I decided that it was time to move on and begin training the alerts together. I haven't read how other people do this part, so I am just winging it. I'm trying to keep it as simple as I can so as not to confuse Senator any more than necessary.
Our house is arranged so that I can walk in a large circle between the kitchen, living room, and dining room. So, I put the scents into the small plastic containers with holed punched in them that I had used before. I put the high scented one in the kitchen and the low scent one in the dining room. I had the appropriate treat within reach of both. I put Senator on a leash and walked him in this circle. When he came to the low scent container, I would say good low and give him the treat for lows. Then we moved on and did the same with the high scent. We made about 5 times around and then quit. He seemed very excited and to enjoy this.
The next day, I followed this same procedure.
On the third day, I quit saying good high or good low. Instead, I said "what is is" when he got to the container. If he looked confused or didn't do the appropriate response (down for low, sit for high), I would say "down for low" or "sit for high" and he would do that and get his treat. After a few rounds, I didn't have to give him the verbal prompt. Again, we did about 5 or 6 rounds.
On the fourth day, we continued with no immediate prompts from me. I would say "what is it" when he reached the container and he would do the response. If he got it wrong, I would correct him and then treat him. I would say that he got it right more than 50% of the time. He seems to default to the down when not sure.
The next day, I did the same thing to begin. His percentage of correct seemed higher. After about 5 times around, I attached his leash to a door nob in the kitchen and retrieved both containers. I brought them to him one at the time, had him sniff the container and again asked him "what is it?". He did well with this.
I plan to continue with this protocol for awhile until his percentage reaches near 100%.
I've had a few natural lows in the meantime. After the initial alert, I ask him "what is it" He's been getting it right each time. It will be interesting to see if he gets it right with a high BG now. That will say a lot.
Our house is arranged so that I can walk in a large circle between the kitchen, living room, and dining room. So, I put the scents into the small plastic containers with holed punched in them that I had used before. I put the high scented one in the kitchen and the low scent one in the dining room. I had the appropriate treat within reach of both. I put Senator on a leash and walked him in this circle. When he came to the low scent container, I would say good low and give him the treat for lows. Then we moved on and did the same with the high scent. We made about 5 times around and then quit. He seemed very excited and to enjoy this.
The next day, I followed this same procedure.
On the third day, I quit saying good high or good low. Instead, I said "what is is" when he got to the container. If he looked confused or didn't do the appropriate response (down for low, sit for high), I would say "down for low" or "sit for high" and he would do that and get his treat. After a few rounds, I didn't have to give him the verbal prompt. Again, we did about 5 or 6 rounds.
On the fourth day, we continued with no immediate prompts from me. I would say "what is it" when he reached the container and he would do the response. If he got it wrong, I would correct him and then treat him. I would say that he got it right more than 50% of the time. He seems to default to the down when not sure.
The next day, I did the same thing to begin. His percentage of correct seemed higher. After about 5 times around, I attached his leash to a door nob in the kitchen and retrieved both containers. I brought them to him one at the time, had him sniff the container and again asked him "what is it?". He did well with this.I plan to continue with this protocol for awhile until his percentage reaches near 100%.
I've had a few natural lows in the meantime. After the initial alert, I ask him "what is it" He's been getting it right each time. It will be interesting to see if he gets it right with a high BG now. That will say a lot.
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