PSA: Nosework as a fun Training tool This is an introduction and awareness post for the sport of Canine Scent work (Nosework). This also a guidance and Q&A post for people interested in the post itself. -----> What is K9 Nosework? K9 Nosework is a sport that teaches dogs to find a hidden smell within a space. Many trainers start out by teaching dogs to seek hidden treats or food to teach this, then introduce scents like sweet birch later. Nosework is an actual sport, and has an actual club in the US (nacsw.net/). -----> What are the benefits of K9 Nosework? Nosework can help a lot of dogs! Often, dogs with re-activity or general focus issues can learn to focus their energy into a job or task through Nosework. Nosework often is a less physical sport, and helps owners who cant/wont want to do faster paced sports like agility. It often is a great puzzle game to play with your dog! ---> Nosework trails with the NACSW are specifically formatted to lower dog on dog contact unless agreed to by both owners. This means: DOG REACTIVE DOGS CAN COMPETE. This is the one and only sport that Im aware of that without going out the way, dogs that have dog on dog aggression issues can compete within competition rules. (Aside from possibly Weightpull and other sports with ABPT) --->Skittish dogs often become more confident and independent once theyre given a job they enjoy. My instructor for Nosework had an entire class. We had a young, blue bully named Thunder who was terrified of the ring at first. His tail was completely tucked, he was hiding between dads legs, and was too scared to even eat treats. By the end, Thunder was the star. If he grabbed a scent, you could tell because he was like shark- his head suddenly shot forward or to the side and he had found the source! He hit hides faster than everyone elses dogs by the end and was no longer shut down between or before session like before. His tail was wagging, he was working away from his dad, and he seemed relaxed and happy in general to be in the ring. -----> How does one properly teach Nosework? Material list: - Treats - Boxes (Make sure you dogs head can fit into the smallest boxes) - Enclosed, boring indoor space - Optional clicker - Optional harness Set out all the boxes. Label one-three of your smallest boxes as FOOD. Its important that the treats only touch the food boxes, you dont want all your boxes smelling like treats and confusing your dog. Take a food box and teach your dog that oh boy, theres food in it! Drag it around, move the box around, click and treat when they eat out of the box. This teaches them that the food moves. Now, I personally teach the next step by having a dog behind the grate or gate. I show them I put food in a box by letting them see me drop it in and making sure they hear it too. Them I go hide it in the easiest spot to set them up for victory. When the hide is found, reward with more food being put in the box (and opt click). --> Introduce a search command to reinforce and to clarify to your dog over time when to search. I also have a special harness to go with this command. Slowly make the course harder and move the box back and around. Once they have had 1-4 runs with one box, use two boxes. ----> TROUBLESHOOTING: --> My dog wont take treats in boxes because theyre too tall and he/she is scared. If you have trouble with your dog being small and being too timid to climb into boxes, start with a smaller box with low sides and work up until they are confident with taller boxes. --> My dog is pooing and peeing in the middle of a session! Help? Try going outside for a potty before and after each search. If a dog excretes during a search, remove to them to avoid reinforcing it... and to of course clean it up. ---> My dog need staring at me! What do I do? You can avoid eye contact and walk away. Or even better, bang a box with your foot or pretend to throw treats to get them searching again. Move the course around. Anything that makes the search area more interesting! --> My dog is shutting down! What do I do? Find the source of the issue. If you are training with a trainer, they might be too much for your dog and they need to meet before a session. If you have too many scents in the room distracting them, that might be another source. You know your dog best, if theres a problem ask someone knowledgable for advice. -----> How do I make it harder for my smart pooch? To make the searches harder you can start making puzzles. Put a lid halfway on a box, then slowly teach them its OK to dig for the treat. Put lids on boxes. Hide boxes inside boxes, put a box upside down, etc. Introduce new types of objects like plastic buckets or a purse that have forein scents to help them learn to focus around distractions. Teach your dog to search along walls and cracks by putting hides smack against the wall. Introduce height. Put boxes ontop of boxes, but keep everything within nose reach so your dog can collect their reward! ----> ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Now, some negative places do teach nosework. If you want to find an certified trainer to help you nearby, refer to the NACSW website linked up at the top. Leerburg is the first place that comes up for Nosework kits online. As you probably know, they adovcate for shock collars and choke chains. Heres some GOOD sources for you! Sources for supplies: allgooddogs.biz/ k9nwsource/ (Personally used and recommend) Sources for clicker training Nosework: clickertraining/node/3276 coolcitydogs/blog/observations-and-reflections-the-andrew-ramsey-method-of-training-nose-work/ ---> FIN. You can introduce scents, tins, and car searches later on to broaden your experience. I have done truck searches myself, so if you guys are interested I can inform you about how to start those or you can message me about it. If a bunch contact me at the same time asking how I introduced that, Ill make a level two guide here or BCM Off topic chat.
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 21:13:34 +0000
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