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Old April 14th, 2012, 03:18 PM
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Anyone's dog do nosework?

No, not like Michael Jackson... like, scent tracking?

Just signed Groucho up with Qs4K9s as they came recommended... we start next Saturday!

Last summer, at Clayton dog park, Groucho suddenly took off, bolted 100' or so across the small dog section, slipped through a gap in the fence into the all-dog section, ran up to two women, stood up on his hind legs sniffing around their pockets... turns out one of them had liver treats in her pocket. Pup has an amazing nose, so we're hoping this will be a good task for him!

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Old April 14th, 2012, 04:27 PM
Corben Corben is offline
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While not involved in scent tracking ,I bet my Abbie would be awesome at it.When I walk her I am always laughing about how she walks with her nose!look forward to hearing how it goes for you.
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Old April 15th, 2012, 12:22 AM
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My sister has had Tracking Champions, Soundy, and from what I've seen when she visits us and I lay a track for one of her dogs, yours is going to love it!
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Old April 15th, 2012, 10:02 AM
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Hope so! He needs something to help stimulate his mind, and he's skittish of most of the equipment used in Agility (which is sad because he's so nimble and quick and SHOULD be good at it), so I'm hoping since it doesn't use any extra hardware, this will help him gain some confidence.
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Old April 15th, 2012, 12:37 PM
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That sounds like fun, Soundy! Looking forward to hearing about your first lesson!!
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Old April 15th, 2012, 03:44 PM
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What a great story! And you're lucky! In BC you have the one and only at this point certified K9NW instructor in all of Canada.

I've done some classes, LOVE this sport. Way more fun then tracking.
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Old July 25th, 2012, 02:50 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Soundy View Post
No, not like Michael Jackson... like, scent tracking?

Just signed Groucho up with Qs4K9s as they came recommended... we start next Saturday!

Last summer, at Clayton dog park, Groucho suddenly took off, bolted 100' or so across the small dog section, slipped through a gap in the fence into the all-dog section, ran up to two women, stood up on his hind legs sniffing around their pockets... turns out one of them had liver treats in her pocket. Pup has an amazing nose, so we're hoping this will be a good task for him!

When I had my standard poodle I would carry salmon treats for him. One day when I was walking in the woods with my dog , I had 3 or 4 dogs following me and some dogs where trying to put their noses in my shorts pocket and my shorts where getting pulled off! I stopped carrying the salmon treats after that. My new dog, Marty keep his nose to the ground in our yard looking for rabbit poop! Gross!
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Old July 25th, 2012, 07:26 PM
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Sounds like you and Groucho have been having a fun time, Soundy! I'd love to see him in action!
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Old August 23rd, 2012, 11:08 AM
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So we ran our first "Sniff'n'Go" a couple weeks back - it's done like a trial, but it's more a "just for fun" social event run mostly by n00b dogs. Groucho did quite well... daddy not so much, as you see by his timecard:



In each case, there's a small hidden container with a Q-tip carrying the scent (birch, in this case, and paired with a bit of food for beginners like us); the dog has to find it and indicate it, and the handler has to read the dog's indication and call "Alert". If he's right, it stops the clock - clock starts either when the handler gives the command to start, or when the dog's nose crosses the threshold to the search area, whichever comes first.

Points are allotted by the judges based on various things like how the handler works the leash, reads the dog, stays out of the way... points can be deducted for things like dropping food in the search area (will create a distraction for later dogs). I think everyone got 25 points this time

‎"Container" search involves two rows of identical closed cardboard boxes (20 or so), with the "hide" in one.

"Exterior" search takes place around outside objects - in this case, some picnic chairs, a picnic table, and a couple farm implements.

"Interior" search was in part of a room and has the hide in amongst regular indoor objects (this one was extra tricky - UNDER a garbage can!)

"Vehicle" search has the hide somewhere on the exterior of a vehicle, the tricky part being there are multiple vehicles in the search area.

Oh yes, and the "P" in the comments means "Pronounced" and it's the judge's indication that they think the dog and handler performed exceptionally well together!
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Old August 23rd, 2012, 11:31 AM
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hazelrunpack hazelrunpack is offline
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Awesome!!! Sounds like quite the challenge! How often do they hold these events? Must be as much fun to watch as to participate!
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Old August 24th, 2012, 02:34 AM
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Well, an "official" event is called a trial, and dogs (and handlers) can be certified for the various levels of nosework (separated by degrees of difficulty, and scents used). The "Sniff 'n Go" follows the general format, but is more of an informal, social event (we had a potluck lunch!)

The info on the different levels and what all is involved in a trial can all be found at the official site, http://www.nacsw.net/ (National Association of Canine Scent Work).
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Old August 24th, 2012, 08:23 PM
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Ask, and ye shall receive... http://dogsportphotos.shutterfly.com...es/985?eid=112
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Old August 24th, 2012, 10:03 PM
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Pawsome!!! Thanks, Soundy!

PS Groucho was surely the cutest one there!!!
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Old August 25th, 2012, 12:43 AM
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And the smallest, by far! His reputation preceded him - one of the women who's had several dogs through Ann's classes was also in our first set of classes, and just adores him and had already told several of the other people there about him, so they were all anticipating meeting him

I'd brought my camera along anticipating some "action" shots of other dogs, but then realized when we were getting the initial briefing... I couldn't go in and watch other dogs that were going before us, or I'd know where all the hides were. And since Groucho was 39th out of about 46 dogs, there wasn't really time to do any after we'd done each run.
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Old August 25th, 2012, 11:15 AM
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Oh, I never thought of that... I suppose it would give you an unfair advantage if you knew were things were.

Well, maybe next time they'll put you in the first half of the lineup so you'll have more photo ops afterward.

Wow, 46 dogs!! That's a big turnout!!
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Old August 25th, 2012, 12:02 PM
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Oh yeah, there were several came up from WA too.
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