The Scholarly ScentZ, LLC

08/22/2024

NEW UPCOMING EBOOK: Catalog of Odor Puzzles to be released on Augsut 31st.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a resource which listed all the various odor puzzles we can offer our dog when training Scent Work? Look no further than this helpful eBook.

Additionally, the appendix will offer a blank training log you may use to keep better track of what you have tackled in your training.

TOPICS COVERED:
- Container Odor Puzzles
- Interior Odor Puzzles
- Exterior Odor Puzzles
- Vehicle Odor Puzzles

PRE-ORDER THE EBOOK HERE: https://www.scentworku.com/odor-puzzles-ebook

RELATED SEMINAR
Odor Puzzles: Training and Trialing Seminar with Dianna L. Santos scheduled for October 19th at 12:30PM PT/3:30PM ET

This seminar will offer an in-depth look at each of these odor puzzles, considerations when training, environmental factors, skills and much more.

REGISTER FOR THE LIVE SEMINAR OR ORDER THE SEMINAR REPLAY HERE: https://www.scentworku.com/odor-puzzles-seminar

Happy Training!

08/22/2024

I love the SAC! Zuri is a NSAMx3 title holder and I hope to make that 4 once I get some downtime! It's a great way to build up your dog's foundational skills sets in the sport!

08/21/2024

Last night marked week 5 of our vehicle focus session... the foundational teams got introduced to the concept of searching multiple vehicles after building solid pattern searching behaviors, the cars are now valuable!

In our more advanced class, we introduced the concept of non-traditional vehicles! I am thrilled to have access to these things for my students.

I am looking forward to week 6 with my students as we wrap up this session and I take a much needed break to prepare for the ORT and mock trials!

08/17/2024

The NACSW Education Division's Instructor Certification Program was developed to ensure a standard and quality of instruction that adhered to the founders’ original concepts of training that relied on dogs’ instinctual independent hunting and puzzle solving skills. Today there are instructors in...

08/16/2024

Good luck to everyone getting out there with their dogs competing this weekend! Remember to have fun and put your dogs on the special pedestals they belong on! They don't know you paid to play 😊

08/16/2024

When you have a young dog that’s loaded with natural ability, you have to constantly remind yourself not to push your dog too much. Because your dog is making so much progress and learning quickly, it’s easy to fall into the trap of training too much too soon.
Sometimes handlers mistake talent for maturity and continue to ask for improved performance when their young dog isn’t ready for it. This can include working too long, asking for too much pace, too much precision, extending outruns, driving too far, putting your dog in with testing sheep, pushing your dog off, etc.
While it may result in your dog being successful in the nursery, that same dog, because too much pressure was applied too soon, may not be competitive or sometimes even keen, when they’re 7, 8, 9 or 10 years old.
You have to respect your individual dogs maturity and mental fortitude, (irrespective of his ability), or risk ruining him. Being patient and making learning intuitive and fun when your dog is young leads to having a positive, enthusiastic sheepdog when he’s older.
—Patience prolongs performance—
You’ve got the rest of your dogs life to work on the finer points, you’ve got this moment, while he’s young, to foster his initial enthusiasm.
Getting a dog to work the way you’re asking isn’t remarkable. Getting a dog to WANT to work the way you're asking is the key.

Patricia Alasdair MacRae

08/13/2024

The best way to learn more about Nose Work (especially if you want to improve as an instructor and practitioner in the sport) is to watch teams work! Barns And Noses, LLC are a great host and could use some volunteer support at their trial.

This is a free lesson set by NACSW CO's who are highly knowledgeable in the sport and will help you only to become better.

You'll see great handling, handling errors, and everything in between!

My observation hours and spending hundreds of hours volunteering at trials has yielded a great return to the quality of instruction I can provide to my own students.

So take some time, even if it's a half day, to volunteer. Volunteers are essential for hosts to provide opportunities and I can't strongly encourage people enough to get out there and volunteer 1 day at a trial, not only will it make a difference for you, but it will be a huge help for the host.

08/12/2024

Got a sniffy dog? Check out our August scentwork workshops! We have one for beginner pups and one for experienced dogs. Learn more and sign up here: https://conta.cc/3SK9u3K

08/11/2024

SAVE THE DATES!

Distraction Camp: July 7-11, 2025

Intentional Handling & Hide Setting: July 21-25, 2025

Registration goes live January 5, 2025

Location: K9Sensus Foundation, Lucas IA

08/11/2024

A great line up of webinars coming up from Scentsabilities Nosework Training!

