Congratulations to student Tessa and her Toby!
They earned their NW3 on their 1st try, with one blank search, over the weekend. They were one of the 4 teams who titled !
They also earned their L1 title.
This team was struggling at NW1 level when we started working together last year and look at them now! ❤️
#smoothcollie #utahdogtrainer #nacsw #sportdetection #scentwork #scentdetection
#utahdogs
"Not at source" is something handlers hear often, from their trainers or judges in a trial. In many cases someone does not understand target odor "behavior" (it can vary depending on the substances being used and environmental conditions of course ) and the dog isn't trusted because the human made a decision based on what they think the dog should alert on. Except, we humans still do not have "odor goggles."
This hide was set up last night to be picked from to the left of the pole, including the cracks on the ground. Mild wind pushing to the left and down. I use "tools" to make sure I place good hides or my bulldog Maggie. She is my main "tool" because I did all of her training, and she is honest and experienced.
This dog gave her the best answer based on her experience (new dog to me) and reinforcement criteria. Her handler rushed in to reward her. Based on the other dogs in class searches and environmental conditions, I believe that this pretty girl could solve the puzzle all the way. I asked the owner to wait and cue her dog to search again. I thought I saw what was going on and the dog told me I had a good guess.
Lovely girl! I am looking forward to seeing her competing with the National Association of K9 Scent Work.
#utahdogtrainer #utahdogs #austrailianshepherd #detectiondog #nacsw #scentwork
Freak is here for a Board & Train and tagged along for this weekend workshop with Jeremy of @pawfectk9
He is on his 3rd week and coming along. This boy is a green dog and needs some guidelines and time. Genetics and upbringing both matter. I like this boy! And his clacking!
#germanshepherdsofinstagram #germanshepherd #utahdogtrainer #biteworktraining
Alpacas and chickens sure are a trigger for prey-driven behavior for this boy. He shows the beginning of typical motor patterns... orient – eye – stalk. He is stopped before the chase – grab/bite – kill bite – dissect – consumption.
This is not to say that the sequence would be complete when it comes to this particular dog . It just shows a genetic disposition many dogs of different breeds have.
He recalled beautifully in the middle of the sequence and, most importantly, he took the food offered to him (Happy Howies). This dog had me so worried when he was in for a Board & Train last year , when it came to eating!
While I ask him to leave the animals alone, I also offer an opportunity to still chase and hunt.
#husky #huskyofinstagram #caninebehavior #utahdogtrainer #utahdogs #huskyworld
A triangle set up as far as hides so dogs bounced back and forth to figure out which hide they wanted to hit first and then clear the rest. Each handler's job was to notice and think about decisions if pressed for time in trial. This was class training so I asked to give dogs time to work the area the way they wanted.
This dog went up the jungle gym stairs, as well as others because the plastic area I put a hide on was the warmest of all surfaces. Dogs had to figure out they had no direct access from the top and come down and hit the hide from the bottom. Driving to source as close as possible (when possible) is the goal.
#nacsw #utahdogtrainer #scentdetection #scentwork #bordercollie #nosework #xlearningk9s #utahdogs
Something new for "garbage". He came into the room expecting to have to search for a person and he saw one and thought that was the target. Except that person had no suit, which doesn't matter to Castiel, so I asked the decoy to agitate.
Cass had a WTF moment as I pulled him back. Lots of weird things go on in that dog's mind regularly so I have to think about everything I do with him.
Held him back and asked the decoy to run away upon forward movement.
The rest is self explanatory.
#belgianmalinoisofinstagram #belgianmalinois #utahdogtrainer #boardandtrain #utahdogs #workingdog
Phebe does a great job outlining body language under environmental pressure (gunfire in the background and elevated unknown working area). That was pressure for her. What is perceived as pressure depends on each dog.
There is a big difference between the beginning of her search upstairs (new to her) and the rest of it. All searches were in a kill house with gunfire in the background. The video is a combination of what I was able to video plus Phebe's handler GoPro. Body language and speed in each search tell us a lot. Excuse my accent!
Some time ago Phebe would not want to come out of her vehicle if gunfire was in the background. A shout-out to Kristy for trusting me and the process. This team is playing in Elite right now.
#bordercolliemix #xlearningk9s #utahdogtrainer
#utahdogs #nosework #akcscentwork #nacsw #scentdetection
Atari, a young Dutchie male, decided that the path to the last resistance to source was to walk on the chairs. Personally... I love it! ❤️
I sure paid him for it. This was a new drill for him, with pods on chairs, and that is how he chose to work it. I can't keep rewarding because that team will trial at some point in sports detection, and that can cause faults or worse.
I did not interrupt the dog, at that time, because his willingness and conditioned emotional response to target odor were the priority.
Asked the handler to make a few adjustments, and the progression in just one class session on Monday was great.
#dutchshepherd #dutchshepherdsofinstagram
#utahdogtrainer ##utahdogs #nacsw #scentwork #scentdetection
Northern Utah has been slammed by winter weather lately! My classes are in real-life environments, regardless of the weather. I believe it is what teams need to be successful, including sports detection teams.
It snowed all day last Saturday and my NW3 to Elite students all showed up. I choose to least gave them some cover on top, inside of a kill house set up for active shooter classroom drills.
This Duthie was the dog in white since my Maggie stayed home. 23 degrees weather with hides that were just put out can be a challenge because of the availability of target odor.
Dog leaves the "room" once because of a hide in the lockers by the threshold. She had already called that hide and did not indicate again. Just needed to "check." A discrimination problem and deep inaccessible hide she had no issue with in this search. I have truly enjoyed building this girl!
#dutchshepardsofinstagram ##dutchshepherd #nacsw ##utahdogtrainer ##utahdogs #scentwork ##scentdetection
So many acquire powerful breeds because they "love them" or "like them" without understanding them or being willing to do what needs to be done to keep them safe and in their homes. Powerful breeds require commitment, knowledge, and some serious patience most of the time!
Me to my Malinois :" Don't push my buttons today...."
My Malinois Castiel every freaking day :
#belgianmalinois #belgianmalinoisofinstagram #utahdogtrainer #workingdog #workingbreed #xlearningk9s
