Can't help but brag a bit about this dood...

[Pat and Traveler]

Sort of like pulling out an album of grandkid photos... :)

 

A while back I noticed and blogged about Traveler playing 'find the fox,' and how impressed I was at not only his ability to find a hidden toy, but also his dedication in searching for it.  We've continued to play this game off and on, with no particular consistency.  The game is:  he waits in one room while I hide the stuffed fox in a different room, then tell him to 'find the fox.'  His search behavior is so different from his usual behavior!  He takes this job quite seriously, walking all around the two or three search rooms, sniffing, going back over areas that he already searched if he doesn't find it right away.  He even put his front paws on the table, and both looked and sniffed at the tabletop, something he never does at other times.

 

When my daughter was here over Christmas, she wanted to play this game with him, and he was just as intent and focused while searching AROUND guests and another dog!  He just ignored all the distractions.  Yesterday he was on a search when the phone rang.  I got involved in a conversation a couple of rooms away from where he was searching, and after a while he came trotting into my room, carrying the fox!  He'd just kept on searching by himself. 

 

I've tried a different 'toy' a couple of times, a bungee cord with a drop of vanilla scent on it, and that seems to be easier for him to find.  I let him sniff the cord, tell him to wait while I hide it, then tell him to search.  He understands that he's looking for the cord this time and not the fox.

 

I'm just a proud dood mom, and so glad this little guy is in my life!  What a joy!!! 

[Camilla and Darwin]

Traveler is one talented doodle!

[BG and Gavin]

What a great idea to exercise his mind.  Right now we hide on Gavin and have him find us in different rooms.  Your idea with the vanilla on the toy is brilliant.  I am for sure going to try this.  Smart boy Trav!

[Pat and Traveler]

Hi, Dori!  Rua is smart as well as cute.  :)  At my age, training the dog to find glasses or car keys or my mind, sometimes, would be a great thing!  I haven't tried to have Trav search for anything outside yet.  I thought for a moment about some search and rescue training, but I'd probably be whining up the first 1/4 mile of trail hours after the dog had found the lost person or drug stash.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

You really should think of getting him into a "nose" or "tracking" class.  He's a natural, and it could be so much fun for both of you.  Guinness did one class, and I'm going to put him in another as soon as I get the new schedule.  We loved it.

[Dori & Rua]

That is really cool and you have every right to brag.   Rua seems to have a pretty good nose on her, too.  The furnace guy was here on Thursday, and my DH said Rua followed his tracts outside to around the side of the house where the heat pump was!  I will have to try that as it could really come in handy to help search for my misplaced glasses!

[Pat and Traveler]

Thanks, Jane!  He really is dedicated, but I can't claim I taught him to do it, other than the first 'find,' when I set the toy where he could see it and told him to find it.  Everything since then he's just done on his own.  What a smart dog!  :)

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Traveler sounds like one dedicated little hunter, good job!