Canberra Nosework Training

14/01/2025

03/01/2025

When strangers touch our dogs without consent, it can be unsettling for them—much like an unexpected touch feels to us. Dogs deserve respect and agency over their bodies. Politely guiding others to wait for the dog’s signals, like approaching willingly or leaning in, helps ensure interactions are safe and comfortable.

01/01/2025

IMPORTANT

If you have booked in for a casual class with John and I in January and February, can you please email me at [email protected] with the date/s you have booked?

The website crashed this afternoon and all I was able to save was a list of names but no dates or email addresses so that I can contact everyone 😭

The website also sent automated cancellation emails to everyone who had booked - ignore these. Classes are still ON.

Canberra Nosework Training

27/12/2024

New and improved Puppy Preschool!

Puppy Preschool is something I take really seriously.
Puppyhood is a critical stage in our dogs' development, and I believe running Puppy Preschool is actually a huge responsibility. The experiences puppies have at Puppy Preschool can greatly impact their confidence and social skills potentially for life.

For this reason, myself and my class assistant Georgina (a fully qualified vet nurse) are committed to delivering a Puppy Preschool package that focuses on building resilience, relationship, and social skills and but also help puppy families through what can be a stressful time.

With the new venue, we've taken the opportunity to look at what we offer and expand on it. Our classes will now include:

-8 weekly 45 minute classes
-A Q&A session for client's specific questions
-Held at a venue specifically designed with the safety of puppies in mind as well as the ability to facilitate both play and learning
-Online resources in the form of videos and written documents, these are refreshed on a regular basis to ensure we are delivering up to date information.

If you or someone you know has a new puppy, our next round starts January 9th. We separate our classes into two sizes categories to maximise the potential of finding playmates. All details can be found at https://zddog.com.au/puppy-preschool

26/12/2024

Some of you may not know, but Amy and I are teaming up to run casual drop-in classes for teams that are already on target odour(s). Registration is available through Amy’s website. https://www.canberracaninetraining.com.au/service-page/continuing-scent-work-drop-in-classes

*Update* All classes are now full. You guys were all over it!!! 😍

Everyone has loved casual classes so much and John and I have loved teaching them!

We have set three dates in January and February, while we get planning for our block classes, and these are available for booking on the website now.

Classes will take place at 7pm on Friday 10 and 17 Jan and 14 Feb. Locations to be advised.

02/12/2024

ARE YOU MANAGING?
Are you managing your dog’s environment to prevent or improve unwanted behaviour?

As people, we tend to prefer and look for the more complicated solutions to problems. This tendency is termed “complexity bias” - the tendency to prefer complicated explanations and solutions instead of looking for the simpler ones.

Surely a complicated, time consuming, detailed solution has to be more effective, superior, impressive, or correct?

Complexity bias is so relevant when it comes to changing a dog’s unwanted behaviour. We often get so stuck on trying to modify behaviour through counter conditioning, desensitization or detailed training plans when sometimes the simplest solution to the problem lies in simply managing the environment.

Dogs will do what dogs do – when an opportunity arises to help themselves to food left on a table, to bark at the gate at anyone passing by, to have a drink from that big water bowl at the perfect height, that we call a toilet, to running off with irresistibly smelly dirty underwear, to rummaging through bins in search of anything that may or may not be edible, to running out an opened door in search of adventure - the list is long - dogs will be dogs.

Parents of little children use management all the time without giving it much thought. Baby locks on cupboards, covers on electrical sockets, valuable or dangerous items put far out of reach, fences and locks around pools, etc.

We wouldn’t just train a toddler not to stick their fingers in an electrical socket, not to open cupboards, not to touch a hot plate – it’s far safer, simpler and logical to first manage the environment, to prevent potential incidents.

The same principle should apply to managing a dog’s environment to prevent unwanted behaviour.

The more a behaviour is practiced the more difficult it is to prevent. The more a behaviour is rehearsed the better dogs become at it.

Preventing the behaviour from happening in the first place by using management is the logical, simple and effective way to address it.

Be a good manager – it’s far less stressful, for both us and our dogs.

30/11/2024

Did you know that training scentwork can have multiple benefits for your dog? 👃

Scent is such a HUGE part of your dog's life, with their 300 million olfactory receptors to our mere 6 million, and the part of their brain dedicated to scent being 40 times larger than our own. So it isn't surprising that scentwork can have a impact on our dogs behaviour.

It has previously been stated scentwork is calming for dogs, and helps create a positive bias (boosting confidence), but this latest study done at Aberystwyth University has shown it can also increase inhibitory control (self-control) and persistance in repeating rewarded behaviour!

So how can you put a little extra scentwork into your dogs life? Here are a few ideas...

🔸 Let your dog sniff whilst out on walks! This is your dog's equivalent to reading the newspaper, or even going on social media, and the only way they can find out what is going on in the outside world. Although sniffing every two steps may be a bit excessive, do make sure you aren't dragging them along past their favourite sniffing spots and maybe even point out some sniffing spots you think could be particularly good.

