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The Adventures of a Blind Scent Work Dog

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The Adventures of a Blind Scent Work Dog

Riddle is a border collie that went blind at an early age. He now competes in scent work!

09/16/2024

The Dog-On-It October Scent Work premium is attached! Oct 11 -13 in Daytona FL. We had a SPOOKY good time last year! Come join us!!

07/28/2024

Lots of great news to share!
Riddle has really improved over the last week or so. He seems to be regaining hearing in his left ear, his navigation is improving AND I competed with him this weekend in scent work! At this point I'm thinking it was a small stroke and he is now healing from it, so I'm super hopeful.
Both dogs were amazing this weekend. Friday, Phoenix was 3/3 (2 firsts and a third place) AND was Master level High in Trial! Riddle was 2/2 (both seconds and only 2 because I had reduced his entry in case he wasn't ok to show), finished his Excellent Buried Title AND that completed his overall Excellent Title. Both dogs are now Masters level for all classes.
Saturday, Phoenix was 2/3 (both first places) and finished his Master Container Elite Title (10 qualifying scores in Master Container searches). That is the highest level title for that category. Riddle was 1/2 (second place) which adds to his count for an Excellent Elite Title.
Sunday, Phoenix was 3/3 (2 firsts and a third). Riddle was 3/3 as well and was Excellent level High In Trial!! A month ago I was so afraid we would be losing him, and to see him shine today was so so happy and exciting.

07/09/2024

There is no real update on Riddle's condition. We still aren't sure what's wrong, although it appears to involve hearing in his left ear. We did get a course of steroids to help in case it's an inner ear issue, but I would not say we are seeing a real difference after one full week. Sometimes we think we see improvement, but I'm not sure if it's just wishful thinking or that he is starting to compensate for whatever is wrong. He still runs into everything - walls, furniture, fences, etc - and now moves very carefully which he never did before. If he could see we probably wouldn't even know something was wrong, as he would compensate with his vision. So whatever is going on is actually kind of subtle and the doctors don't really see it, because they don't know him and can only go by my description of the sudden change in his behavior. His cranial nerves all seem to be fine, he is not head-tilting, walking with a lean or limp, and other than his confusion and some worry when he's walking around the house, he is fine mentally.

We spent all day yesterday in Gainesville and he was examined by several Drs including another neurologist. At the moment he is scheduled for a Baer test for his hearing July 31. But it isn't for another 3 weeks and it still wouldn't explain WHY he was fine one day and not the next. They may still choose to do the MRI but that would even be further out. I am torn over getting the MRI or not, and if we are going to do it I may go back to Blue Pearl and pay the extra to get it done sooner. If it was something like a stroke, I'm concerned that the longer we wait the less likely we will see anything. If it's a tumor, then obviously that would still show. If it's anything else in his skull - something auditory or even nasal - I don't know. And of course, many of the potential outcomes aren't "actionable" but we spend a lot of time worrying about him so it might be worth putting some worries to rest.

We have a scent work trial approaching and I'm trying to decide if he can do it. I use sound to help him search - I snap over the top of containers and use a little jingle bell to help him move in the right direction. I'm going to do some testing today to see if he can handle some searches.

Anyway - many asked for updates so just keeping you all in the loop!

07/02/2024

Riddle is facing a pretty serious challenge at the moment. (I'm including his picture doing scent work for the smiles.)

For those of you that know him, especially if you've watched him in our house or watched him do a scent work search, you know that - while he is fully blind - he is an amazing navigator. He has an uncanny ability to find his way around, runs through the house with confidence and runs full speed in the backyard. Also, when you speak to Riddle, he turns and "looks" at your face so accurately I often get asked if he is really blind. Last Saturday (June 22) he did a Detective Scent Work seminar and even successfully completed a very large search area packed with items OFF LEASH.

