Teaching search/sniff, tips?

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Katagaria

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So I've been trying to get the boys to learn how to sniff something out. I'll talk about Cosmo in particular because he's always the most eager to do these kind of things with me.

For example there are three boxes, one has chicken and the other two are empty. He has to try and paw on the one with the chicken in order to get a treat.

Now, I've come to a point where I don't know what to do. I didn't get a reaction out of Cosmo (no scratching/nudging of the boxes), he just sits and stares at me. So I taught him to touch the box with his paw in order to get a treat. I just can't get him to use his nose even though he's a major sniffer in general. Help?
 
I am taking a nose work class right now. We do just as you are describing but we have many more boxes to search. Usually only 1 or 2 designated boxes have the treat. The treat is always in the same box. The boxes are spread throughout the area and the dog can not see where you put the treat box.

When ready we give the command to find it and allow the dog to search. At first they look to the handler for direction but we must just ignor them and do not look at them. They figure out to start searching on their own. When they find the hidden treat throw more treats in the box from above so they don't see you treating and give lots of praise. The first few times we kept them on a loose leash to kind of let them get the idea of what is expected. Once they get it we took them off leash. We just walk around the area as the dog is searching which helps stir up the scent for them. But never ever give them any hints as to where it is. In competitions even the handler does not know where the scent is.

We started with just open boxes on the floor and we now have closed boxes some on chairs some under chairs etc. as well as multiple other distracting objects such as an empty dog treat box. But somehow they know how to find the right box. Next week we are going outside for the first time.

It is amazing how quickly they learn this and how tiring it is for them. Next week is the last of our beginner class. I would like to continue to the next level but one of the requirements is they must be quiet while other dogs search. And Shelby has a big issues with being quiet at school. So I think I will just remain a novice and use what I have learned as inside games at home.

Hope this helps you some. Good luck and enjoy.
 
Start again and this time hold the box with the treat and as soon as he sniffs it - treat. Do this a few times then put it on the floor. If he noses it or looks at it - treat on the top of the box. Move the box and repeat. Work for about 5 minutes then stop.

Once he is reliable about going over to nose the box then add an identical box with no scent. I mean identical. Same type of box and a scent pad in it as well - just no scent. Number the boxes so that you know which one is which. As soon as he noses the correct box - treat on top of the box. Move the boxes around and repeat. Once he is reliable at this then add an alert behaviour, such as sit. Always treat on the box. He will occasionally choose the wrong box to alert to. Do not treat. If he doesn't go back to the right one then move the boxes again and let him go.

You see, in the beginning, they don't really understand that it is the one with the correct scent that is why they are getting the reward so it does get a little frustrating for them at first. Don't move too quickly on this. We don't even add the cue of search until the dog seems to have the idea. Every early training session starts with targeting while the box is in my hand, then on the floor then adding another until we can see the dog searching for the right box.

Tinsel is so good at this game that I am going to add the scent of my hubby's breath when his blood sugar goes down. He can find the correct scent when there are many different containers and several different scents to choose from. We took our time and stepped back a few times in the beginning.
 
I never taught Sammy nose work, but that's another thing I want to try. I think the key to any new training share the same principles. 1 - set them up for success. 2 - the dogs must act on their own.

So here is my plan.: In this case, to set them up for success, I'd start with only 1 box w/ treat. When Sammy does the desire behavior (ie paw on box), she'd get a the C&T. I am not sure how to coax her into pawing the box, maybe I will start with the touch command and go from there. Once she's solid, add more empty boxes, making sure she is still going for the original box before mixing them up, then add more boxes.

Sammy's Daddy
 
Thanks so much for the tips! If anyone's got any more, please keep them coming!

I'm actually working with one of the best trainers in my country at the moment (although hard to grab five minutes of his time lately!) and he has me and my group working with our dogs learning various tricks/commands. So far so good with roll over and sit pretty, but I've come to a stop with retrieve so I am desperate to try and get him working with his nose (our current task) with search.
 
SammysDaddy said:
I never taught Sammy nose work, but that's another thing I want to try. I think the key to any new training share the same principles. 1 - set them up for success. 2 - the dogs must act on their own.

So here is my plan.: In this case, to set them up for success, I'd start with only 1 box w/ treat. When Sammy does the desire behavior (ie paw on box), she'd get a the C&T. I am not sure how to coax her into pawing the box, maybe I will start with the touch command and go from there. Once she's solid, add more empty boxes, making sure she is still going for the original box before mixing them up, then add more boxes.

Sammy's Daddy
Click to expand...
if you are planning to eventually do some actual nose work and compete in a venue, it is not recommended to teach any pawing. Of course if you just looking for tricks and it has nothing to do with actual odor search it could be anything you want:smile2:
 
No plan to do any competition, but that shouldn't stop me from doing things right, more research is in order. :)

Sammy's Daddy.
 
Katagaria said:
So I've been trying to get the boys to learn how to sniff something out. I'll talk about Cosmo in particular because he's always the most eager to do these kind of things with me.

For example there are three boxes, one has chicken and the other two are empty. He has to try and paw on the one with the chicken in order to get a treat.

Now, I've come to a point where I don't know what to do. I didn't get a reaction out of Cosmo (no scratching/nudging of the boxes), he just sits and stares at me. So I taught him to touch the box with his paw in order to get a treat. I just can't get him to use his nose even though he's a major sniffer in general. Help?
Click to expand...
Try snarfling. Yes, I said snarfling lol. What it is: Use a hand towel that you don't mind smelling like dog treats. On one end of the towel put a good bit of treats, roll it tight every roll put one treat. At the end of it put 2-5 treats to get him going. Do this a few times with different amounts of treats. (edited to add: He'll move the towel with his nose for it. you might have to help him the first time through it) Then move on to just 1 box having the treat, then 2 (one with one without) then 3.
 
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