Mountain Nose Work - Mountain Dogs

10/23/2024

RATE OF REINFORCEMENT- Its not new theory- its basic to dog training and especially Nose Work and Scent Work. Are you reinforcing the odor your asking your dog to find ? Is your RATE AND VALUE of reward sufficient FOR THE complex ODOR puzzle your dog is solving. Do you train ODOR DRIVE to gain confidence and consistent searching ? Take a refresher and read up on Matching Law- its what rewards me for showing up to work in the job place for my first cup of coffee = paycheck plus coffee ! Its what rewards our canines for seeking out target odor- BAC- on Q tip - paycheck of cheese and sausage plus praise and play !

Matching Law, this law of effect not only directly influences the animal’s behavior, but also the efficiency and accuracy of our training.

10/23/2024

Turn On your search with ODOR DRIVE !

10/01/2024

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2252973/episodes/15851715

Week Four: Meeting Expectations with Success - In this EPISODE- our final in the September Trial Hosting Series- jumps into getting your trial site approvals with NACSW or HOW TO pull in great AKC Judges with clear plans & photos! With guest S...

10/01/2024

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2252973/episodes/15851597

HYJACK THE PODCAST - SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER- TRAINING TO TRIAL

ITS A HYJACK !

We are hijacking todays podcast to talk about our September to Remember and all the great TRAINING and TRIAL experiences with GOALS met and new ones SET.
Our Co-Host Aleks Woodroffe with Release Canine is featured to tell us her Summit success from Estes Park CO September 27-28 2024 culminating in a Summit Title and 1st Place overall for Aleks and her wonder pup Tana. Team Tana has faced challenging odds this trial season with a cancer diagnosis that so far has been met with good results YET forged a GOAL for Aleks of NOW or NEVER.

Listen to not only the Story of Summit Success but lots of training nuggets for any scent sport dog team with goals to develop trial level search skills and find their own success.

Team Tana is pure joy in motion. A spectator asked while watching the team search, is that dog a puppy- she has so much fun energy. Now THATS the JOY of
SCENT DETECTION sport dog searching !

CONGRATULATIONS ! This lifetime "bucket list" is CHECKED as DONE and Done Well. This is not a brag tag podcast- its heartfelt and full of good train to trial and trial to train tid bits.

ENJOY THE JOY !

09/18/2024

OUR September Week 3 Host Support Podcast IS READY FOR YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE !

HOST SUPPORT- Its a Deal ! Negotiating your BEST Site Use contract!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2252973/15774989

09/09/2024

Amazing experience at PA Nosework camp with my fellow instructors and passionate campers with their Nosework dogs. I’m so fascinated by our K9 partners and love sharing my crazy love for this sort with others. Deep gratitude to all the campers and your willingness to immerse yourselves in Nosework and trust your learning to the entire staff of instructors - so appreciated!

08/29/2024

If a reactive dog snarks at your wonderful calm on leash dog and the reactive dog handler asks for space - please don’t yell at the crazy mutt team and tell them they need more control ! BE KIND - space is an EASY gift !

08/29/2024

DO YOU SPEAK DOG ?
K9 Scent Fix Podcast Part One and Two posted for your listening on demand !

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2252973/15653827

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2252973/15664024

DO YOU SPEAK DOG ? "Hey- the hide is HERE !!!" Learning to read our dog working ODOR is no easy task. Our next PODCAST will jump into the deep end and explore Canine Communication ! Everything from our dog's communication of odor, to environm...

08/28/2024

SUMMER SNIFFING FUN
Thanks everyone for an amazing summer of fun filled trials in Colorado and aboard the USS Hornet. Big Shout Out to all the Officials- Judges- Score Room Leads- VCs- Volunteers and Handler- Dog Teams. You all make Mountain Dogs Trials AMAZING and MEMORABLE !

08/22/2024

DO YOU SPEAK DOG ? "Hey- the hide is HERE !!!"
Learning to read our dog working ODOR is no easy task. Our next PODCAST will jump into the deep end and explore Canine Communication ! Everything from our dog's communication of odor, to environment, to distraction and more from search start or release to search finish and search reward.
In our TRAIN TO TRIAL & TRIAL TO TRAIN series we have explored the concepts of source and sourcing, odor pathways, handler observation and Tools to Trial by. Our next series is to TALK COMMUNICATION. Dog to Handler, Handler to Dog and Team Speak !

Everything we DO, everything we SAY and even what we THINK, FEEL and SEE is part of the communication process from start line to finish between ourselves and our dog as a nose work team when we train and trial. To say communication is KEY is an understatement. Lets explore this fun topic and unlock our TRAIN TO TRAIL and TRIAL TO TRAIN potential in our next podcast and beyond.
JOIN US LIVE - Monday August 26 2024 at 4 pm via ZOOM to participate in our Podcast discussion and recording !
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84506521645?pwd=vs9spYwa07WY8tDW9AD224DdZdJ6bS.1

LISTEN ON DEMAND- Wednesday August 28 2024 via your favorite Podcast App or at https://k9scentfix.buzzsprout.com/

08/07/2024

Holly Bushard in Workshop with Mountain Dogs !

