Noses In Motion

11/08/2024

Dog owners from around the country have caught wind of a new sport harnessing the power of our pups'

28/07/2024

It's time to reshare this. This is the magic of Nose Work ♥

26/07/2024

Stupid people!

23/07/2024

I NEED TO FEEL SAFE!

Like all living creatures, including us, dogs just want to feel safe – it’s a basic survival need.

When we think about feeling safe it’s natural to just think about not being harmed or being in danger, but it’s not just about physical safety - feeling emotionally or psychologically safe is just as important.

While physical safety may be obvious and simpler to address, emotional safety is far more complex and not always easy to recognise or identify.

The same applies to our dogs – they are sentient beings whose behaviour is triggered and driven by emotions.

So many behaviour problems that we see in dogs stem from the brain saying– “this is not safe!”

A dog that lunges and barks or behaves aggressively with another dog or person is probably doing so because they feel unsafe. They are trying to make the scary thing go away.

A dog that is guarding resources is doing so because they are afraid that the resource will be taken away – they don’t feel safe when another animal or person approaches that resource.

A dog that is reacting to fireworks or thunderstorms or other noises is doing so because they don’t feel safe. The same can be said for separation distress – the feelings of panic when left alone – “I am not safe!”.

Some dogs may never get over a specific fear, but doing all we can to help dogs feel safe in our world is one of the most important gifts we can give them.

Our first responsibility should not be about training, obedience or trying to change behaviour, but to focus first and foremost on building trust, self-confidence, resilience, creating a safe and secure base and being the person that our dogs can rely on and trust.

In the words of Dr. Gabor Maté - "Feeling safe is the treatment and creating safety is the work".

In my words (as it pertains to dogs) – It is our responsibility to put in the work to enable our dogs to feel safe and when they feel safe, this will be part of the treatment or the solution to the problem.

24/06/2024

A big weekend of sniffing at the SA Scentwork Advisory Committee Scentwork Trial. I am very, very proud of the Noses In Motion teams who participated. There were passes, ribbons and places, but the best of all were the personal goals that were achieved. Well done team.

12/06/2024

I would like you to meet Storm an upcoming Nosework dog. She is so cute.

10/06/2024

06/06/2024

06/06/2024

June 7 is National Military Working Dog Day, and today we honour our canine soldiers and their ADF comrades for the amazing work they do in serving our country.
Over the years, dogs have played many roles in Defence including:
✉️ carrying messages
💣 detecting explosives
🔎 searching and tracking
🛡️ asset and personal protection
Their sense of smell and hearing are 100,000 times more sensitive than a human, which enables them to do some incredible work assisting ADF members in war and peace-keeping operations.
Thank you to our canine heroes. 🐾 💜

Defence Community Dogs are highly trained Assistance Dogs provided at no cost to Australian Defence Force (ADF) members who need physical and emotional support for mood, depressive and anxiety disorders, including PTSD.

If you, or someone you know could benefit from a DCD Assistance Dog, please visit www.dcdogs.com.au/apply

Improving the lives of Veterans. One paw at time. 🐾
www.dcdogs.com.au

01/05/2024

UPCOMING NOSEWORK COURSES

Needing more information email, [email protected]

16/04/2024

I believe this!! I bet you do, too 🤣

14/04/2024

A very successful day for the six Noses In Motion teams who trialled at the ANKC Novice Vehicle And Exterior, Advanced Vehicle. Passes all round. Very proud, well done.

13/04/2024

A bit of fun for the dogs

03/04/2024

Ever wondered why a puppy's behavior seems erratic during adolescence, which occurs between six months and 18 months of age?

The neurobiology of adolescence is fascinating, with some key events that alter both the structure and function of the brain.

During canine adolescence, s*x hormones are changing which effects the animals stress responses. Adolescent dogs have a decreased ability to modulate sensory processing and subsequent behavior.

The connectivity between the frontal cortex (responsible for decision making) and amygdala (responsible for emotional processing) decreases, resulting in less behavioral control.

So what does this mean? This could mean that your dog, who used to come when called, suddenly cannot. This could mean that your dog, who didn't jump up on guests, suddenly does. Your dog that walked nicely on leash is now pulling. Or perhaps it seems like some days your dog responds to behaviors you ask of them, and some days they don't, without any rhyme or reason.

We also see increased risk taking and more sensitivity to fear.

As your puppy undergoes this transition into adulthood their inner world is intense, even chaotic. Many pet owners experience an increase in undesirable behavior and find themselves becoming increasingly frustrated. In turn, frustration and impatience sometimes cause us to act unpredictably.

