It was close to two years ago when our nose work games consisted of a bunch of boxes in a random pile with a treat hidden in one. It took us a while to finally get to taking a class and I’m so glad we have!
Now we’re hiding actual scents (in this case, birch) in boxes with treats only as a reward for finding them!
Our online nose works class has been so much fun. We’re just about to the end, but I still need to work on my leash handling skills. It’s been tough because our house isn’t quite big enough to do that easily inside. I’ve cleared an area on our patio now though, and we’ll also work in the driveway and hopefully garage and barn. Those buildings still need to be organized (it turns out moving, unpacking, and getting everything in its place takes a LONG time, especially when construction is involved) and Luke is still a little distracted when we’re working outside, so the patio is the best place to start.
The box he found there is only slightly vented so we’re pretty close to a completely closed box! Then it will be fun for the Dadz to help us set up a blind trial; then I’ll really know how we’re doing. We’ll keep you posted!
Do you have any plans for enjoying the first weekend of autumn with your pets?
Luke looks like he is really enjoying himself. Hubby went back to work today so I have my mornings back for blog reading….yay!
So glad you’re back, Linda, and glad your hubby has recovered well!
You guys have come a long ways, keep up the great work
You’ve given me the best idea for our next stretch of rainy days with Tallulah. Thank you and congratulations on your success!
You are so welcome, and thank you! I bet you and Tallulah will have a lot of fun with this! It is such a great rainy day activity. I’ve started it with our beagle Cricket too, while she is down with her arthritis; it gives her something fun to do too.
That’s terrific, Luke! You’ll be a top dog scent hound in no time.
Looks like fun!
Great work Luke!
Good job Luke I’m totally jealous! Love Dolly
Yay Luke! It sounds like he’s doing great. Bar and I are hoping my parents come visit soon so that we have someone to hide scents for us, too. It’s always more fun when neither of us know which box it is!
Luke has aced the completely closed box now, so I can’t wait to see if we can do it when I don’t know! It will definitely be more fun.
Good job, Luke!!! I really need to do nose work with Ducky but right now time is limited and “work space” is tight. The online course sounds perfect for a protective/territorial/anxious pup like Ducky.
It is perfect, Sue. Plus it’s so much less stressful for me with Luke. I don’t have to worry about how he’s going to act, we can just relax and have fun at home.
You’ll get to it in time….it took me two years after all! 🙂
I had no idea you could take nose work classes online! How cool – especially when you’re working with a full schedule. That way you can incorporate training on your own time! Who are you taking the class through?
Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. It has worked out perfect for us – it’s so convenient to do it on our own time, plus for us we would have had to travel 45 minutes each way to the closest class. You should definitely check them out, they have all kinds of other classes too! fenzidogsportsacademy.com
Cool, thanks for their link! It just checked them out and really liked what I saw. I may take their Backyard Fitness Class.
I was looking at that class too! There are so many I want to take, I’ll never find time for it all. 🙂
Ditto! I found several different ones interesting!
I hide treats in different spots in the house before we leave. When we come home they have found every treat. I think I will use boxes and see how they do. It is more of a game to play with them. Love seeing the pictures!
Thank you, Sharon! I love that you give your dogs something to do when you leave, that is a great idea. I bet your dogs will really enjoy searching the boxes too.
He is pretty odor obedient, and will learn to work through all the distractions. That is one beautiful thing about nose work and fearful dogs. They build their confidence and are able to work where they would normally be frightened. So glad it is going so well for him.
He is SO focused on finding the scent, he barely even pays attention to me! The class instructor emphasized that we should be sure we weren’t giving clues to our dogs, but Luke totally focuses on his job, not me. At times he gets distracted, but he comes right back to it and remembers what he’s supposed to be doing. 🙂
Luke you are a great nose-reader, bet you can work at the airport soon, where the people have a lot to do to sniff their way through all the parcels… :o) btw: if you see one with my name, please let it pass, there may be special things inside, butt I promise to do no mischief…hehehe
We know you wouldn’t do any mischief, Easy, so we would surely pass right by your package. 😉