Common Scents K9

04/04/2024

This post is for all my nosework/scentwork friends. The topic - DROPPED TREATS.

This is a common problem we all hit eventually at trials. You are in a search and your dog begins searching the ground, noticeably and vigorously searching the ground. You know for sure this behavior is not your dog working odor. Your dog is working for dropped treats from a previous team who has been in the search area ahead of you.

I had someone express to me the frustration she encountered throughout a recent trial, literally in every search, because each search area had been seriously littered with treats. She followed someone who was dropping treats everywhere.
This can happen due to several reasons:

1. A poorly closed treat pouch which allows the treats to dispense to the ground as the handler moves through the area.

2. The dog drops a treat in the hand to mouth delivery payment.

3. A handler uses treats that are too small to hang on to and the handler fumbles the treat.

4. Treats that are crunchy and too large to be eaten quickly, thus the crunchy crumbles are dropped and litter the area.

5. Treats that are very moist (sopping wet) and all that juicy goodness goes all over the search area.

6. The treat is soft and crumbly ( cooked chicken) and again, those lovely bits shred and drop to the floor.

There is nothing as frustrating as having your dog working hard to find odor and then have him/her go off the searching rails to chase a tasty tidbit or several of them on the ground. This is literally a trial killer for that team. Yes dogs are supposed to ignore the tasty tidbits, but, it happens to all of us. One of my big dogs actually wedged himself under a wheel to get a dropped treat.

Now think of this- your dog finds a dropped treat near something in the search area. Do you think the hide is nearby, or did the previous dog walk off from being paid and dropped the treat away from the hide? Do you stay and ask your dog to search more intently the area near the found treat or move on? See how it can get in your head!

How can we help each other to avoid this? It is really pretty simple!

A. Use pockets on vests or jackets that can secure your treats, or use pouches with magnetic closures. Don’t use these open mouthed pouches that will not secure treats as you bend down to reward your dog.

B. Use treats that are quickly consumed and size appropriate for your dog’s mouth, and better a little smaller than larger.

C. Use treats that hold together (cheese, a piece of beef, any commercial treat that is soft but not crumbly).

D. Do not take a lot of treats into a search with you. Take only enough to cover the few hides in the search and a few extra to celebrate back to the car. You do not need a half pound of treats in your pocket for 1 or 2 searches. Reload as needed.

Consideration for the teams following you is paramount, and I always feel like good things will come back home to me if I am considerate of others.
We will drop a treat, it happens. If you know you dropped one, be considerate and pick it up, even if you might incur a fault.

15/01/2024

03/01/2024

I am finally able to sit down and begin to delve into this book. Okay, spoiler alert, I read cover to cover, every word. I read the dedications, the acknowledgements, the contents, the context. All of it.
I love the dedications but the gold star ⭐️ goes to the acknowledgements. It expresses thanks to those who founded the sport of Nose Work and how it has changed how we see our world as handlers, trainers and individuals. We view it now more as how our dogs might view it, with searching in mind.
I encourage you to grab a copy on Amazon and jump in with me. Now, on to chapter 1.

Many thanks to Sue Sternberg and Dana Zinn for sharing your knowledge and love of the sport with us!

06/11/2023

Truth!

01/11/2023

I can't take him to the beach for a walk because it annoys you and disturbs the vacation... I have no right to rent a house if I have a dog, nor can I take him on public transportation.
However, I can take it to the rubble to find you after an earthquake, in the woods after you got lost in the mountains and had no map or gps; under the snow because you took a detour forbidden off the track; in the water because despite the red flag you have entered the sea, and your life is in danger!
And finally ...
He is just a dog, but he or she will find you. And it will save you!!!

09/08/2023

🫠

Grab one of our dog sport training decals to sport at your next trial! shopcanineaesthete.com

29/07/2023

Welcome followers of Common Scents K9! This page has been up for several years and I use it to bring informative and interesting pieces I think would be helpful or enjoyable to the followers.
Please continue to follow and like!

25/07/2023

An informative video.

18/07/2023

Good points to know.

Useful information!

18/07/2023

https://youtu.be/FLH36ML8IEU

Why can a dog catch a scent from a mile away while humans track smells closer to home? On the second episode of ScienceScope, we dive into the smell behavior...

01/07/2023

It seems so obvious doesn't it, "Some Dogs Need Space". Why does your dog need space?

Fab drawing by Doggie Drawings by Lili Chin

29/06/2023

This!

21/06/2023

As many of you know, Judy has been active in the nosework/scentwork community for many years. She has hosted workshops, seminars and has been a longtime competitor and is a dear friend to so many. Please consider donating to this very worthy cause. Please feel free to share on your FB pages❤️

Click here to support "Judy Needs Our Help" by Lue Ann Lott on FreeFunder!

17/06/2023

While out and about with the family recently, I was witness to a disturbing incident where a dog that had been walking happily (off-lead) alongside its owner broke away, crossed the road and went for another dog that was walking (on-lead) with its owner.

It was loud and distressing for many onlookers, extremely terrifying for the owner of the onlead dog and embarrassing and devastating for the off-lead dog owner. He was extremely apologetic and repeated over and over “This is so unlike him! It’s never happened before!” The frustrating thing is that it wouldn’t have happened if the dog was onlead.

No doubt every owner of an off-lead dog feels confident in their dogs ability to respond to cues and is socially competent in most situations. But every single dog out there is capable of breaking position and do something out of character one day. Even the most well-behaved, perfect pooches!

Here are 5 reasons why we encourage everyone reading this to put your dog on a lead:

1) IT’S THE LAW. Unless specifically signposted to the contrary, dogs must be on lead in public areas. There are some good reasons for this – four more follow! There are also stiff fines for those unlucky enough to get caught breaking the rules. With population density growing and dog ownership exploding, it’s only fair that we start to see rules change and tighten around pet ownership.

2) IT PROTECTS YOUR DOG. There are many risks for your dog in public spaces, an obvious one being traffic. No matter how good your dog is off lead, the simplest lapse, the slightest distraction, and it can go very bad when cars are involved.

3) IT PROTECTS OTHER DOGS. Your dog may be very social. It may be extremely well-mannered. But, many other dogs are not so comfortable. It is unfair to people trying to walk their nervous dog for yours to be off-lead in their presence.

4) IT PROTECTS WILDLIFE. We are fortunate to share our suburbs with an incredible array of birds, bugs, mammals and reptiles. Many are vulnerable to attack from pet dogs and, even if your dog is truly wildlife safe and shows no interest in them, can be displaced by their presence. Keeping your dog close and under control allows them to continue to co-exist happily alongside us.

5) IT PROTECTS PEOPLE. No doubt your response to this is “My dog would never hurt a person!” And, you are probably right! But, even assuming that you’re dog is no physical threat to others, the psychological impact on those around you is impossible to predict. Cynophobia, or dog phobia can be socially crippling for sufferers, who may be uncomfortable walking out their own front gate for the fear that they will encounter dogs. The presence of off-lead dogs where they should not be makes this all the more difficult. We are proud to work with Anthony Berrick and The Cynophobia Clinic to help people conquer their fear of dogs. You can do your part by keeping your dog on-lead in public areas.

Ultimately, a dog that “doesn’t need a lead” in public spaces, must be walking right beside you, never straying away, and not rushing up to others. If this is your dog: well done, impressive work! That being said, they surely won’t notice the non-tug of a loosely held lead. Do your fellow citizens a favour and click it on!

06/05/2023

When bringing a new addition into your home always remember the 3/3/3 rules-