Nosework (2/31)

We had a skip week scheduled since our last class, then last week it was only Dorothy to instruct us and she was sick, so we ended up with a two week break.

The first two searches were set up so we could watch our dog's behavior as we approached the startline... They were based on something interesting Dorothy saw at a recent nosework trial where she was the certifying official (CO).

Vehicle 1 video - This first search was set up so we would approach on a path parallel to the startline, which was also parallel to the two vehicles set up in a staggered overlap. We were instructed to walk the full length of the startline (marked by cones). You'll see Gimme wants to cross the grass headed straight to the truck. It could have been odor blowing from the truck's rear bumper hide or the car's far front wheel hide blowing under the truck. She gets the truck bumper hide in under 20 seconds. The other dogs got the other hide first. She was just as fast getting the second hide. She wasn't the only one to show interest in the bumper of the car - we think the shape of the molding above the bumper may trap scent from one or both of the two hides.

Vehicle 2 video - We again approached on a path parallel to the startline and the truck, while the car was moved to a position perpendicular to the truck. Gimme again wanted to cross the grass to enter the search area, but didn't pull as hard. She went past the bumper hide (actually in the electrical hookup), but quickly turned back to it. The hide on the car didn't move, but leaving the wheel turned made for a very different search. This search was almost 30 seconds faster than the first time.

Vehicle 3 video - This time our approach was straight to the startline. Dorothy turned the car around so the hides on the front wheel well and the bumper were pretty close to each other, about five feet. Gimme chose to go all the way around the car before going to the truck's bumper - probably because of the angle she approached the startline. After she went around the truck and came back to the area between the two hides, I stood in front of the truck bumper hide, blocking the hide and disrupting the converging odor pattern. Ordinarily I wouldn't do so in practice, but I figured since she already found the truck hide, I might think to block it if it went like this in a trial. From the moment I stood in front of the truck-bumper hide until Gimme found the hide on the car was 7 seconds. She cut the overall search time by another 20 seconds! Really nice given this included a converging odor puzzle.

Vehicle 4 video - The last search was on the big truck. Gimme was dragging me to it well before we even got close. The hide at the front wheel was a challenge because the spacing was so tight and Gimme went a bit past it, then couldn't turn around. Fortunately backing up is her special power, so it wasn't hard, it just surprised her. The second hide wasn't hard, but Gimme tried to give me a close-enough indication. In a trial it probably would have been accepted, since we're only talking six inches between the source and the step below it. Gimme wasn't wrong, the scent was falling on the step and her nose was only inches from the hide, but training for accuracy is always a good plan.

In May, we have trials every weekend, three weekends are for nosework trials. Two of the weekends are for three AKC trials and we are on the waitlist for a fourth - so it's a good chance we'll get some titles there. We also have a weekend of UKC, with a lot of titling possibilities. The other weekend is barnhunt - 8 classes in two days. The first weekend in June is a three day seminar with Sil Sanders on TDX tracking, which is why I've been working so much on aging Gimme's tracks. We're gonna be busy...