Brief Reiteration: I missed the intro to nosework. The instructor let me join a class on exteriors and vehicles. I've been to one class, got a little instruction on scent cones, we practiced a bit, and Ram Jet Rocket Dog is very good and very fast. Bottom line, it's fun but I know next to nothing about it.

Here are my 3 latest questions. (1) A friend in another state says I'm doing it all wrong. I've been practicing by putting my hides anywhere. On things, in things, under things, walls, corners, chairs, stools, behind a toilet, on a strut of my truck's running board, behind the grill by the radiator, under the truck behind the tires... It doesn't matter to her. My friend says that we should still be on the ground. She's been to 4 classes and they are only now beginning to elevate the hides, inch by inch. Apparently it's supposed to be a very gradual thing.

(2) When I was practicing with naked weenie bits... I couldn't discern indicator behavior, she would pretty much run to it, scarf it up and move on. I started doing the treat-tins and she became more deliberate. I could see her working the scent. Is this going to screw her up?

(3) Can I bag the leash? The dog is a machine. And fast. I can't keep up with her. When we're searching a vehicle or around equipment, she moves so fast that she gets wrapped up... or she jerks me off my feet, or scalds my hand. Why does anyone use a leash? (No other dogs around, no traffic, safe environment.) I mean, she's working the scent and I feel like a fool playing with the leash.

Anyhow, those are my latest questions. I appreciate your input.