On Wednesday of last week (6/26), he was totally normal. On Thursday I put him out in the back yard in the morning and he couldn't find his way back to the house. He was lost and kept moving the wrong way. I called him and he turned the opposite direction. Once I got him in the house, he couldn't find his way around. He walked into corners and couldn't find his way out. He walked into walls and furniture. No matter what room he was in, he was lost. And if I called him, he couldn't find me. It seems that overnight he may have lost hearing in his left ear, as he turns to the right at every sound. He can hear, as he can perform a behavior when you ask, but he can't tell where the sound is coming from. He does not head-tilt or walk lop-sided. He did walk in circles, but not in a neurological way, but (we think) because he couldn't figure out where to go. He loves to offer "sit pretty" as a behavior, and the first time he tried, he fell over. Now he's not offering or just a really low lift off the ground. I want everyone to know that other than being confused and a little worried when he's moving around, he is otherwise healthy and happy. He still tries to get you to tug with him.

We took him to a neurologist on Friday, and we have it down to one of three causes. Brain tumor, stroke, or an inner ear issue. They wanted to do an MRI and scheduled it for Monday (yesterday). We met with a second neurologist on Monday (the first dr was out on Monday) and talked further about tests and actionable outcomes. If he has a brain tumor, we won't have it operated on. Likely it would not be possible anyway, and even if it was, we feel he would never be the same again. We would take him home and let him live his best life until he is negatively impacted, and then let him say goodbye with dignity. If he had a stroke, most dogs recover in 3-4 weeks, and there isn't anything to do but wait. If he has a problem with his middle or inner ear, the normal course would be corticosteroids. This is actually the only actionable diagnosis.

So I asked the doctor to just treat it as an ear issue to see if it resolved rather than doing an MRI that mostly doesn't help us cure him but rather just satisfies our curiosity. (Not that it's a matter of money, but the MRI alone is $5500 - 6500. I would pay that much to cure him, but if what he has is not curable, then there really is no point. If the only actionable diagnosis is ear, then go that direction and then wait and see. A stroke will improve on its own, and a tumor will get worse.)

We started the steroids yesterday. No change yet but it's too soon, so we wait. His bloodwork came back today and he's 100% normal.

So at the moment, we don't know what his future holds. Fingers crossed he regains his hearing or heals from whatever is happening.

06/26/2024

Still spots open for the Dog-On-It Scent Work Trial held at the Obedience Club of Daytona's indoor air conditioned space in Daytona FL July 26 - 29, 2024. Judges are Lind Bara-Weaver and Wendy Hudson. Escape the heat and have a fun time with your dog!! We are offering all classes except Exterior (too hot!!), but including Detective and Handler. See premium attached here:

02/01/2024

The February 23 - 25 Scent Trial hosted by Dog-On-It and held at NorAust K9 Agility Club of Mid Florida (AKC) is still open!! The premium is linked below. Please come join us for lots of nosey fun.

11/27/2023

Dog-On-It Agility Club will host an AKC Scent Work trial on February 23 - 25, 2024 at NorAust in Lady Lake FL. Our judges are Carolyn Dostal and Wendy Hudson so it's a fantastic line up! Premium is linked below and entries open THIS FRIDAY Dec 1. Hope to see you there!

09/18/2023

Thanks to the Obedience Club of Daytona for a great scent work trial! Our first event since June and the boys rocked it. Many thanks to Wendy Hudson and Lind Bara-Weaver for being amazing judges! They are so supportive and always educating along the way. The ocod club has too many people to thank - they worked so hard to create an amazing weekend!
Phoenix was 7 for 8 with three 1sts and three 2nds. He finished his Excellent Buried title.
Riddle was 6 for 8 - had a rocky start Saturday morning with two rare misses, but then clicked after that and ran perfect! He had two 2nds, two 3rds and a fourth place. He finished his advanced interior title, advanced buried title, and advanced container title! This also finished his overall advanced level title!
Next trial will be in October and it will be my turn as trial chair! Between our Dog-On-It volunteers and the wonderful peeps at Daytona, we hope to have just as great a weekend!!

