X Learning K9s

This girl's family was crying when they left her here today. Yes, that is part of why this dog cannot function anywhere, and the reason I do board and train programs away from owners and then work with them together. At the same time, they care about her and managed to get their finances together to get her with me. I see less commitment from big-name trainers who go from one dog to the next like they are just getting rid of a thing and not a living being. During the consult things were not so mild. She looked strong in her aggressive behavior, because she was with her people. Her left paw up, staying in one "corner" and eye blinking say so much about who this dog is, once I was alone with her. It is simply fear. I got her :) #utahdogtrainer #pitbullmix #boardandtrain #utahdogs #pitbullmixes #caninebehavior

Hide sat there for 10 minutes, buried 3 inches in about 28 degree weather and no wind. Everything stays low on the ground. Dogs started following my tracks, until those tracks were everywhere. Sport dog trials aren't held in this kind of environment, but I like to work dogs past that. Handlers had to let their dogs choose where to move, and cut the area in rectangles when/if needed. These guys are good hunters! #australianshepherd #bordercollie #bordercolliemix #utahdogtrainer #utahdogs #akcscentwork #nacsw

This HRD (Human Remains Detection) dog is part of a local team, and that is a nice Ducthie. They just need help problem-solve some issues, especially in a different environment they usually work in. Target odor is target odor. And human remains are not always out in open areas. #dutchshepherd #dutchshepherdsofinstagram #hrdk9 #utahdogtrainer #utahdogs #xlearningk9s

Love the enthusiasm in my students, both the canines and the humans. These are "just" pet dogs working and honing their hunting skills. :) #dutchshepherd #dutchshepherdsofinstagram #utahdogtrainer #australianshepherd #poodle #cattledog #xlearningk9s

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