Nose work Seminar

[Herd4fun]

I'm so excited. I was originally put on a waiting list for the nose work seminar that is starting tomorrow. Someone backed out though so I get to go. Gonna bring Nickle, a crate, a leash, and some liver brownies to have fun with :)

[corbinam]

That sounds fun! Let us know how it goes.

[SheltieChe]

I went to a nose seminar couple of months ago. It was a great fun! Our facility is offering classes on nose work so people are starting to talk about competitions locally...

[Calliesmom]

nose work- is that like tracking?

[SheltieChe]

Nose work is ability to search for smell and odor, more like dogs searching for food at airports or drugs etc. It is somewhat new sport that is developing along the professional training lines but this is not for professionals and there were few competitive events so it is up and coming and I can see plenty of interest. I have started some box work at home and Che has one remarkable sniffer except he is taught to trash cardboxes so we switched to hiding under pillows, blankets etc
You pretty much start with a game of getting several boxes and hiding food in one of them- that is the basics, as usual it is slightly more complicated and has some rules to it...

[Calliesmom]

Originally Posted by SheltieChe

Nose work is ability to search for smell and odor, more like dogs searching for food at airports or drugs etc. It is somewhat new sport that is developing along the professional training lines but this is not for professionals and there were few competitive events so it is up and coming and I can see plenty of interest. I have started some box work at home and Che has one remarkable sniffer except he is taught to trash cardboxes so we switched to hiding under pillows, blankets etc
You pretty much start with a game of getting several boxes and hiding food in one of them- that is the basics, as usual it is slightly more complicated and has some rules to it...

Dixie would be awesome at this then- she has found morsels of food "too small for a mouse"

[SheltieChe]

Originally Posted by Calliesmom

Dixie would be awesome at this then- she has found morsels of food "too small for a mouse"

I know we had few pretty funny moments, specially if the dogs were taught obedience, they would offer you anything, sit, down, for the treat but are not going to trash that box and fish out that treat.... some dogs were looking like " mommy have you lost your mind? go and get me that treat!" Many people were thinking that their would be great and while most dogs caught on later, initial presentation was pretty unexpected. Bloodhound was one of the worst! We had a really good time! If you have one in your area I greatly recommend signing on!

[Calliesmom]

if Dixie is in her crate and loses a piece of food- you know it
she starts scratching at the bottom of the crate trying to dig out so she can get that little piece
course, she's only had very basic obedience so far

[SheltieChe]

what I have learned that many of us inadvertently teach our dogs not to use their nose... so it takes a while for dog to catch on that no help is coming and need to smell to find it. Once they figure it out it is like a lightbulb goes in their heads....pretty cool. I would have signed for lessons with Che but between agility and obedience he is already 4 classes a week, add to it Leo and we have pretty busy schedule but it is in our plans.

[*Caro]

That sounds fantastic. You will have to tell us how its done, it sounds like something I could do with Mr D to give him a job to do.