This adds to your puppy’s inner turmoil. When the inside and the outside are both unpredictable it can be difficult for puppies to adjust.

By understanding this we can gain greater compassion and understanding. When we approach adolescence with patience we can help create a world that is predictable and gentle so our puppies grow up to be their best selves.

10/03/2024

Encouraging dogs to sniff on walks is not only natural and instinctual for them but also has many benefits for their physical and mental well-being.

Sniffing provides mental stimulation for dogs, which is important for their overall mental health.

A good sniff also helps them to learn about their environment, identify scents, and understand the world around them. Through sniffing they can also release pent-up energy, which can help to reduce behavioural problems.

Additionally, sniffing can help to alleviate stress and anxiety in dogs, making them feel more relaxed and comfortable on walks.

07/03/2024

Wiggly nostrils, anyone?

We humans smell and breathe through the same airway. The air we are smelling is pushed back out when we exhale. Dogs, on the other hand, separate those functions: one nasal path for smelling and one nasal path for breathing. About 12% of the air inhaled goes to a specific area dedicated to smelling – while the rest goes to the lungs. And when dogs exhale, the exhaled air leaves through the slits in the sides of a dog’s nose. This arrangement not only allows for better odor identification, it lets dogs sniff nearly continuously.

Did you know that dogs can wiggle their nostrils independently? They can also determine which nostril took in a certain odor, which is part of how they locate where smells are coming from. Can you see your dog’s nostrils wiggle when they are on a sniffari?

The above information was found in this article.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/dogs-sense-of-smell/

25/02/2024

Shake it…shake it off…

A recent study by two researchers in France looked at sniffing, pulse rate, and leash length on walks. Sixty-one dogs were taken on three separate walks, five minutes each walk, once with a 1.5m leash, once with a 5m leash, and once without a leash at all (walk order was randomized for each dog). Off-leash dogs sniffed the most, more than 3x as long as the dogs on short leashes. Dogs on long leashes spent nearly as much time as unleashed dogs sniffing, almost 3x as long as dogs on short leashes.

This study also found that sniffing resulted in lowered pulse rates, and the more intensely they sniffed, the more their pulse rates lowered. Pulse rate was also lowered when dogs “shook off” during walks on all leash lengths. The “shake off” behavior was often seen when the dog’s pulse rate was particularly high.

Read more about it below!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HX77kp2HBDiTxmq/?mibextid=Le6z7H

https://www.tuftsyourdog.com/everydaydogcare/giving-your-dog-time-to-sniff-on-walks-will-literally-soothe-his-heart/

What else can we learn about dogs from their walking behavior? Take your best friend on a Sniffari and see what you observe!

12/02/2024

For those who are looking for something else fun and enjoyable to do with your dogs.

16/01/2024

Vote for Nessie.

AUSTRALIAN DOG OF THE YEAR….. 2024 FINALISTS 🇦🇺🐶🇦🇺 !

Drumroll 🥁🥁🥁 It’s time to announce the incredible finalists in this year's Australian Dog of the Year Awards! And that also means it's time to vote for your FAV AS THE PEOPLE CHOICE 🏆

Looking over all of the noble doggos that were nominated, we’re reminded once again of just how incredible our doggos are. We’ve found ourselves smiling, laughing, and even reaching for the tissues as we’ve read through the beautiful stories! Thank you to everyone that nominated.

🌟 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 & 𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄’𝐒 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 🌟
➡️➡️ puppytales.com.au/australian-dog-of-year-finalists-peoples-choice/ ⬅️⬅️

The People’s Choice doggo will score for themselves & their humans:
🥓 $100 Pet Circle Gift Card
💰 $250 donation to the nominated registered charity
📷 Photography Session with Puppy Tales & Canvas of their gorgeous dog (value $1250)
📺 Media Campaign with Pet Journo
➕ Plus the bragging rights as the People’s Choice in the Australian Dog of the Year!

We'll be introducing you to all the finalists & their stories over the coming days but you can zoom ahead to meet them and vote NOW!

13/01/2024

Nosework can also be modified for our senior dogs. My senior loves his Noseworks.

Should dogs with arthritis exercise? Of course, but modifying your dog's exercise routines is essential to the management of arthritis.

13/12/2023

RESEARCH REQUIRED!

Choosing a dog just because of the way they look.

We wouldn’t choose a partner or make a commitment to sharing our lives with someone based purely on the way they look – (I suppose there could be exceptions in some cases!)

We would first really get to know them, what kind of personality they have and who they really are before making that sort of commitment.

