"Nose Work"

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

The Fall dog training program is starting in a couple of weeks, and I had planned to have Guinness take the Intermediate Agility class.  My trainer is going to also be offering a new program called "Nose Work".  Here's the description of the class...."Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and a natural desire to hunt.  The sport of K9 Nose Work is designed to develop your dog's natural scenting abilties by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise.  It's a great way for your dog to have fun, build confidence, and burn lots of mental and physical energy".  Guinness is a Doodle who loves to have his "nose to the ground"...he's a big time "smeller".  So, I'm thinking of putting him in that class rather than Agility (which he also loves).  Has anyone else been involved in this type of program, and how did it work out?

[Christine & Shelby]

I think this could be very interesting and fun. Please let us know how the class goes. I haven't seen any classes like that here in my area!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Guinness had his first "Nose Work" class today, and we had a fantastic time. His favorite part was that you have to leave all your obedience training at the door. The dog needs to be in a "high drive mode", and obedience commands get in the way of that. He loved it....his tail never stopped wagging, and he didn't want to leave. He figured in out really quickly and was a "natural" at going to the place where the scent was hidden. There are four dogs in the class, and one is being trained to identify the scent of nuts because their is a child in the family with a severe allergy. We'll be working on a variety of scents over the next six weeks. I can't wait for next week.....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This sounds wonderful for Guinness! I'm so glad he took to it and you both had a good time! I can't wait to hear about his progress! Guinness, I know you'll make us all proud as a scenthound extraordinaire!

[Leslie and Halas]

Sounds fun! Keep us posted on how it goes each week. I'd love to hear more about it. It's funny how they figure out when they need to pay attention to their obedience training, and when they don't. We have flyball and rally in the same building. For the last few months, we've only been doing flyball, and you want your dog to be wound up for that. When it's our turn, Halas pulls at his leash, and sometimes barks. He knows that he has to come to me, but he knows that a lot of the other obedience stuff goes out the window. Last night, we started rally again, and as soon as we entered the building, he was heeling nicely, not pulling at his leash, not trying to run, etc.

[Camilla and Darwin]

That sounds so fun, I have a renewed interest in finding one of these classes now...

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

Sounds great Guinness...I wish they had that here...We remember you talking about this earlier.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

It is offered where we train. We watch the sessions but are not involved. We are still in intermediate training with our dogs. --we would love to be taking the class. Some of them offered are $1,000.
What is offered at our facility is: * Detection - Narcotics, Arson, Explosives, guns & ammunition *Tracking for Search & Rescue, *Criminal Apprehension, building search * Patrol Dogs * Dual Purpose Dogs.
We were able to watch many trainers themselves take the training course with their dogs. Fascinating.
Just tracking with toys though would work for us :) I agree Jane--this would be more interesting ( for you too ).

I see above you went! Can't wait for next weeks updates

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We're so lucky, Joanne, because our trainer does most of the Search & Rescue training in our area, and she has three of her own dogs who are affiliated with the Police & Fire Depts in our area. She's awesome....and she is only charging me $120 for six weeks. She is the one who did Guinness's Therapy training, and he loves her. If we want to continue after this class, she'll get into more of the serious Search & Rescue work...we'll have to see. How bizarre would it be to have a Doodle who is both a Therapy and Search & Rescue Dog. If he continues to love it and do well....maybe.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I agree. Were we are training is a Police Dog Training Facility. It is full of trainers coming for training. There are all kinds of dogs there and I never feel just because we have Fluffy we are less than superior. We have advanced to OUTDOOR sessions which is a privilege and earned. I find these place amazing and NO DOG is not trainable. They take what I first considered negative attributes and teach the dog to be positive with his/her traits.

I'd eavesdropped on a few discussion where owners complained about dogs being too protective or territorial--the trainers never flinched but only said, " Cool, would you like to train them for proper guard/protection dog.

Wish I were rich. I would live there. P.S. We had talked before I went to training. They have saved Starlit's life. She is awesome in just two months time. She LOVES it there and we love how this is all turning out.

Maybe someday we can HUNT together.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I can't tell you how happy I am that you found such a wonderful program for Starlit!

[Lorraine Bromley]

Neely is really good at that sort of thing too. We have heard of this but not in our community. We play hide the treat, and sometimes when I have to leave I will hide them throughout the house and when I get back sure enough they are all gone. He likes to play hide and seek with my little cousin too. We hide him she hides and then we let him out and away he and his nose goes. We do it in the house when the kids are home too. Where is .... and away he goes.
I was told that you can make a game about it by putting a highly scented piece of meat or treat into a cheesecloth and dragging it willy nilly around your lawn and hide it at the end. HAVE them smell some of the cheesecloth and let them start. It IS funny to watch them zig zag around the trail.