Posted by Captain Dira Myqian (Commanding Officer) in Hobnobing with the Rich and Famous

Posted by Frigga (Thera-pet) in Hobnobing with the Rich and Famous

Posted by Captain Dira Myqian (Commanding Officer) in Hobnobing with the Rich and Famous
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

A small bag appeared on the floor, with a cinch top. Frigga’s nose twitched but she didn’t go near it. It had a clip to allow it to be attached to a belt. “These treats are small. You don’t want the canine to fill up on them. They are meant as reward for good behavior. For following commands. However, you do not want to give treats every time or your canine will only listen if they are given food. Other forms of reward are verbal praise and petting.”

Dira picked up the bag adn gave Frigga a grin. “Well I think we have those last two down pat, don’t we?” she told the canine.

CATH moved into the center of the room and a holographic beagle appeared. “The first command is your canine’s name. Whenever you say their name, no matter what they are doing, you want them to look at you. This is to show they are listening. If they don’t look at you, no treat.” The beagle ran off and started playing with a toy. “Huey.” The dog didn’t look. “Frigga will not have this problem, she already knows her name. But if she won’t look. Try showing her a treat and then holding it by your nose as you say her name.”

CATH

Dira fished out one of the treats and held it hidden in her hand. “Frigga,” she said with a more comanding tone as she gazed at the dog.

Captain Myqian, CO

Frigga paused in running around the room sniffing things, her gaze snapping to Dira immediately. Her ears came forward and she waited. “Good,” CATH proclaimed. “Now to get her walk to you, you simply say ‘come’ and pat your leg once and snap your fingers. Eventually, you will be able to use just one or the other, but it will reinforce both verbal and silent commands to begin with both.”

CATH

With a nod, Dira looked at Frigga. She patted her leg and said, “Come,” as she snapped her fingers. It seemed simple enough and she knew Frigga was well trained so this was probably second nature to her at this point.

Capt. Dira Myqian, Commanding Officer

Frigga trotted over. She stood beside Dira, but at a somewhat angle so she could see everything around her and watch Dira at the same time. CATH nodded, “Good, now hold your hand out above her head, palm facing up, then tell her to ‘sit’. Once she has, you may give her the treat. Do not be afraid to feed it from your hand. Dropping or tossing it to her, will enforce the idea that you are timid of her.”

Frigga and CATH

Myqian positioned her hand as instructed. “Sit,” she said simply. She had no doubt that Frigga knew how to do these things but this was her training and Dira was taking everything in with great focus.

Capt. Dira Myqian, Commanding Officer

Frigga sat, eyes wide, her tail swishing back and forth waiting for the treat.

Dira crouched and let Frigga take the treat. There was no way the canine was going to think Dira was timid around her. Not after everything that had happened. “Good girl, Frigga.”

She took it very gently and then waited patiently for her next task.

CATH nodded, “Good, now, I am going to show you several hand signs for different commands. Then we will play. Frigga particularly likes playing fetch with a tennis ball.” CATH then showed her the signals for stay, down, fetch, easy, and drop.

“Good, now take the time to play with her and use the commands as you play.” A tennis ball appeared and CATH handed it to Dira. Frigga’s ears went up and she stood, tail whipping about, her whole posture ready to chase the ball.
Frigga, Thera-pet

Dira took the ball and eyed Frigga with a gleam in her eye. “Oh, I can tell you want this. Stay,” she said, before tossing the tennis ball. “Stay.... and… fetch!” she said, giving the signal that Frigga was free to go after the ball.

Capt. Dira Myqian, Commanding Officer

Her eyes tracked the ball as Dira threw it and then darted back and forth between the ball and Dira until she was allowed to chase after it. Frigga took off like a shot after the ball, grabbed it up and ran around the space several times. She finally came back to Dira but wouldn’t give the ball up.

Frigga, Thera-pet

Dira used the appropriate gesture and with a firm tone said, “drop.” There was something relaxing about this time, even though she was studying. Maybe it was Frigga herself, or maybe it was just something different from the usual concerns and duties that filled her days now. It was rather nice.

Captain Myqian, CO

CATH was programmed to move at the pace of the person learning. Dira and Frigga already had good communication and moved through the basic commands. They worked on more specific commands like heel, wait, watch, bed, and quiet. She also taught Dira, Frigga’s release command - ‘free.’

Reaching the end of the session, Dira used the Free command and let Frigga do as she pleased, taking off the vest. “Good girl, Frigga,” she said, dropping to a knee and patting her thigh, offering pets.

Frigga squirmed and rubbed and nosed Dira’s hand affectionately. Then she took off and ran several laps around the area as if she couldn’t stand to be still any longer.

“Good, you have learned a lot today. Spend time with her and be sure to use her commands so you get used to them. Tomorrow we will work on understanding her warning and alert cues.”

Frigga, Thera-pet

“Do you hear that? School resumes tomorrow,” she said to the canine with a grin. Dira was honestly loving this change of pace, and while it had practical value, it was really just fun as well. Dira could use a bit more fun in her life, all told.

Captain Myqian, CO

Frigga wagged her tail and then suddenly whinned and pawed at Dira’s foot. CATH nodded, “She needs to relieve herself. She goes to the arboretum.”

Frigga, Thera-pet

“Ahh! Well we better do something about that. Let’s go, sweetheart,” Dira said. “Computer, end program.”

The holodeck base returned and Dira gestured. “To the Arboretum,” she said, heading out the doors.

Captain Myqian, CO

Frigga took off like a rocket down the corridor and then stopped right in front of a lift turned and ran back to Dira and back to the door and so on and so forth. However, when the lift opened she didn’t get on until Dira told her.

Once inside the arboretum, Frigga was gone. She could be heard running through the foliage for a moment and then she was out of sight.

Frigga, Thera-pet