Search Tall

11/08/2024

I mentioned before that I was going to be running some Mock Trial NW1 and NW2 searches to support my NACSW Certifying Official requirements. Since it's summer still and hotter than ever I have decided to parse out a few elements at a time to limit the amount time working in the heat.

A day has been selected, the first elements chosen and now I'm looking for a few good dogs! This will be Mock Trial style searching meaning competition quality searches that are run blind with known number of hides(NW1 & NW2). There will be no direction or coaching but I will have small score sheets and will try to scribble comments in between runs.

So I am looking for a few good dogs to help me on part one of the Mock Trial portion of my CO Quest. In addition to search dogs I also need a Dog in White for each search, preferably at the levels being set. Please take note that if you participate your runs will be recorded and shared with the CO training review team but not publicly shared. You may also self record your own runs with a personal recording device like a GoPro or smartphone.

September 1st is the date, $15/dog!

Please FB message Search Tall if you are interested.

04/08/2024

It's rare but it happens sometimes...I have a few openings in my classes.

If you are interested contact me!

04/06/2024

Couple of exciting Search Tall announcements:

First a shameless brag: Swagger completed his NW3 journey earning his NW3-Elite in Alabama a few weekends ago along with some old and new friends. Never thought he would be Elite and Elite-S eligible before he was two! Looking forward to things to come with my young star searcher.

The next bit of news is that at the beginning of the year I embarked on another new ride and entered the NACSW CO training program. I decided to keep this mostly to myself until I was further along with the training. I heard back recently that I passed my CO test and was greenlighted to the next segment of training which is Mock Trials for NW1 and NW2!

I haven't quite decided when I will be able to do these Mock Trial searches yet, but they will most likely be weekend mornings. Thankfully I don't have to complete all searches for either the NW1 or NW2 levels all in the same day or with the same teams so that helps with both the summer heat and scheduling people to participate.

The mock trial searches will be run blind with no coaching or feedback, just like an actual trial. Please let me know if you are interested in helping or if you have access to interior areas that could be used to search.

08/05/2024

Intro Classes starting in June at Jupiter-Tequesta Dog Club and just a couple spots remain. These classes will meet on Saturday afternoons but not every week.

Class Schedule:
June 1 - Class 1
June 8 - Class 2
June 15 - NO CLASS
June 22 - NO CLASS
June 29 - Class 3
July 6 - NO CLASS
July 13 - NO CLASS
July 20 - Class 4
July 27 - NO CLASS
August 3 - Class 5
August 10 - Class 6

Contact me ASAP if you are interested via FB Messenger, [email protected] or text 561-203-5664

26/04/2024

AKC SW Trial Judging assignments for the rest of the year:

Scent Work Club of Ocala June 22-23 County Fairgrounds with AC crating space so you can enjoy searching without worrying about the summer heat, open for entries NOW.

Doberman Pincher Club of Florida August 24-25 National Guard Armory in Crystal River, opens July 10th.

Jupiter-Tequesta Dog Club's first SW trial October 26-27, opens September 18th.

25/04/2024

New Classes at the beginning of June and will be held on Saturday afternoons. I am still working to finalize the class schedules and meeting times.

Beginner Nosework: Intro to Odor - For teams with no experience in nosework(or teams looking to restart from the beginning). Dogs will be introduced to odor in the first class. Over the following classes we will continue to build value for odor and for the search. Odor kit required for class.

Novice Nosework: For teams new to searching. In this class teams will be building experience working single hides searches.

Classes fill quickly so if you are interested in signing up please contact me.

13/04/2024

Spatial problem solving is an essential skill for all search dogs. Not only do these types of training searches help dogs learn how to work elevation and depth problems it really boosts self confidence.

Jupiter-Tequesta Dog Club(JTDC) recently purchased a number of Klimb platforms, in Jupiter Lighthouse Red, for classes. They have been such a fun teaching tool for dogs of all working levels and especially so for some of the more enviro-aware dogs.

All current nosework classes at JTDC are full but over the summer I will be starting some Saturday classes, including Intro classes!

10/04/2024

Private Lessons and Coaching Availablity

April and May will be busy for me again but I do have some availability for lessons and coaching sessions.

If you are interested message me on FB or text me and I will try and get you on the calendar. Times are limited so don't wait!

