments Catty was pretty reactive towards anything (people/moving things/objects she had not encountered before) that scared her.  She would lunge, charge and if really worked up and she would use her teeth to get rid of the scary things.  Catty is also dog reactive on leash so that was another set of behaviors to manage.  So, it was a big deal for me to bring her to Nose Work class.  I was diligent with finding an instructor who was comfortable with Catty's presentation and my anxiety about Catty being in a Nose Work class.  I was lucky to find Erica Wells who completely was on board with us. 

Since that time all we've seen is improvement in Catty's environmental behavior.  Her leash reactivity has also decreased which I attribute to Nose Work.  This is a huge reason why I love Nose Work - it build confidence, there's control around the environment and I love watching Catty blossom.  I can't say enough good things about Erica, she's 100% on board with me advocating for Catty and getting our needs met in the environment.  It's been a fun 3 years for me and Catty thanks to Nose Work!

"Oh boy it's Nose Work time!"

"Erica where are you?  I'm here!"

While waiting our turn, Catty enjoys exploring the environment.

"Did Erica call my name?"

"Not yet so, I'll keep checking stuff out"

"No problem with going up and over strange stuff!"

"Speaking of strange stuff... what are these things?"

"I think other dogs have visited this spot!"

One search area - the long aisle with all that stuff!  Of course Catty did excellent and wasn't phased by the people & carts in the aisle.  She was working!!

We are back to waiting our turn and more strange items...

Lots of creepy Halloween stuff and Catty says "No worries!"

"Mom you should let Erica know about this section - lots of good hide spots!"

"What on earth is this thing for?!"

Big weird items and Catty's just investigating with no stress!

"Mom are these things creeping you out?!"

"No more pictures - pay attention as Erica should be calling my name!"

Big search area in the garden section! 

Lots of air movement with the 3 sets of electric doors that open and close a lot.

Time for outside searches. 

Waiting our turn and this was great as we watched all the people coming in and out of the store with all kinds of carts.

More fun search areas!

"Oh I'm on the odor!"

"Up high mom!!"

Another large exterior search

"Oh Erica, today was the day of high hides and tons of fun!"

We find this cart out by the garden section and Catty jumps in thinking there might be odor.  There's no odor around but, she's in class mode so on the hunt for odor.

"Nothing here but, don't I look cute on this wobbly cart!"

"What do you mean we are done with class?"

We head back to car and Catty says:

"Where's Erica - tell her we should have been searching these sheds!"

"Erica!  These are great search spots!"

Silly Catty girl.  Last time we had class here there were hides in the sheds and you loved those searches!  Maybe next time the hides will be in the sheds.

Fun class and we love all the environmental enrichment!

Catty is tired from having so much fun.

Viva loves tomatoes!

Viva has enjoyed tomato season and sadly it's come to an end with the arrival of fall.  I picked the last of the ripe tomatoes from our garden and Viva is hoping to have just a few more.

Viva has excellent manners around food time.  She doesn't jump, doesn't bark - she just patiently waits for you.

"I'm hoping my amazing sit will produce some of those yummy tomatoes!"

I give Viva the tomatoes in a slow down bowl.  I use this bowl because it provides a slight challenge to Viva.  How does she get the rolly tomatoes out of the odd shaped the bowl?

While Viva is wicked smart and a very eager learner, she struggles with problem solving and creative thinking.  I've offered her a number of interactive toys and after sniffing around the toys, she just walks away from the even if there's high value food in them.  Clearly the sweet girl has little to no experience with the skills associated with problem solving and creative thinking.  So, we are working to increase her "behavior tool box" by offering simpler interactive items.  This will boost her confidence and start to build problem solving and creative thinking   Thus the slow down bowl!

 

Viva starts with just pushing them around.

 

 Viva figures out that if she pushes them into the wall of the bowl she can pick them out.

She's doing great!

Only one left

"Got it!"

Empty bowl and a happy Viva!



D'light loving the crisp fall days!

With these lovely fall days we want D'light to get in as much crittering as possible!    As I've said many times, we critter with D'light to build confidence, increase independence & problem solving and  normalize the environment around him.  This isn't something I would do with all dogs but, for D'light  the benefits of critter are impressive.  He's a totally different dog when crittering and we see lasting positive emotional responses from his adventures.

This time D'light was no doubt excited since dad joined us.  Brett will run longer and faster with D'light which D'light thinks is awesome!

We had a great walk over to Volunteer Park and as soon as we pulled out the long line we had ourselves an overexcited bouncing rattie.

You can hear lots of noise in the background of the videos.  When we arrived to the park the Decibel Festival was in full swing so the background music is from the festival.  All that music and the people didn't phase D'light as he had critter brain.  So, after walking around the festival is was time for D'light to do his thing.

A lovely fall day and lots of neat trees in this part of the park

Hunting face is on!

 

 

Get it!

Critter alert!

Cool picture and I have no idea how this happens

In this video you can see the squirrel jump on the right side of the tree

There are a lot of chestnut trees with lots of nuts on them.  This means lots of squirrels above!

Good looking critter boy

Hilarious picture of D'light. He's so excited about critter!

Off they go

 

 

Lots and lots of trees and open spaces

His face is adorable when he comes out of the bushes.  He loves to critter!

 

 

 

 

More hunting - he would stay out here all day if he could. 

 

 

The squirrels were less than impressed with D'light.  

This guy ran up the tree with nut in mouth.

We tell D'light it's time to go and he lets us know what he thinks of that plan.

We leave Volunteer Park and walk through Cal Anderson Park.

Up onto the water feature he goes.

 

Trying to figure out if he wants to get in the water

We walk down to where the water isn't moving so fast

I get my feet wet by getting in with D'light 

Kinda refreshing after all that running around after critters

Curious about this thing underwater

Watching what's going on in the environment

 

Nothing like getting your feet a little wet!

He hops up on the lip of the second pool

"Mom, this water isn't real fresh looking"

No go with venturing into this pond!

 

D'light had himself an amazing time and we had fun spending this time with him!