Marie2020
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Gone to the Dogs
- Thread starter digitS'
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ducks4you
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YES! I did watch the update! Thx! 
Marie2020
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Nancy has had a spar day. She looked happy enough
...but then I got that side glance
...but then I got that side glance
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digitS'
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digitS'
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heirloomgal
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I completed my first course in scent detection this week - and it was awesome! DD & I learned so much, we got lucky that this trainer actively competes, so she really knew her stuff. So many great takeaways; one thing that really stuck was the realization that scent detection is unlike most other dog sports, and the dog has to be managed carefully so that he always feels like he's getting 'paid' a lot for minimal 'work'. So as you increase your expectation of what your dog has to do in a search, something somewhere else has to be lowered. It was fascinating to see the various breeds, such a contrast between say the Husky and the Transylvanian Hound. Lol, I don't think huskies are ideal sniffer dogs! We plan to attend the Advanced course in September.
It really is a science of communication this scent work. From the first reward for finding the smell, then to rewarding a 1 or 2 second nose hold on the smell, then trying to incorporate an 'alert' the dog gives you to indicate location of smell. Our dog is being taught a down as his alert, because we don't plan to compete. The Malinois in the class - that dog was an amazing worker. He took that 'find it' command so seriously! I could really see why these dogs are used so much for this.
It really is a science of communication this scent work. From the first reward for finding the smell, then to rewarding a 1 or 2 second nose hold on the smell, then trying to incorporate an 'alert' the dog gives you to indicate location of smell. Our dog is being taught a down as his alert, because we don't plan to compete. The Malinois in the class - that dog was an amazing worker. He took that 'find it' command so seriously! I could really see why these dogs are used so much for this.