Super Sniffing Excited. Kremmling CO September 23-24 2024 !

Focused Problem Solving- Workshop with Holly Bushard sponsored by Mountain Dogs LLC

Join us Monday September 23 2024 HALF DAY 1 pm to 4 pm and Tuesday -ALL DAY 9 am to 4 pm at the Kremmling Fairgrounds in Kremmling Colorado.

Selected Working Teams - Working Dog Entry
Unlimited Audit Entry

Sign up now at mountaindogs.org Events BUSHARD IN KREMMLING workshop.

FOCUSED PROBLEM SOLVING IN SPORT DOG DETECTION NOSEWORK !
How do we train handlers, our dogs and ourselves to become better problem solvers at all levels including HOW to support our dogs -WHEN and WHERE !
Join us with Holly Bushard in hands on coaching for select working teams with detailed learning and demonstrations on HOW we can improve our problem solving as a TEAM in Nosework. Select working teams include lower levels PLUS Elite and Summit !

"Problem solving may be the most important skill set for all levels of learning and especially for the training to trial nosework team. Its a challenge to build this skill set on our own ! We can all benefit from the passionate and skillful coaching of Holly Bushard ! "

08/07/2024

SEPTEMBER TO REMEMBER WITH MOUNTAIN DOGS !

Hey Everyone !

We have an exciting September coming up with lots happening in Meeker and Kremmling Colorado followed the next week with our Summit Trial in Estes Park !

Check it all out at https://mountaindogs.org/events/

Also be sure to check out the USS Hornet event vibes and search fun on August 13 2024 POSTED from Alameda Harbor aboard the USS Hornet on our Smugmug page at https://mountaindogs.smugmug.com/USS-HORNET-ALAMEDA-CA

Remember you can always DRIVE AND LISTEN to our podcasts as well.
https://k9scentfix.buzzsprout.com/

Hope Your Summer Is filled with Scent fun and see you all this Fall !

Keep On Sniffin
Jill Kovacevich
Mountain Dogs LLC

08/02/2024

There are times in our lives that are milestones, not just the ones that we remember the time and place something happened but those when we look forward and say "Wow- we made it ". Zeke turns 4 years old tomorrow and this is one of those day -Made It days. After Digger- ELTCH passed with HSA, I toiled if the next pup could BE all "that" dog I hoped for in nosework and in life. Zeke IS all THAT dog. Happy Day buddy- you are my sunshine !

07/31/2024

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2252973/15510881

In our TRAIN TO TRIAL & TRIAL TO TRAIN series we have explored the concepts of source and sourcing,  odor pathways, handler observation and Tools to Trial by.Now its time to TALK COMMUNICATION. Everything we DO, everything we SAY and...

07/23/2024

NEXT PODCAST- JULY 29 2024-
ZOOM RECORDING- JOIN US LIVE !

AVAILABLE FOR LISTENING July 30 2024 !
https://k9scentfix.buzzsprout.com
or by using your favorite podcast app !

Topic : COMMUNICATION IS KEY !

In our TRAIN TO TRIAL and TRIAL TO TRAIN series we have explored the concepts of source and sourcing, odor pathways, handler observation and Tools to Trial by, to name just a few.
Now its time to TALK COMMUNICATION.

Everything we DO, everything we SAY and even what we THINK, FEEL and SEE is part of the communication process from start line to finish between ourselves and our dog as a nose work team when we train and trial. To say communication is KEY is an understatement. Lets explore this fun topic and unlock our TRAIN TO TRAIL and TRIAL TO TRAIN potential in our next podcast and beyond.

JOIN US for the live PODCAST and participate via chat or live in this robust discussion on Monday July 29 2024 4 pm MT OR TUNE IN for the recorded podcast released for LISTENING on Tuesday July 30 2024 on your favorite podcast app - Spotfy or Apple.

Send us an email with your Scent Fix Wish List !

or Join US LIVE for Podcast recording on July 30 2024 4 pm MDT via Zoom

Jill Kovacevich is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Jill Kovacevich's Zoom Meeting
Time: Jun 3, 2024 04:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
Jill Kovacevich is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83709356437?pwd=AL6CAq9hUS222jR1dvOwv9XxsJCicT.1

Visit US anytime at:
Mountain Dogs LLC- https://mountaindogs.org/
Email: [email protected]
OR
Release Canine- https://www.releasecanine.com/
[email protected]

06/04/2024

FIND YOUR FIX ! JUNE PODCAST AVAILABLE !

Hi Everyone in Mountain Dog Country !
Our JUNE 2024 Find Your Fix podcast is up for your listening pleasure !
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2252973/15192464

Its a really great conversation about Pairing and Markers as a resource for your nose work training and trial success !
Have fun and of course- GO TRAIN !
Jill Kovacevich - Mountain Dogsand Aleks Woodroffe- Release CanineYour Podcast Hosts
--

Mountain Dogs LLCJill E. Kovacevich, CNWI
[email protected]

In our TRAIN TO TRIAL & TRIAL TO TRAIN series we have explored the concepts of source and sourcing odor pathways with keen handler observation and the needed goals and resources for training competent skill sets to thrive in training AND in tr...

