Juno did her first bark barrel today.  a bark barrel is two 55 gallon barrels with the lids cut off.  One has both ends cut off.  then, they are put together to make one long barrel.  Just enough room for a person to fit in!  We make lids to go in front of them.  Pam gets in the barrel for my dogs; I get in the barrel for hers.  The purpose of the bark barrel is the same as the box:  to teach the dog to bark at a person they can smell but can't see.

Since it was Juno's first time at the barrel, we needed to make sure she understood the game.  We decided on a "snap up".  Pam is in the barrel; I bring Juno in front of the barrel and about 25 feet or so away and Pam calls to Juno.  I release Juno and tell her to "Search".  When she is part way in, Pam snaps the lid up and disappears.  Juno did her run, Springer 'Spring' and then barked - just like she should!  Good Dog, Juno!!  We repeated exactly the same thing, then brought her around and had the lid up on the third rotation.  No problem!!  Each time she gets to Pam and barks, Pam opens the door and rewards her with food, making her bark for her food, reward and bark.  Eventually, we would like her to work for a toy, so her frisbee is in there too and the game ends with a frisbee toss.  The goal is to make her very happy and want to play the search game and get her rewards.

We did have some interference.  My 11 year old Newfoundland heard us playing the game and came out of the car to search for aunt Pam.  She ambled up to the barrel, knocked Juno out of the way and barked for her food.  Good old dog, Flo Jo!!  I wish I had another dog with her pure joy of finding people.  The Springers work for me.  Flo Jo worked because she loved finding people.

Baseball Diamonds:  Remember the baseball diamond that I direct the dog from base to base on?  WEll, we have a demonstration on Saturday and thought we'd practice an old trick with Rascal, male male Spriner, and one of Pam's dogs.  I send Rascal to third base.  Pam sends her dog to first base.  I send Rascal to pitchers.  Pam sends her dog to pitchers!  Yikes!!  Two dogs on pitchers!.  We used to do it with one "base".  Now we use two, so that one doesn't push the other off!  When they are both on pitchers, Pam sends her dog back to second and I hold Rascal on pitchers.  Then, I send Rascal to first or third.  Then, they both get called home.  Or, that is how it is supposed to work.  Today, Pam was using a new dog and had to encourage her to come onto pitchers with Rascal.  Then she sent her dog to second.  Her dog looked at her and Rascal went to second!  We just laughed, because then Rascal just decided we were too slow and he'd finish the pattern on his own!  Oh well.  Might as well have some fun!!     Who knows what will happen at the demo....