07/30/2023

Had such a fun day at Orlando Dog Obedience Club at a scent work Seminar taught by Natalie Duberow! So many great tips and improved mechanics. Riddle and Phoenix had a great time!!!

06/25/2023

Two awesome weekends at Scent Work trials. First was St Pete Dog Fanciers. Both dogs finished titles and Riddle completed his Novice level title (completing novice level in all 4 elements).
Yesterday we got one day in with the Scent Work Club of Ocala and again the dogs did amazing work. Phoenix finished his overall novice level title with a first place in novice interior (and got a nice big ribbon for it!!) Riddle completed his Excellent Exterior title (3 hides which he found in 54 seconds for a second place!) and was 4/4 for the day!
Thanks to judges Wendy Hudson, Natalie Duberow, and Judy Leitzsch!

05/14/2023

Riddle and Phoenix had a great weekend at our first ever CPE Scent Work Trial! Riddle's ribbons are the top row, Phoenix's the bottom row. Both finished their Level 1 titles and earned lots of legs towards their Level 2 titles! Overall we qualified in 17 out of 18 events. Riddle was 8 for 8 and Phoenix was 9 for 10.

The highlight search was Riddle's Level 1 Vehicle search. He found the hide in .59 seconds - you're reading that right - just over half a second! The software wouldn't allow a time score that low so they had to record him at 1 second! I knew he was in odor at the start line and when I cued him to search he bolted forward and alerted immediately.

Riddle continued to amaze in every search!

04/23/2023

Thanks so much to Natalie Duberow, the judge at the NorAust Scent trial on March 15, for supporting Riddle and I and for filming two of our runs. She took the videos with her to her seminars in NEW ZEALAND and this is what she wrote to me afterwards:

"The video made waves at the workshops and helped to change their mind to allow blind dogs to compete. Thank you so much!"

It warms my heart to think that Riddle's work helps other blind dogs and their owners pursue a sport that enriches their lives.

Here is the Advanced Exterior search Riddle did and she filmed. (Listen to how WINDY it was, and Riddle still nailed it!)

04/20/2023

This is a fun training idea! I hope to try it soon and will share video when I do.
Have similar fun ideas??? Please share!

04/20/2023

Here is a recent Advanced Interior search Riddle did. 3/15/23 at NorAust in Lady Lake, FL

04/19/2023

Welcome! (and Please Read!!)
This page is dedicated to sharing information, training tips, and success stories in scent work, especially with blind dogs. Anyone is encouraged to join and share their scent work training ideas (whether your dog is sighted or not), ask questions, and celebrate your successes!!
Riddle, my black and white border collie, was born sighted and trained in agility as a young dog. At 1.5 yrs old he was diagnosed with PRA. He had to stop agility and by 3 was fully blind. Then at the age of 8 we discovered scent work and Riddle was thrilled to once again have a job! He is now 9 and is doing an amazing job in scent work.
Phoenix, my 3 year old red and white border collie, is visually normal and competes in scent work and agility.
I will be sharing lots of cool training ideas for all dogs along with special things I've taught Riddle that help him to succeed. I would love for you to share your scent work tips, tricks, successes and stories too!
Off topic posts will be removed - Let's keep this about Scent Work!!
Diane Lewis

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Sanford, FL
32771

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+13213771049

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Videos

Thanks so much to Natalie Duberow, the judge at the NorAust Scent trial on March 15, for supporting Riddle and I and for filming two of our runs. She took the videos with her to her seminars in NEW ZEALAND and this is what she wrote to me afterwards: "The video made waves at the workshops and helped to change their mind to allow blind dogs to compete. Thank you so much!" It warms my heart to think that Riddle's work helps other blind dogs and their owners pursue a sport that enriches their lives. Here is the Advanced Exterior search Riddle did and she filmed. (Listen to how WINDY it was, and Riddle still nailed it!)