We passed our K9 nosework ORT for Birch!

[GBK]

 

So mommy was nervous, but Buddy and Kona knew where we were and what we were there for!  They were all business and went right to work to find their odor and alert me.  I think Buddy took all of 17 seconds, and Kona just a little longer. 

Everyone get's 3 minutes tops to find the scent source (Birch this time) in the one out of 12 boxes set up in the trial area.  Our instructor, who facilitated in getting the trial here to LV,  said it looked like I was holding my breath so long I could barely get the alert call out :)  Yes, I think with Buddy I was, but felt much more confident the second time around with Kona.  I am so happy, it really is a team effort, you need to work together and trust each other.  On to NW1 trial, probably somewhere in California this winter...

 

Above are some of my classmates waiting our turns on Sat, and I wanted to tell you the story of Michelle (third from the left) and her very, very shy little girl Lillie.  Michelle and Lillie started a class before us, and she told me how they had to use paper plates to start with because Lillie was so afraid to put her head anywhere near the open boxes.  They repeated class one with us a couple of months later, and had graduated to certain boxes they practiced with at home and brought to class to use as HER food boxes only.  By the end of our class session, Lillie was confident enough to put her head in boxes and use the same boxes as the rest of the dogs all the time.  She passed her ORT on Saturday with flying colors, Michelle was in tears of joy when she came around to tell us she passed.  It is amazing what teamwork can do, and to see this adorable little dog go from tail down and  between her legs at the start of our class, to head held high, tail up and butt wagging with confidence.  I would encourage anyone with a shy dog to try a class, it doesn't take much time to see a difference :)  Here is Lillie with her nose in a box!

[GBK]

Pat, I hope I am tempting you :) 

Good luck Katie, you all will have a blast.

Stella, our scents are Birch, Anise and Clove, interesting that yours are different.  I watched your videos, they both did so well.  Most of our searches are on leash, but there are searches that will give you the option.  We do practice in class some off leash, and definitely at home.  Have you started the car searches yet?  Buddy loves to search cars as we walk past in parking lots :)

[Stella]

Congratulations!! I was surprised at how well the dogs took to scent detection. And It is great that 'dogs with problems' can take part. It certain has been good for Chase. I think the scents must be different in Canada, we learnt Wintergreen first, and then we will go on to pine and thyme. The dogs here also have to leashed when they are searching.

[Katie and Sophie]

That is amazing!  Congratulations!  I really want to start getting into nose work with my girls!

[Pat and Traveler]

GBK, oh, yes--post the happy looks!  I hadn't really thought about doing anything more than just taking classes, but you're making it sound tempting!  Trav might even be ready for ORT, or at least a first attempt.  I think our trainer is pretty involved in the trials and such in this area.  Maybe I should expand our horizons!  lol

[GBK]

LOL Pat, it is amazing how fast they learn and what they will do for something they love to do.  When I ask them if they want to "play find" or go to class and play find, they get the most excited looks on their faces and start to jump around.  I'll have to get a picture this weekend of those cute expressions. 

Are you planning on taking the ORT for Birch soon?  It would be fun to do a NW1 trial together :)  I have family in Reno, I could get to a trial on the upper West Coast pretty easily...

[Pat and Traveler]

GBK, so cute that the dogs run into the bedroom to wait!  Trav does that too.  When he knows we're going to practice in the house or yard, I tell him to 'go wait,' and he literally runs into his crate.  He chose that waiting place on his own--it surprised me as he rarely uses his crate.  He patiently waits there until I tell him to 'go search.' 

[GBK]

I know PJ, they just can't wait to play the game!  15 minutes after we are done, they still are sniffing the room... and they aren't even searching for food anymore.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Congratulations!  

[PJ and Zach]

This is so exciting, Gina! Congratulations! That is so funny that they would be excited to be shut in the bedroom.

[GBK]

Thanks everyone!  Last night we did some hides, only with odor.  They did great and were so excited to be able to practice in the house again...  Who would have thought they would run into the bedroom to get shut in and wait their turns so joyfully, but they do :)  Usually the right one is waiting to come out after I get the hides set!