09/04/2024

Rare opening in one of my Tuesday night classes at Obedience Training Club of Palm Beach County. Session starts 4/23. https://otcpbc.org/class-registration/?class_select=7790

28/03/2024

NW3 is a much different journey with Swagger than it was when I finished it with Raleigh and Cash back in 2020.

The trials are far less predictable than they used to be and it seems like there are just hides that I didn't see at all in the past.

I have been to multiple trials now with not just one three hide search but two and even one with two three hide searches and a blank area.

Elevations are a thing, both high and crack hides, and distractions in containers have also made a strong comeback.

I like the direction NW3 is taking, presenting more challenging hides and problems to get you geared up for Elite problems. Now that there is a chance for a Qualifier in NW3, allowing for making just one mistake in a day, it has helped to keep the fun in the level with the added challenges.

This is Swagger's interior search from Starke on Saturday. First time I have seen this type of close converging odor problem at NW3 myself. Although he didn't nail them back to back he still worked them nicely with no question in his mind that there were two hides in this problem. Unlike Swagger I didn't expect this hide placement and I am very happy with him blowing me off and continuing to solve this problem and also finding the third hide in this space which was an added coverage your area hide.

07/03/2024

It's the height of the trial season here in the South. If you are looking for Privates this month I only have two days available for coaching and training.

Contact me if you are interested!

07/02/2024

Huge congratulations to Duke & Marjorie, Tally & Karen and Remy & Diana for their fabulous work at the NACSW NW3/Elite trials in Brooksville this past weekend hosted by Hoppin' in the Hills.

All three teams really put in the work and it shows.

Team Duke found their last perfect day at NW3 earning NW3-Elite and 2nd overall. Welcome to the Elite level!

Team Tally found their first perfect day and came away with NW3 title, 2nd in their Container search and Vehicle and Exterior Element Specialty title!

Team Remy had a fabulous day searching at the Elite and cashed in enough points for their ELT3 Title and are now closing in on ELT-CH!

Congratulations again!

18/01/2024

For anyone that are TFR(Trained Final Response) Curious this is the webinar for you!

Starts soon and is recorded if you are unable to watch live or to refer back later. You will not be available for purchase after the webinar is over however.

Should I train a TFR on my dog? Find out how to make this important decision and more with Robin Greubel of K9 Sensus Foundation

10/01/2024

Really happy I got to run Cash at an Element Specialy Trial last weekend.

Since he finished his ELT-CH last year he hasn't had many chances to play outside of training. Cash really does love the game and searching novel areas is one of his favorite parts. I always say I get the best search intensity from my dogs in novel areas. Just a little bit of curiosity in the space goes a long way.

The L2I was fun for both of us. I liked the variety of the search areas and time pressure. We had small and busy, large and sparse, small with funky air flow and large with funky airflow and thermal problems.

Cash have very nice clean runs and came in 3rd Overall.

3rd Overall - Tampa, FL

09/01/2024

I have been lucky enough to run multiple trials this season with Swagger as FEO(For Exhibition Only). FEO is a non-titling run but is phenomenal for practice due to the novel locations for searches, trial setting and CO placed hides.

Notice I said practice and not training; that is how I used my day. At NACSW trials now you can ask for information about the searches even if not FEO and this turns a testing or practice day into a training day.

Very proud of Swagger for being one of only THREE dogs to pass all of the searches for the L2C this weekend in Tampa, hosted by Diane Dubose/Hoppin' in the Hills. If he had been a eligible for a title he would have come in 3rd Overall.

Not sure how much longer FEO spots will be a thing at trials in Florida but I intend to take advantage when possible.

01/01/2024

Cheers to a New Year to be filled with adventure!

30/12/2023

Got together with good friend Stacy Barnett to train all seven of our dogs, NW3 level Swagger, Elite dogs Prize, Why and Raleigh and Summit seekers Cash, Brava and Powder.

First time we have met up since I traveled to Indiana for a training week at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center hosted by K9 Sensus back in May. While there I keyed in on food play one of my group members was practicing with her young SAR prospect. It really resonated with me and I decided to make that a key component bringing up Swagger. It was so great for him I decided to incorporate into training with my experienced search dogs, Raleigh and Cash. Each has their own jam when it comes to food play.

Stacy got to see our food play gains in person and said people need to see this. She wrote a blog about it and included some of our videos.

I hope this inspires people to step out of their comfort zone of one quick piece of food at a hide and move on.

Never stop playing!

Stacy Barnett, founder of Scentsabilities Nosework, is a top competitor, international clinician, AKC Scent Work Judge and FDSA instructor.