Yet people continue to choose dogs just because of the way they look.

Maybe they saw a dog like that in a movie that they enjoyed or maybe they just really like the way they look, without having any understanding or thought to learn about what that particular breed was selectively bred to do and what behaviour might be expected.

The way a dog behaves is not always specific to the breed. Dogs are individuals, with their own unique personality and their behaviour is shaped not only by genetics, but by specific life and learning experiences and environment, but problems can happen when the traits of that breed and their specific needs are not taken into account.

Some breeds may just simply not be compatible with a particular person or family’s needs, lifestyle, environment or expectations.

Is it fair or ethical to need to suppress, train out or even punish breed specific tendencies, calling them behaviour problems, when we hold a dog in a captive environment that is unsuitable for them.

First research the breed and learn all you can about potential traits and what to expect before making that choice.

06/12/2023

I NOSE WHAT TIME IT IS!

Dogs just seem to know when it’s time for food, time for a walk or even what time we’re expected to come home, sometimes down to the exact minute!

Yes, they may simply know this from daily routines that create predictable patterns or certain cues that predict certain events, but there is far more to this ability to tell time than the obvious reasons.

One theory is that time has a particular smell. Different times of the day smell differently. Morning smells differently to afternoon or evening.

As air heats up over the course of the day, air currents change and move around, carrying molecules of different odours with it.

These changes become predictable and a dog’s incredible sense of smell enables these odours to become their “clock”.

One example is when you leave the house to go to work, leaving a strong scent behind you. As time passes, your scent becomes weaker.

Dogs predict that when your scent becomes weakened to a certain level, it’s time for you to come home.

The level of your scent predicts the time. As dogs can detect both strong and weak scents and all of the levels in between, it means that they are actually interpreting events across an interval of time.

Another way dogs may tell time is through circadian rhythms. Just like us, dogs have fluctuations in systems like hormone levels, neural activity or body temperature and these rhythms may help them to understand the approximate time of day - just like when our stomach starts growling when it’s nearly time for dinner or we feel tired when it's time for bed.

Dogs are not the only species that can interpret time. Animals that migrate or hibernate follow seasonal cues from nature in the form of daylight and temperature to know when the time is right.

Having hundreds of millions more scent receptors than us, a dog’s amazing ability to smell is likely the reason that dogs just "nose" what time it is.

11/11/2023

10/09/2023

Only a few spots available.

31/08/2023

💙💙💙💙💙💙

22/08/2023

Don’t forget to vote for Nessie.

Please vote for Nessie in the people’s choice for the Indeed and people2people 2023 Awards Ceremony for all the hard work that Nessie is doing to locate Fox Dens along the Adelaide metropolitan and Fleurieu Peninsula coast

Please click the link below to vote for Nessie! And share with all your friends

https://www.people2people.com.au/cast-your-vote-for-2023-oztopdog-peoples-choice/217

18/08/2023

Please vote for Nessie in the people’s choice for the Indeed and people2people 2023 Awards Ceremony for all the hard work that Nessie is doing to locate Fox Dens along the Adelaide metropolitan and Fleurieu Peninsula coast

Please click the link below to vote for Nessie! And share with all your friends

https://www.people2people.com.au/cast-your-vote-for-2023-oztopdog-peoples-choice/217

13/08/2023

Great work Mandy and team

02/08/2023

DON’T FORCE ME TO BE SOCIAL!
Do we like everyone we meet? Do we all enjoy socialising and spending time with lots of different people? I certainly don’t and refer to myself as a “caninetrovert” – a person that much prefers to spend time with dogs rather than people. Maybe I’m a little different to the “norm”, but be that as it may, we are all individuals with different personality styles and social preferences.

Some of us are extroverts, gaining energy from interacting with people; some of us introverts, who find people draining and need alone time to recharge our social batteries and some of us are somewhere in between.

If we acknowledge that we are all different in this way, we also need to acknowledge and accept that our dogs are similar.

They could be overly affectionate or fiercely independent, approachable or nervous, energetic or laid back, confident or cautious, sociable, tolerant, selective or reactive.

We may be really disappointed when our dogs turn out not to be the socialite we expected them to be.

Some may even see this as a behaviour problem that needs to be “fixed”. Sometimes it can be improved, especially if the cause is from a negative experience, but genetics, breed tendencies, individual personalities, health and age all contribute to tolerance levels and sociability.

Accept your dog for who they are, allow them to choose whether they want to be sociable or not, respect their choices and never force an interaction that your dog is not comfortable with.