August has REALLY heated up! My schedule for this month is on the books...

TONIGHT!! 8PM Eastern: WEBINAR "The Nose Not the Feet: Fixing That Box Smasher".... understand and address that box smashing habit and avoid costly faults. This includes HOW TO train a nose freeze indication.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-nose-not-the-feet-fixing-that-box-smasher-tickets-970828633577

AUGUST 15 9 PM Eastern: WEBINAR: Using Scent Theory to Your Advantage. Hosted by Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.

Register at: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/self-study/webinars

AUGUST 15 LAST DAY TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES!!
NW101S: Introduction to Nosework
NW265: Nosework Small Space Skill Up
NW380: Developing your Trial IQ – Reading the Nosework Dog

More Information: https://scentsabilitiesnw.com/online-classes/

AUGUST 22: The Judge's Eye: Steps to Success in AKC Containers with Ana Cilursu
Registration coming soon!

AUGUST 29: The Human Half: Developing Good Handler Foundations
Hosted by Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, Registration coming soon!

08/11/2024

A huge congrats to two TSS teams that attended today's NW3 trial in Fort Wayne, IN!

TSS student team Jenn and Dove earned a leg and also earned their final NW3 Element title (the NW3-V) and also a 2nd place overall in the Interior search! Only 1 leg to go for them towards their NW3-Elite title!

TSS instructor team Zuri and Anita also competed where we earned a leg at today's NW3. We're inching closer with only one leg to go to make history for her breed earning our NW3-Elite title!

These two white dogs and their handlers have become the best of training partners! I am thankful to have Jenn as not only a training partner but also a parking lot buddy! She convinced me to get back in the saddle but also to keep striving to the goal!

08/09/2024

Becoming a better trainer and handler is often separated by the details.
Many trainers work towards the same goals using different methods. When the situation is difficult or a dog is under adversity, the quality of your work and the attitude of your dog, reveals the effectiveness of your process.

How you train and your success as a teacher is not only the method you employ but how you go about it, including your mindset, effort, communication skills and patience.
A dog’s ‘try’ and heart is ultimately a reflection of his desire and enjoyment.
You can often tell from a dogs attitude if his training was positive by how he reacts, especially in challenging situations; if he's happy to fulfill his commands or if he responds with sullenness or avoidance.

Dogs can be trained with many different styles and techniques.
There is a big difference though between a dog that has been trained only through drilling and a dog that has been trained intuitively.
When the work is enjoyable and the task is fully understood, it becomes your dogs idea to want to please.
When he is mentally invested and you have a connection, you get his heart and a partnership is formed❤️

macraeway.com

08/09/2024

There is so much to be said about latent learning!

If the dog isn't getting there... stop trying to force it to the point of drilling for perfection. I'm pretty sure if you let them sleep on it, chances are the success rate will go up.

I know people get frustrated, we're humans afterall, but it is so crucial that we honor our canine partners and the learning experience.

A couple weeks ago I was working with a dog that wouldn’t run out to the right.
On that day, we did not try for the outrun, but only to get her dog to stop looking at the sheep at the start of the flank at hand.
The next day her dog nailed a small right hand outrun.
A few days ago, I worked with handler trying to get his dog to walk more, instead of trot.
We never really got the walk on that day, but his dog did get to where he was stopping much more quickly.
The next day, getting pace was pretty easy.
Alasdair and I do this type of work quite a bit …there are times when communication is fostered by purposely not pressing for the goal you’re actually after that day, but instead, by taking out what is getting in the way of it.
macraeway.com

08/07/2024

I went up to Mt Pleasant for the first time Every Dog Nosework presented there and I can tell you it was a FANTASTIC location if your dog cannot handle large seminars! The people were great and so supportive. If you have a dog who is sensitive this is a great location! If I didn't have a conflict I'd be signing up, Kayla and Samantha are so knowledgeable and provide such great information!

If you're in central Ohio and would like to see Kayla and Samantha back here for another seminar please let me know! I would be happy to bring them back if the demand is there!

Excited to go back and hang with our friends at Mount Pleasant Nosework Club with 2 new single day seminars! Come learn and play with us! They have one working spot left each day and lots of room for auditing! Auditing is the BEST way to see all of the teams work, listen to all of our instruction, and get the opportunity to ask your questions!!!