23/12/2023

Taught the last classes of 2023 in Jupiter last night.

I was curious so looked back at my calendar and I taught 40 different classes this year! That is a ton of planning, search area building, hide setting, coaching and feedback.

Sometimes I do get to play with my own lovelies and yesterday I took them all out in the morning before work for some fun. We channeled the power of single hide searches, an often over looked training strategy that helps build clarity, skills and motivation. I'm really happy with Swagger on this one, this is a very high traffic dog walking area with just about every corner, bush and blade of grass having been utilized by dogs on their walks.

14/12/2023

In 2016 I volunteered at my first NACSW trial in Jacksonville, FL. The following year, in May, I participated as a competitor with Raleigh in a NW1. It was the first trial held locally for me. I loved it and immediately started to look for more trials for Raleigh and also Cash who I couldn't help but start.

If I wanted to keep climbing the levels the reality was I had to travel. I have spent the last few years chasing around trial opportunities across FL, GA, NC, VA and AL. Some thought and still do think I am crazy and that is fine. Nosework is my hobby and I really enjoy the chase and challenge and as a result most of my vacations are Nosework trials or training weekends. I don't know how many miles we have driven on all of our adventures but Cash finished his ELT-CH, Raleigh is now a handful of points away from ELT3 and baby Swagger just earned a qualifying leg towards NW3.

There has been a significant increase in the number of trials being hosted but many still do not fill. This creates some challenges for hosts financially since many costs are fixed prices regardless of number of entries and for trial volunteers since most locals are entered the pool of volunteers is low. Always, always thank your hosts by volunteering and take advantage of running FEO when you can.

Florida is still a growing region in regards to NACSW. I was curious what the trends of trials in Florida actually looked like over the years. Luckily NACSW trial calendar is forever and you can see all that data. I pulled all the trial data for Florida and broke it down to see how things have grown since the first trial in 2013.

03/12/2023

I am teaching a fun 3-week class at Jupiter-Tequesta and there just might be some open spots!

Class Description:
Scent Work Mini Sampler:
Each week teams will be presented with a different challenge to teach and strengthen searching and problem solving skills.

Weekly topics include:
-Distance and Independence
-Working through Distractions
-Converging Odor

Classes will meet 12/7, 12/14 and 12/21.

Message me if you are interested!

Photo Credit: Louisa Arendt Photography

11/10/2023

Nosework can be just as fun with your older dogs!

Last chance to get tickets to Senior Sniffers webinar that is about to start. Can't stay up to watch live? All good, there will be a recording emailed shortly after but you need to purchase before it's over.

Nosework has always been known as the perfect sport for senior dogs. Find out how to bring the best out of your senior k9 partner.

07/10/2023

Are you working an older dog in nosework?

Join Kayla Dever, a strong competitor and friend of mine, this Wednesday for a webinar all about senior searchers.

Nosework has always been known as the perfect sport for senior dogs. Find out how to bring the best out of your senior k9 partner.

27/09/2023

All you short dog handlers out there this one is for you!!!

Tonight I will be presenting a special Searching with Shorties webinar on Pooling & Trapping Odor. This is a tricky problem that all dogs encounter while searchingbut can especially difficult for short dogs and their handlers to work through.

Purchase your tickets here --> https://shorturl.at/hjBN4

Join me tonight at 8:30PM to learn all about Pooling & Trapping Odor geared towards smaller dog. Set your team up best with some teaching and training tips to help you feel more comfortable working these problems and calling these hides in trials.

Unable to watch live? No worries the webinar will be recorded so you can watch later BUT you have to purchase before 10PM, don't miss out!

Don't have a small dog and struggling with this problem? Guess what... there will be a ton of content appropriate for dogs of all sizes.

25/09/2023

Excited to be presenting another Scentsabilities Nosework Training and Stacy Barnett hosted webinar geared to all the short dog handlers out there!

This time we are going to talk about Pooling & Trapping Odor a scenario all dogs face but can be more difficult and time consuming task for shorties. Sign up to go into some more details on this specific topic and get some insight into how to teach and train your dog on this complicated problem.

Please take note you MUST register in advance, even if you cannot attend you will receive the recording after the webinar. There is not an option to purchase after the event.

Are you working smaller dogs in nosework? The size of a dog DOES play into how they experience odor in an area and solve odor problems.

22/09/2023

Keep your eyes peeled for a special announcement coming soon!