On my previous post, I’ve covered that Kiki is learning The Shell Game Trick. She’s now progressing fairly well. I’m really lucky that my brother was around and he assisted me capturing Kiki during training. I’m here to present you the latest video of Kiki performing a chained trick - Kiki’s Open & Fetch Trick. In fact to be correct, it’s not really a complete trick but just a component of segment in The Shell Game Trick that Kiki was learning since last Sunday. The Youtube video that I’m sharing, featuring Kiki opening the pink shell upon cue and fetch the red lego brick hidden within the pink shell.

As I said earlier on, it’s a chained trick which comprised of two behaviors that Kiki had learned earlier on: The Retrieve Trick (Fetch Command) and The Opening Shell Trick (Open Command). Kiki has totally no problem in executing the retrieval of the red lego brick, as she has performed the fetching trick of his favorite yellow lego brick. With the target stick introduced during Target Training, Kiki was able to accept the red lego brick almost immediately, and this further shorten the time spent in introducing new props. My primary concern in the Open & Fetch Trick was to let Kiki understand the concept of opening the pink shell.

Introducing of the pink shell was fairly straightforward and easy for Kiki with the presence of the target stick. I have to do a few demos in front of Kiki on how I open the pink shell (without the presence of the lego brick). After a couple of times of guiding the motion with Kiki, on the opening of the pink shell, she soon understand the concept and gradually improved in her technique. What I can say about Kiki, she’s really smart and a fast learner. She amazingly surprises me of mastering this trick component within 30 minutes. That’s an achievement! Well done Kiki!

Kiki open the pink shell and retrieve the red lego brick…

Below is the breakdown process on how I step-by-step guided Kiki in achieving the current Open & Fetch Trick. These are very simple steps that I will into various sessions to allow Kiki have enough time to progress, and this reduce any possible chances of stress or frustration during training. Kiki was able to complete the whole breakdown process and understand the Open & Fetch Trick in no more than 30 minutes.

The Breakdown Process of the Open & Fetch Trick

1. Introduction of New Props (The Pink Shell & Red Lego Brick)
2. Learning How to Hold Pink Shell from the handle
3. Learning How to Open the Pink Shell in correct motion (Open Command)
4. Learning How to Retrieve the Red Lego Brick (Fetch Command)
5. Step-By-Step Chaining Process: Open + Fetch
6. Full Training of the Chained Trick

The Progress Checklist for The Shell Game Trick

1. Introduction of Trick Props Done!
2. Learning How to Open the Pink Shell Done!
3. Learning How to Retrieve the Red Brick back to my Hand Done!
4. Chain Process 1: Open the Shell and Retrieve the Red Brick Upon Cue Done!
5. Identifying of the Correct Shell with the Red Brick Hidden (Fixed Positions) Done! But Correct Probability 50%, More practise Required!
6. Identifying of the Correct Shell with the Red Brick Hidden (Random Mixed Up Positions)
7. Full Process Dry Run

Kiki definitely still has a lot of work to do in complete learning the full process of The Shell Game Trick. With her current progress, I’m already very delighted and satisfied. She has done a great job again. I’m looking for her to graduate from this Shell Game Trick “course”.

Related Posts:
New Training Coming On
Introducing Target Training
Kiki doing the Fetching Trick