Nosework Thread

[jackie_hubert]

I'm wondering if anyone is interested in discussing Nosework training. For fun or competition (or even with other species!). There aren't a lot of good discussion on this new sport yet so it's proving difficult to discuss. I know there are few of you out there.

Maybe I'll post a training video and see if anyone wants to join in.

Cosmo and I are currently training for NW2. His strength is his drive and committment and sheer fearlessness. He is very challenged by distraction outside the home and looses his head a bit but has been able to work through this in class more and more (he's only slightly worse than the other retrievers ). When he looses his head he gets a bit impulsive and can tend to overshoot so we've been working on sourcing at home to build that skill. Here he is looking for his chuck-it (no scent). We've been using the Thundershirt to also take his excitability down a notch. He only wears it to scent-work so it's also a good contextualizer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugUvxEslFP4

[General V]

I plan to start training Solo( the found pup from this spring) in this area. I think she will be good at it and I need to find something for her and I to do. I dont want to doing anything with her that will build drive in her as Vendetta, BaWaaJige and Secret are enough high drive dogs for me. I have been reading everything I can on this as I dont have anyone in my area that trains in Nosework.

[goldy1]

There aren't any Nosework classes in my area but I bought a book and we have tried it out at home. Chance seems to LOVE this game. I feel I need some help - like I would benefit from a class. I keep checking and hoping that as the popularity rises, a class will be offered locally.

[jackie_hubert]

How fun! Maybe you can use this thread as a sort of teacher since there aren't even really books on the specifics.

Yea, there aren't a lot of instructors here either. There are 2 now, but there are a whole bunch of "associate" trainers on their way to their full certification and even out of my recent class 2 students are becoming associates.

About drive, Nosework is actually all about hunting drive. It encourages dogs to stop their obedience brain and just go with their instincts (though in a controlled fashion).

[goldy1]

I think Nosework really got started on the west coast. There are a few instructors in Mass and downstate NY but each is 2+ hours one way from where I live. So I'm "going it alone" for now.

The book I'm using is "Fun Nosework for Dogs" by Roy Hunter.

I would definitely love to learn more.

[jackie_hubert]

Are you guys currently doing food/scent pairings?

[tania]

Pira loves nose games!! Here is a video of the beginning stages of our game. Now she is searching in very unusual places. We never did any classes.., but I would love to!!

You Tube

You Tube

[General V]

I have not started with Solo yet as I have been really busy ( out of work for a yr so I do craft sales and those are going on now). Once the holidays are done then yes I will start and I thought I would do treats( find it games) once she is doing that I was introduce a scent either Birch ( we made our own oil) or anise. Once she is picking that scent up I would introduce a 2nd scent and so on.

What I meant about drive is that I HAVE TO WORK Vendetta, BaWaaJige and Secret everyday or I cant live with them they are very high energy and they need to get that out of their systems before we can relax. With Nosework I dont think Solo is going to get demanding that we do it everyday.

[inge]

Jackie, didn't you and Cosmo also do track? I was wondering whether that gives you an advantage or just the opposite. I did two Nosework courses with Tess when she was really young (9 months or so) and she loved it. We stopped because I wanted I certify her for Therapy work but it is something I might do again with her.

[Tayla's Mom]

Count me in. I'm waiting to start NW 3 in January. It will be our first "odor" series. In Florida it's not popular yet, but I'm hoping it will be big soon. Our trainer had to cancel the last two classes due to lack of participation. We have been out of NW 2 for about 4 months. I can't wait to start 3. Tayla has a great nose and it gives her something to do since she has bad hips.