Field Notes · An evolving learning library from Angier K9

Cases · Case

Callie (the Rottweiler)

Who Callie (the Rottweiler) is

As the trainers describe her

Nothing is described. What the cues show is a dog who does not yet sit on the first ask: sit is repeated with 'nope' and 'no' from the first seconds to the last, with one reset in between.
On film

it's okay all right let's reset all right callie sit it's okay sit come on come on

Watch at 0:47 ↗

All right, Callie, sit. Nope. Sit. There we go. Nope. Sit. Nope. Nope. Break.

Watch at 4:32 ↗

The program, stage by stage

Sit, heel and here, with 'break' as the release

An unnamed handler works sit with repeated 'nope' corrections, a reset, 'let's go', one 'Callie, here', and a heel, releasing each time with 'break'. He stops to tie a shoe. The session ends as it began, with several 'nope's before a sit and a release. The title's 'recalls' amount to one 'here'. The release word matters for identity: the German Shepherd Callie's handlers use 'okay', while 'break' is in the vocabulary Bubba Gum's February trainer names for camera.

On film

callie sit callie sit nope break oh yeah callie hey heel break yeah good girl

Watch at 1:13 ↗

Kelly Kelly let me tie my shoes Kelly stop stop Kelly sit oh yes that's a good

Watch at 2:22 ↗

Skills

Sit

At the startNot on the first cue.
By the endStill several 'nope's per sit at the end.

How it was taught

Cue, 'nope' or 'no', re-cue, 'yes' and 'good girl', release with 'break'.

On film

Callie. Oh, yeah. Sit. Nope. Sit. Nope. No. Sit.

Watch at 0:06 ↗

Heel and here

At the startNot stated.
By the endOne heel released with 'break'; one 'here'.

How it was taught

Cue and release.

On film

callie hey heel break yeah good girl

Watch at 1:13 ↗

How the method adapted

Nothing in the recording is said about her, so no adaptation can be identified. The one visible choice - resetting after a run of failed sits rather than escalating - is recorded as what happened, not as a stated adaptation.

A reset after repeated failed sits.

Not stated.

On film

it's okay all right let's reset

Watch at 0:47 ↗

Outcomes

What the footage shows

Sits after corrections and takes the 'break' release; one heel.

On film

All right, Callie, let's go. There we go.

Watch at 4:24 ↗
How it ended. Callie (the Rottweiler) went home.

The ideas Callie (the Rottweiler)'s case runs on