Sniff-sniff-sniff...

[TuMicks]

This doesn't happen in field work. Rocket Dog is so ON when she comes to line, her head is up and she wants to do whatever it takes to be released to GO.

But... when we are working on "street obedience", heel, sit, down, stay, here... she will put her nose down and start to sniff the ground, which very quickly becomes an excuse to dissociate from what we are doing together. (I describe it as her becoming an "independent contractor.") Clearly, once she starts sniffing, she is blocking me out. Whether that's a deliberate method of rebellion... or just a dog that is easily distracted... I can't say.

But my money is on the former. Kinda. I am not one who believes that dogs "give you the finger". Dogs are dogs. They do dog stuff. I'm not anthropomorphizing here. I just think she finds any random odor more interesting than walking at heel, doing sit-stays, etc.

Next question: What do you do about it? Here's what I've tried...
1. Changed direction, usually turning into her.
2. Abrupt (but soft) pop on her martingale collar
3. NO
4. Sped up or slowed down
5. Given abundant "atta-girls" for doing it right and paying close attention.

We've done the treats thing and I think it's not productive after a certain period of time. We can't bait her with treats when we're being tested for her CGC.

[Labradorks]

Where are you when she starts to sniff? Somewhere familiar where you often train? Or in a strange place?

If it's in a place you train often, it could be stress. Stress-sniffing is super common.

If it's in a new place, it could be a mix of stress and distraction. Do you allow her to acclimate to new places before asking her to work?

[Jeff]

Work really hard on the "leave it" and the "watch me" commands, however this is admittedly a very hard one to overcome. Leave it, means leave what ever you are after alone and Watch me mean look into my eyes. I use those together. They take a lot of time. Basically it kind of goes hand in hand with boredom. Let face it obedience stuff is boring, there is no real fun in it for labs and labs are all about the fun. Not to say they can't do it you just need to keep your mind engaged.

Another thing my current trainer did that really helped when we were just doing simple heel and so on. I stand up straight look straight ahead and ignore Hemi. This makes him kind of look up at me going, Dad, Dad, why are you ignoring me. Dad I am right here, I just tell him heel and he heels like Dad, see I am being very good. Why aren't you watching me. I use my peripheral vision to keep track of him so I can give him leave it commands and so on. However, I do not look directly at him. I also correct him when ever we compete or go to class anything like that. By correcting I mean simply pulling his head up with the leash and telling him no and to leave it. This is the entire time we are there not just when we are competing or participating this is from the moment we enter the door until we leave. When we are at the places we work and compete it is not social time or time to sniff. Trust me this is a constant job.

Also how old is she? Hemi had 2 phases when this was an issue, about 9 months when a pup, and when Hemi became 3 this became uncontrollable and it was time to get neutered. 3 he was prime and ready and looking for love, it was very hard for him to concentrate however I am not sure this affects female as much as male. Also, seasonal times, spring is a bad time for Hemi, well cause everything is starting to bloom and grown and well it's spring time and time to stop and smell the roses.

[TuMicks]

I did NOT let her acclimate to the setting the last time we were out. I do think that helps when I remember to do it. We work at PetSmart and HomeDepot simply because that's where we're allowed. So I don't know if that is a factor.

Rocket Dog is spayed so I'm not sure that a "lonely heart" is the problem.

I have a class tonight and I'll bring it up and ask the behaviorists. RD has gotten to where she is really good around K9 Games Reno. But now I just need to get her to generalize all that she knows to do.

[Annette47]

Work really hard on the "leave it" and the "watch me" commands, however this is admittedly a very hard one to overcome. Leave it, means leave what ever you are after alone and Watch me mean look into my eyes. I use those together. They take a lot of time. Basically it kind of goes hand in hand with boredom. Let face it obedience stuff is boring, there is no real fun in it for labs and labs are all about the fun. Not to say they can't do it you just need to keep your mind engaged.

This - even with the puppies, who are just beginning to learn, sniffing while working gets a firm “leave it” (which we teach as leave what you are looking at and return your attention to me so the “watch me” part that Jeff described is implied).

In addition to that, you need to make yourself more interesting than whatever smells are around, so lots of games, silly tricks, etc. For example, when we teach heeling, we often have them randomly do a spin or hand touch while heeling, rather than just heeling for long periods. Keeps them engaged and interested because they never know when it is coming.

[Labradorks]

Probably the most useful thing I've learned since I've started working with Denise Fenzi is engagement training. I do not beg my dog for attention or correct him for inattention. I let him acclimate to new places and he lets me know when he is capable of learning and working. Of course, it is not this easy. There is a process and a method to it. It is not going to a new place and letting the dog drag you around the entire store sniffing and visiting.

Anyway, engagement, to quote Denise, "Simple word. Complicated subject." And, of course, this is very different than proofing a seasoned dog in a familiar place on things he knows very well. Here is a blog post on it (there are pages and pages and pages, a book, classes, etc. but this is a good start). I can say, without a doubt, that I have a new dog since I started doing engagement with him. It's a life-changer when it comes to training.

Also, games in training is huge, like Annette mentioned. If your training is all formal, that can be really stressful and unenjoyable and they may opt out. Then you are left with corrections or begging them for work, which makes it even less enjoyable for the dog, causes more stress, etc. You can teach anything as you would a game or trick. Get the dog consistent in a familiar place, then add in precision and formality and proofing. Everything my dog is really good at was taught exclusively as a game in my kitchen and living room before we took it to prime time. Utility signals, drop on recall, whistle sits and go outs are his favorite "tricks".

[TuMicks]

Thanks. I will bring some of these things up in class tonight. More later.