10/04/2024
After judging at the 2024 Labrador Retriever National Specialty I saw a ton of things that I'd like to share with the scent work world at large. First among these is how lucky I am to get to judge so many dogs I've never seen, and then also a few I have.
When you're judging a two day event it's nice to judge Novice through Masters in Exteriors and Interiors, on Day #1 before judging Detective Day #2. Judging this way allows you to get a sense of the type of dogs, handlers, and teams present at the trial and then adjust your hide placements and expectations for Day #2.
The common theme from both days was Skills Development. Although there is no "AKC" way of training for trials, there are trial standards to assess teams against. What's missing is a connection between those standards and some of the skills necessary to succeed.
Here are some skills that can help along the path from Novice through Detective.
1. Handler situational awareness. Handlers must start to discern what productive search areas are and how to assess them from a 720 degree perspective (up, down, left, right, front, back, and all around). For example, if you are searching an Interior space the floor is the foundation of that productive area. What is it made of? Is it carpet, tile, cement? Is it cold to the touch? Don't forget; ***Cracks are in play!*** Floors meet with the Walls at 90 degree angles and create areas where odor comes to rest, channels, eddies, and gathers. Are there doors or windows on the walls? Do they seal completely or are the observable gaps? Up from those walls is the ceiling. Ceilings are where heat rises. The higher the ceiling, the more air it can take in and the more turbulent that air can be. What is the roof constructed of, metal, tile, wood, shingles? What its made of can absorb heat raising the heat and creating a turbulence moving and attracting odor. And final what's the weather outside and how does it effect the structures heat. Then there's the items and furniture in the space. Do you search from item to item or any number of potential search area strategies? All this can be assessed quickly from the start line. And all of this can't just happen. Trialing and trial success starts with hide placements that mimic trial expectations. Hides do two things at once, teach the dog and the handler. It's a two part reinforcement event, the team learns from them.
2. Start line behaviors. Having a process that lets the dog know what to do. This allows for you and your dog to take a moment to get your bearings. This is as much for you to breath and take in the air flow, and whole environment before you start. Your dog does the same thing. Choosing to switch from your obedience tools to a set of search tools can happen here to be sure however, give your dog a second to process the space and for your to breath and balance your thinking.
3. Leash work. Having good complimentary leash skills that don't interfere with what your dog is doing. Don't change leashes the day of trials. Use the same tools that you've habituated through training. Managing a leash starts with choosing the right leash for the task. Preferences aside different leashes have different applications. Long lines are nice for open spaces like Exteriors, or large Interior spaces. Near containers, a long line may get caught up on the boxes so be mindful of how you'll choke up on a leash. If you're going to loop in your hand like a lasso, just be prepared to manage it an real it in and out as needed. This takes a ton of practice. Also be mindful of what your leash is made of, Nylon and Biothane are my favorites now. If you're looking for one leash to rule them all, a 10' leash can be a good choice. Keeping the leash off the ground as best you can is a great goal. Truly you want to ensure the leash doesn't get hung up on things. You may even consider a "RETRACTABLE!" The horror!!! Also be mindful of leash pressure and its impact on dogs. When you're searching make sure you can see your dog and don't turn your back on them. The best position to handle a scent detection dog is behind the plane of the shoulder. This puts you in the best position to observe the dog and being able to see behaviors when they're offered. Learn how to match their speed, pace, and how not to impact their freedom to work.
4. Be open to seeing Mackenzie's Eight scent-work indicators. The only way to be open to these is to put yourself in the position to see them. The BEST way to do this is record training sessions and review them. Then you truly learn to read your dog. 1. Pull
2. Nose Height
3. Tail Carriage
5. Breathing Cadence
6. Circling
7. Crabbing
8. Head swing (Nose anchor)
Courtesy of Steve White and his https://youtu.be/btiOlqq0ETM?si=jgBGaHlQwCA4Yzlc Thousand Hours Eyes Presentation.
5. Be a supportive and good team mate. From the start line allow your dog to choose where to go. You may have an idea in your mind, but don't forget they have the nose. Be flexible enough to let them work things out. Search area management is the Fleshy part of the leashes job, the fuzzy part they're there to sniff. Work together. Our job is to plug the holes in the search with our influence. Dogs can't do it all on their own. Yes the BEST dogs can. However, sometimes even the best dogs need help.
6. Finally, be kind to your dog. LOVE your dog, and trust your training. If your dog is searching and showing avoidance behaviors during the search know this is a reinforced behavior. Don't forget that at the end of the day dog sports are supposed to be about sharing time with our dogs. Some competitors come to trials and forget that no one at the trial wants to join them in being mean to their dog. Having negative thoughts about what you did is one thing. Stating how your dog is dumb, the "B" team, and not any fun to work, doesn't endear you to the judges and staff. On the contrary, it makes us wish that you get the day and trial outcomes you deserve.
These are just a few thoughts from this weeks trial.
