in a casting motion. With the fingers extended 

 and joined, the right forearm is brought for- 

 ward and up from the side until the fingers are 

 pointing nearly straight up (fig 16). Continuing 

 in a smooth motion, the forearm is brought 

 smartly forward until the elbow is locked, with 

 the arm parallel to the ground at shoulder 

 height (fig 17). (REMEMBER: sloppy gestures 

 produce sloppy performance by the dog.) The 

 moveout command is given as soon as the dog 

 sits; at the moment the moveout signal is com- 

 plete, the dropper reinforces. This continues un- 

 til the dog starts moving out on command, in- 

 stead of waiting for reinforcement (10 to 15 

 trials). The dropper will then start delaying 

 reinforcement until the dog is a few inches 

 closer to the pan, and continues this procedure 

 until he is reinforcing when the dog reaches 

 the pan. This step is considered complete when 

 the dog sits, waits for the moveout command, 

 and goes to the pan before being reinforced 

 (at least 10 trials). Training time for the aver- 

 age dog is two 15-minute sessions. 



e. Step 5 — Reorientation on the Pan. Review 

 the previous step, then begin reinforcing when 

 the dog looks at the pan, even though it may 

 be several steps away (five to six trials). Some 

 dogs will orient on the dropper at this stage and 

 won't look in the pan. If the dog is losing interest 

 in the chain of events, the dropper can silently 

 place a cube in the pan as the dog is returning 

 to its handler. This should cause it to look in 

 the pan when it approaches, and the dropper 

 can start reinforcing the pan orientation. This 

 step is complete when the dog orients on the 

 pan for 10 to 15 trials. Reorientation time aver- 

 ages two 15-minute sessions. 



/. Step 6 — Sit at the Pan. Review previous 

 step. At about the fourth trial the handler gives 

 the command SIT just as the dog is orienting 

 on the pan and before its head comes up. The 

 moment the dog sits it is reinforced, even though 

 it may not be looking at the pan as it sits. If 

 the handler giving the command interferes with 

 the dog's position at the pan (the dog may want 

 to face its handler), the dropper can give the 

 command. After five to six trials the dog should 

 orient on the pan and sit without command. 

 If the dog fails to orient before sitting, the 

 dropper may have to reinforce orientation for 

 a few trials. Training time averages two to three 

 15-minute sessions. 



g. Step 7 — Reorientation After Sit. Review 

 previous step and then wait to reinforce until 

 the dog looks back at the pan. The dog may 

 lose interest after one or two trials and return 



15 



