We’ve been talking a lot about nose works lately, and I was especially pleased with how well both Luke and Cricket did with it after we had taken a break for a few months.
We did run into a snag though when I tried to move Cricket forward with something different. She did well with searching boxes and containers, even in a new location, but when I took those away and tried to get her to find the scent tin without it being inside something, she didn’t do so well. We only had three objects in the room, with the magnetic tin stuck to one of them, and most times, she just stood there and looked at me.
Luke can search pretty much the whole house and find a tin, and I look forward to moving up to outside searches for him in the future. He and Cricket have different styles though, and she’s always been just a bit slower than him at this. I think it’s just a motivation thing. Cricket is solely motivated by treats, whereas Luke is motivated by the desire to succeed. However, I have seen Cricket track where her ball has been many times, so I know she is capable of following a scent – but a ball is a totally different motivation for her too – she’s completely obsessed with it.
I did try taking the tin out of the box while leaving all the boxes from a search set up though, and that time she did well at finding it. I think it also made a difference having the tin flat on a surface – when it was stuck to something sideways that seemed to challenge her more. I guess maybe we just need to practice that way more for a while, and then gradually reduce the boxes. That’s my plan right now anyway.Ā
We’re taking another break while I’ve been getting ready for my trip, and now on my trip, so who knows? Maybe another little break will do her good and she’ll come back and get it right on. Luke has done that many times, and totally surprised me!
I am sure it is a motivation thing. If it was an animal, bird, or their scent I bet her excitement would be different.
I think you’re right. There’s another method to teaching nose works which involves using treats only at first, and pairing the scent later. That might have worked better with Cricket.
Cricket you are so adorable.
Interesting how they have such different motivations. It’s also interesting that the “find it” skill is different when the scent is out in the open. I wouldn’t have guessed that to be an issue.
I wouldn’t have guessed it either! You would think it would make it easier for her. I guess she’s just related boxes to the whole thing, even though we did work just with tins in the beginning.
I love the individual differences in personality and motivation … heck, my blog essentially delves into the “huh?” of the feline psyche š I can’t wait to meet you in a few days!
I recollect from our class when we moved from boxes to “interior” searches that we did just what you did – we put boxes out to signal our dogs that this was still nosework but then put the scent on something near the boxes.
Isn’t nosework a blast? I love it. I even did a successful search with Shyla in a town so there is a remote chance that she’ll someday be able to handle the world well enough to do a trial.
Way to go, Cricket!
It is a blast! Even when we have challenges it is still so much fun to watch them really use their noses.
That is great that you had a successful search in a town! It sounds like Shyla is really coming along well, and you just may make it to a trial yet.
They are both doing great and just motivate them with the fun of it all! Travel safely!
Bentley will track anyone’s footsteps. We used to have our son visit and walk all over the backyard. Bentley’s nose would hit the ground and follow his tracks.
We have a feeling you will do just fine with s little practice. I make mom laugh cause when she takes me out, I find exactly where Edward went pee or poop. It is usually at lest 75 feets away. It’s something new that I do
Lily (& Edward)
I have no advice as we have never really graduated beyond food. But why must she hunt for a tin? Maybe if she were hunting for her ball…
Good point – I don’t think she’d ever have trouble finding a ball! š
Emma’s idea sounds like a good plan to follow for Cricket…I would not have put the two and two together like she did, but I haven’t been doing nose works either. It helps to have a second opinion sometimes. ????
Enjoy BlogPaws! And have a safe trip home later this week!!
that sounds like a good plan… and I wish you the BEST time ever at blogpaws!!!!
Have you tried elevating the boxes to chairs with the tin? When that goes well, place the tin on the box on the chair, always paired, then put out a couple boxes, one on the floor by the chair and the tin with the food on the chair, and gradually wean the box away. That might help. She is associating the box with the tin, so she needs to learn to get away from the box slowly. She is familiar with boxes and odor, so you can’t just remove boxes all at once. That would be my thought.
I did elevate the boxes some, but I may not have practiced with that step enough (because she’s so small, I didn’t want to put them too high). Thank you for the tips, I will definitely be using them!
Since Madison is learning, we are into the beginner stuff. Our instructor says the main thing is to make sure it is a fun game, not a challenge. The challenge comes when the dog really understands the game and finding odor not treats. Never elevate the hide above nose height until the dog is used to finding hides at nose height, then try moving things up slowly, and pair. Pairing works at all levels, and always with new things. That is what we have learned in our classes, but there are all kinds of different ways to teach out there. We follow the NACSW directives.