🔸 Use a snuffle mat or scatter feed their food! Sniffing is an inherently calming activity for most dogs AND dogs are natural foragers, so sniffing-out their food amongst long grass, or in a snuffle mat, is a great outlet for this behaviour that can even help calm more excitable dogs. You can also add a cue to this behaviour, like with any, so that they are only looking for food on the ground when you say it will be there.

🔸 Play 'Find it' games! You can hide treats, toys and even people for your dog to sniff out, which could come in handy later down-the-line when your keys go missing!

🔸 Create a 'scent-box'! If you go out somewhere, either with or without your dog, try and pick-up different objects from your time out. You can then offer up these objects to your dog later to sniff, so they can either re-live their adventure, or learn about your day.

Let us know what fun ways you incorporate scent into your dog's life!

You can check out the study mentioned in the graphic for yourself here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/428

21/11/2024

30/10/2024

Allowing our dogs on how they choose to find the hides in Nose work are giving them choices & control.❤️

01/10/2024

If you obtained your NW1 title on Sunday 29th of September 2024 in ACT, the results have been uploaded to the membership portal. Please logon to the portal and check! Click on "DISPLAY TITLES" as shown below.

30/09/2024

ACT NW1 trial debriefs. ❤️

30/09/2024

Photos of Inaugural ACT ACSW NW1 trial on 29th September 2024. Taken by Joanne Hagan.

Many smiling happy faces ♥

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=JoanneHaganPhotography&set=a.1079600460833319

30/09/2024

The Inaugural ACT ACSW NW1 trial on 29th of September 2024 is to say the least a successful and enjoyable trial. Everyone I spoke to said they had a great time. The weather was great, even the rangers came and check on us (that is another story).

I like to take this opportunity to thank you our CO, Dr Sue Town. It was a very well run trial. The searches were setup to test the handler’s skills and some complex scent puzzle for the dogs, nevertheless, they all were fun searches.

We have two lovely judges coming from NSW, Holly Floyd and Danielle Leong. You both were so supportive to our competitors and our volunteers learn something from you both. Thank you for giving up your time and travel afar for our trial.

It literally takes a village to run a trial like this. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, Jacqui , Cathy Costa, Alison Libby, Shaun Anthony, Nancye Lee, Eliza Swiderski, Joanne Hagan, Shannon, Jen Hassel, Brittany James, Jo Skimin, Fiona Brown, Janine Fabre, Haoli, Robbie and Anne Walkington.
All credits go to you, our volunteers making this an enjoyable experience for our competitors, including teams with reactive dogs. The flow were managed so well that we finished much earlier than expected. Thank you!

We had a lucky draw for volunteers that were helping the whole day. The lucky volunteer winner is Jo Skimin. She is given one free entry to any ACSW event of her choice. Congratulations Jo.

To our competitors, congratulations to you all for giving this a go. It’s no small task coming to a trial like this. Pass or miss, title or not, you know you have the best sniffing dog. ❤️

Huge congratulations to the following :
High in Trial is Michelle Wright & Bob
Second place overall is Elizabeth Donohoo & Cello
Third place overall is John Sam & Jessica
Overall partnership award go to Michelle Wright & Bob
Bravo award go to Amy Smith & Comet

I also like to thank you our sponsors for donating some amazing prizes.
The Dog Know It
K9 Nosey Parkers
The Zen Den Dog Training
Canberra Canine Training
Ina Photography
Conder House Laundry & Linen Service

And finally, thank you to Joanne Hagan for capturing this special moments for us. I am sure Joanne will let us know when she has a chance to process the photos.

Congratulations & well done everyone 🙏

29/09/2024

Today is our sweet Jessica 7th Birthday. What a better way to celebrate her birthday is doing what she love doing most, sniffing. Not only we hosted ACT first ACSW NW1 trial, she also compete in the trial. There were 4 elements, 1 hide each. She nailed all 4 searches, attained her NW1 title and came 3rd place overall (totally dog driven search). I am so so proud of her. 💕

22/09/2024

We have send out competitors information for the NW1 in Canberra on 29th of September 2024. Please check your spam folder if it is not in your inbox.

21/09/2024

As summer approaches, this is a good cooperative care training to cool your dog down.

As summers continue to get warmer year-over-year, new research from the Penn Vet Working Dog Center (PVWDC) reveals the best way to prevent dogs from overheating.

After comparing various cooling methods, researchers found when a dog voluntarily submerged their head in clean, room-temperature water to retrieve a treat or toy, they not only cooled off faster, but also avoided dangerous post-exercise temperature spikes.

“During heat stress, blood flow to the head, nose, tongue, and ears is increased,” said Cynthia M. Otto, VMD, PhD, lead author of the study and executive director of the PVWDC. “Cooling the tissues of the head allows for rapid cooling of the whole body with limited amounts of water.”

🔗 Learn how to correctly teach your dog this game-changing method by visiting: https://bit.ly/4eajKuy

17/09/2024

Remember, training is where the magic happens.