06/02/2024

Amazing ORT in Grand Junction yesterday hosted by Mountain Dogs with CO Cathy Vito- PCO Chrystal Freeman and Laura Tyler Judge saying YES to all our wonderful dogs and their handlers! I’m IMPRESSED with every team - these dogs are ODOR driven and did wonderful searches for source over and over. The western slope of Colorado hasn’t gotten the cred it deserves for dogs leading their handlers to source time and time again. Watch where we go from here! Keep it up - to all our Mountain Dog teams - YOU ROCK including every team that traveled to join our Mountain Dog family again !

05/28/2024

TO PAIR OR NOT TO PAIR - TO MARK OR NOT TO MARK - THAT IS THE QUESTION !

NEXT PODCAST- JUNE 4 2024- AVAILABLE FOR LISTENING
https://k9scentfix.buzzsprout.com
or by using your favorite podcast app !

Topic : PAIRING & MARKERS- TRAINING TOOLS for dog and handler.

In our TRAIN TO TRIAL & TRIAL TO TRAIN series we have explored the concepts of source and sourcing odor pathways with keen handler observation and the needed goals and resources for training competent skill sets to thrive in training AND in trial. Along this training and trial journey we (handlers and trainers) use numerous tools to build skill sets and clarity for both the dog and the handler. TWO IMPORTANT tools often used that directly relate to SOURCE, are pairing (food or toy at source) and markers (verbal source locators). Lets discuss the INS and OUTS of these TWO TOOLS and how similar and how different they actually are or may be !

JOIN US for the live PODCAST and participate via chat or live in this robust discussion on Monday June 3 2024 4 pm MT OR TUNE IN for the recorded podcast released for LISTENING on Tuesday June 4 2024 on your favorite podcast app - Spotfy or Apple.

Send us an email with your Scent Fix Wish List !

or Join US LIVE for Podcast recording on June 3 2024 4 pm MDT via Zoom

Jill Kovacevich is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Jill Kovacevich's Zoom Meeting
Time: Jun 3, 2024 04:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86077973709?pwd=Rb9ES04pf0iIAVt2B4vsF4qXod5phl.1

Visit US anytime at:
Mountain Dogs LLC- https://mountaindogs.org/
Email: [email protected]
OR
Release Canine- https://www.releasecanine.com/
[email protected]

05/21/2024

MONTROSE TRIAL GRATITUDE !

HOW DO WE SAY THANK YOU for the Trial Days that marked the amazing Teamwork of so many ? This sport is so much more than we often realize bringing all of us together to share the gift of our Canines and their amazing skill sets along with their handler teammates !

Special Shout Out to our Mountain Dog Teams reaching NW3 Elite- Marcia Heckard and River and two of our teams reaching Elite Champion Nancy Schmidt and Sage and Gay Austin and Hattie. It feels like ages ago we started nose work with your pups and then it seems like just yesterday. Amazing teamwork for each of these kind, wonderful handlers and their dedication to learning and growing as a team with their dogs.

As Marcia put it - BEST DAY EVER ! Well done !

BIG PAWS UP to EVERYONE for an amazing and exciting Mountain Dogs NACSW™ Montrose Trial at the Museum of the Mountains West.

Big Thanks to the Museum and Carol and Richard Fike and their wonderful facility and museum staffing ! Big Thanks to our wonderful CO Jo Trent-thoughtful, encouraging and just fun !

Big Thanks to our host crew and all our teams and my big hug Thanks to Lotten Bishop and Zach Kidwell, Judges. We love our Mountain Dog Officials and Judges and Host Crew.

Thanks to all our wonderful Volunteers- staying pawsitive and keeping the trial moving. Well done team. Thanks to Jen Fleming our SRL and her well oiled SR Team. You rocked it AGAIN !

And our VCs and Stand In Hosts - Marcia Heckard, Laine Greenhill, Cathy Vito, and Gabe Shalley. Along with Parking Lot Captains -Kevin Niderwerfer, Jean Meckstroth and Kathyrn Moore for efficient herding of the teams !

Big congratulations to all our competitors who traveled east or west to Montrose ! CONGRATULATIONS to all our competitor teams and their wonderful K9s !

Thanks for supporting Mountain Dogs !
Onward ! Lets all keep on sniffin in 2024 !Jill KovacevichMountain Dogs andOur Host Team
--

Mountain Dogs LLCJill E. Kovacevich, CNWI
[email protected]

05/06/2024

APRIL PODCAST IS NOW AVAILABLE !

TO REWARD OR NOT REWARD- THAT IS THE QUESTION - GOT THAT ONE !How do we train MOVING ON v REWARD AT SOURCE in training ? Does this change for trial day ? Does our dog have clarity of a prior found hide or prior found odor ? Is this a handler const...