Nosework question

[TuMicks]

It might help when your in the actual class to really watch the other dogs. You can tell when they catch the scent. Every dog is different though, however to watch them and see the subtle cues and body language. One of the hardest things in this is first trusting the dog. You want to help them, you want them to succeed, however you need to let them figure it out. The other thing is you have to understand the travel of scent. You yourself need to be very aware of air movement and the cone of scent. It can be truly rewarding, especially when you learn that body language of your dog when they catch that scent. Rocket is probably on the scent way before you are realizing it. Its not usually, ok here it is. They have a pattern on the scent cone as they work in to the strongest part. One of the hardest thing that helped me the most was letting go and letting him do this completely off leash and trusting him.

Indoors is harder to see this cone of scent because air conditioning heating drafts, you have to think how the air flows in the room your in. Outside this may become much more obvious for you what I am talking about. Say the wind is coming from the west, well you approach from the west. There will be a cone starting at the scent but it will be widening to the east. So the dog will actually go east of the scent, catch it then they walk the cone back in to where it is strongest. I love watching Hemi that moment he catches the scent. It is very subtle but you can see him light up, you can see his brain going ok I know what I am after and my dad is going to be so proud of me when I find it.

That makes a lot of sense. I bought the 15 foot lead because the instructor indicated I was supposed to have it for classes. But I would prefer just watching Ram Jet Rocket Dog work off leash for now. (Yesterday I burned my hand... dern!!! She took off so fast.) Maybe we'll take our string cheese to the kiddie playground today and if there is a good breeze I can apply your suggestions to study her body language a bit more. (It's gotten too cold for the little ones to be out in the morning so we'll have the playground to ourselves.)

[TuMicks]

I haven’t done Nosework (yet) but my friends who do, who are all experienced Obedience trainers tell me the hardest part is as Jeff says, learning to trust your dog and not try to help them. You have to get past where YOU think the scent is likely to be and really read your dog, even if you think they are wrong.

First... let me say that I don't know beans about this sport. BUT

1. It appears to be hugely dependent upon what the dog brings to the table in terms of inborn characteristics (prey drive and nose) and nothing you actually teach. (I'm sure there will eventually be a behavior they're expected to demonstrate but... )

2. It's fun for the dog

3. It's a sport and they give titles and ribbons. (Hey! That's always a strong motivator for the handler!)

4. It's not ANY where as hard as what the people and dogs do in Agility, Rally, Obedience, Field Sports, etc. The dogs just do their thing.

Maybe it's something we'll continue working on. Who knows?

[Annette47]

First... let me say that I don't know beans about this sport. BUT

1. It appears to be hugely dependent upon what the dog brings to the table in terms of inborn characteristics (prey drive and nose) and nothing you actually teach. (I'm sure there will eventually be a behavior they're expected to demonstrate but... )

2. It's fun for the dog

3. It's a sport and they give titles and ribbons. (Hey! That's always a strong motivator for the handler!)

4. It's not ANY where as hard as what the people and dogs do in Agility, Rally, Obedience, Field Sports, etc. The dogs just do their thing.

Maybe it's something we'll continue working on. Who knows?

From what I’ve heard, I agree with you. Most of the people I know who do it do it for one of two reasons: to build confidence in dogs who lack it; to give older, retired dogs a reason to get out of the house and feel useful. In both cases the fact the dog enjoys it is what’s driving the desire to do it.

I don’t have time to do more than the one dog sport right now, but someday, this will probably be Chloe’s retirement activity.

[shellbell]

It will be different when you start using odor as opposed to food, like others have said. When first using odor, I would basically click and treat anytime Tux paused or looked interested in the place the odor was. And then you start waiting them out, you do want them to give you an actual indicator so that in a trial situation where you don't know where the odor is, you can clearly tell they have found it. For Tux, he swipes his paw at the odor when he finds it, so I wait for that. It was the indicator he always used for Barn Hunt when he found a rat, and it transferred to nosework.

And yes, trusting your dog is the hardest part! For me, I have to try very hard to just keep my mouth shut. For Barn Hunt in particular, if I start talking too much or telling him to "show me", I am likely to get a random swipe of his paw on a tube b/c he thinks I am asking him to just hit on something. I'm better when I stay quiet and just let him work it out.

[Labradorks]

TuMicks, you should try doing scent discrimination with your dog. It's something you can do indoors at home and you don't have to purchase anything or at least not anything expensive. You just need six identical leather and six identical metal items. People use baby shoes, gloves, pieces of leather leash with a knot in the middle, canning rings, icecream scoops, stuff like that. It also involves trusting your dog, and it is difficult. When I do them at home, I often stand in the hall where my dog can't see me and vice versa so I don't inadvertently give him feedback and he doesn't look to me for help.

[Annette47]

TuMicks, you should try doing scent discrimination with your dog. It's something you can do indoors at home and you don't have to purchase anything or at least not anything expensive. You just need six identical leather and six identical metal items. People use baby shoes, gloves, pieces of leather leash with a knot in the middle, canning rings, icecream scoops, stuff like that. It also involves trusting your dog, and it is difficult. When I do them at home, I often stand in the hall where my dog can't see me and vice versa so I don't inadvertently give him feedback and he doesn't look to me for help.

Yeah, I’ve learned to ignore where the judge has been putting them for previous exhibitors or even where they tell me the articles are. One time, Chloe brought me what I thought was the wrong article, and while I certainly didn’t correct her in the ring, I didn’t act particularly happy to see her. Turns out it was the right article, but on the next one she barely searched before giving up and bringing me whatever. Since then, no matter what she brings me, I have a party and assume it’s right. Paid off at her last trial because the judge deliberately chose to use two different numbers, so when she brought back the first article I thought she was wrong at first since it didn’t match. I had a party anyway, and she was right, so was very persistent on the next one which was good since the judge put it pretty far away from the rest of the pile and it took her a while to find it. Ended up with a Utility 2nd and OTCH points!