Nose work games

[Jaynie]

Originally Posted by SheltieChe

Did not get one on tape but we went 4 for 4 today. You can see bigger boy Che still needs more prompting and less clear because he was started on different methodology. Its Your Choice rocks!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPGKr-darCA

LOVE the "I'll sit on the box to show her which one" thing. Two beautiful Shelties who obviously love to work for you!

Just a question on scent training, though. I haven't done any training for years, so I'm not up on the latest methods. In doing a test like this, how necessary is it for the handler to NOT place the scent, so as not to unknowingly cue the dog to the right box?

[SheltieChe]

The test is blind for me, I have no idea which box it is so I really have to trust my dog to know. The hard part to identify which behavior will be "indication", something lots of handlers goof up if they do not read their dog well, dog might be showing but handler not reading
I was not sure which behavior that would be either as it is not a trained cue, it is something dog has to figure out by himself.
There are several issues why I do not like current methodology NASCW is teaching, including that dog is not taught early enough to stick with scent no matter what goofy handler is doing
NASCW starts basically with food hides, then pair up with odor etc. Method Denise and Margaret teach is going straight for odor- here is odor and you get boatloads of treats if you stick with it and here is food and if you stick with it you get nothing... you know like that palm open palm closed "its your choice" game...

At home I do my own hides and yes, it is hard not to try to unintentionally "help" your dog.
Something that started as "games for rainy day" seems to be a big hit in our family. I hear that midwest is actually behind on NW and both West and East coast are miles ahead in training and competition...