Nosework (6/32)

Class was very interesting last week.  We started with a huge exterior, then did a vehicle and finished with two water searches.  (Gimme will never be an underwater-cadaver search dog)

Exterior 1 video - We had a HUGE search area with just 3½ minutes to find two hides. I decided this was a perfect time to use my 25' line. My memory of this search had me RUNNING with her the whole time, while the video shows I broke into a trot very briefly one time. This is why it's good to video. Gimme does a nice job and covers a lot of area quickly. As we were looking for the second hide, even though she was scanning around the hose area, it was really clear she hadn't made any decision. There may have been a bit of fringe from the hide, so it would be possible to sell her on a false alert. Still it's nice to see her make the decision to move on and then find it on the vent.

Vehicle 1 video - Most dogs got stuck between the two vehicles, whereas Gimme went so fast she went right by that and ended up on the side where the hide was. Watch her overrun the second bumper hide and you can see where the odor was going and why the other dogs got stuck in the middle. When we moved to the trailer, Gimme spent a bit examining the whole back end of it - the other dogs were stuck on the hitch. She had no problem going under to where the hide was on the axle. We followed with a discussion about when it is and isn't okay for dogs to go under a vehicle (or anything else)... it's a safety call. In this case the trailer was high enough so it was safe to go under.

Floating hide 1 video - The hide was in a little floating container. Gimme sniffed in the pool, then moved away. She came back quickly when she got past it on the other side. She's absolutely certain she shouldn't have to get wet to do nosework.

Submerged hide 1 video - Gimme really wanted this to be a high hide and resisted anything to do with the water. I think it just took her awhile to decide she could indicate it without the horror of getting her feet wet. The "look" I got early on was because there was a leak on the left side of the pool with water squirting out. I'm sure the squirt smelled like odor. Later she paws at the side of the pool where the squirt was. Then she stretches her neck out as far as she can to get her nose right over the hide and that I accepted. She has stepped in water deeper than this, but it definitely wasn't going to happen this day.

I just love watching her explore and think things through.