Nosework (5/33)

The searches for this evening were all vehicles outdoors. As we head into the season for inclement weather, Dorothy is trying to make use of outdoor search possibilities when we can. It gets dark really early, so it's not easy to see on the videos.

Vehicle 1 search video - These were all inaccessible hides. The first hide on the pickup truck was centered under the truck and Gimme made her decision in 31 seconds. The second hide was centered and high on the back of the cab, between it and the bed of the truck. It took Gimme 1:40 to make a decision on this hide. When she finally figured out where it was, it was further complicated because she could only get one foot on the little phalange. The last hide is inside a sealed compartment. Note she is just snooping along as we head to the other vehicle and then her interest level suddenly increases. You can't really see once we move to the side where the hide was, but she's working seams and edges until she makes a decision. It takes her 1:20 to decide, 3:50 overall.

After the searches I got my little flashlight and checked out the compartment. As I expected, it has a drain hole dead center, which accounts for a couple of the dogs spending time detailing the underside. Gimme didn't, she stuck to seams.

Vehicle 2 search video - This time the hides were moved to be accessible. Gimme's first find is under the running board of the pickup truck. There's an interesting moment when she reacts to all the scent left from the prior search, but then she dismisses it and moves on. The second hide was under the step on the big truck. I don't remember where the third hide was and it's too dark to see on the video.

Exterior 1 search video - The hides are all moved off the vehicles and into the area nearby. The first hide she finds is just laying on a tarp about 4' from the prior hide locations. It takes her a little bit to decide this is not a vehicle search and then she has to search for it, which is complicated by all the lingering odor from prior searches. Second hide is in a concrete utility box and the third was in the stack of wood pallets. Once Gimme confirms they aren't vehicle hides, she quickly finds them.

Interestingly, the new novice dog who joined our class was much faster. She didn't have any assumptions to overcome.