Banjo checks the cone
One of the many reasons I have not been able to spend as much time blogging and maintaining this site is K-9 Nose Work. I was exposed to this sport last year via St. Hubert’s where I apprenticed and still teach. It took a little while, but I was eventually hooked. I am now teaching the classes at both St. Hubert’s and the Maywood Veterinary Clinic. I will also be offering them at an undisclosed location (that is another reason I have been a little distracted,) and I am working toward becoming a Certified Nose Work Instructor with the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW).
Nose work is exactly what it sounds like. Working with your dog, letting her use her nose. Dogs are obviously very focused on scent, and have an amazingly powerful olfactory system, but we spend a lot of time trying to inhibit its use. In Nose Work we encourage it, and this has many positive effects. While we can’t teach a dog how to use her nose, we can use it to teach her how to solve problems, an aspect of dog trai I g that has received much well-deserved attention the past few years.
(If you can’t see the videos below, you will need to visit the post here.)
Banjo Searches
Here is Banjo, a foster dog that is available for adoption, searching during week 3 of a class in Maywood. What makes Banjo a lot of fun to watch is his drive. Developing the drive to search is an important part of K-9 Nose Work, especially at the earlier stage so that later on your dog will be able and willing to solve more complex problems. Banjo is a veritable juggernaut when he searches. He’s a beagle, and searching is his thing.
Lily Loves It
Lily has the time of her life searching. While she is a little less intense, she is clearly having a great time.
Jethro has drive too
Jethro is a bit of a combo. While his nose doesn’t stay glued to the floor like Banjo’s, he is clearly on a mission. This clip also demonstrates another key aspect to Nose Work: always reward at the “source” — where the reward was originally located. Even though Jethro knocked it to the ground, he got the reward back up on the shelf.
The sport proceeds to odor (scents like birch, anise and clove) after treats are mastered, and also from inside a training room to outdoors and/or on vehicles. More on this in the future.
Interesting in taking a Nose Work class? Registration is here.
Yeah nose work! We took an introductory class at our local SPCA. I found it especially helpful to get Honey used to some objects that were scary to her (brooms leaning against the wall and baby gates). Once she’s tracking her treat, she doesn’t hesitate to go near objects that used to frighten her.
Look forward to seeing more.
I would really like to start doing nose work. I have a hound sanctuary – Beagles and Coonhounds. Talk about noses! They just need some direction; the drive and abilities are there
. Really enjoyed the videos – loved the little bay Ganjo gave on finding his reward. Lilly’s tail was telling – whipped as she looked, then calmed down when she found and Jethro is INTO this – he may not have the best nose but his enthusiasm is fun to watch. Thanks.
Great blog! I especially enjoyed “The Real Man’s Guide to Dog Training” series… I’m doing a nosework class with my 8-year old Aussie/Lab mix. It’s a great, no-impact activity for an older dog like mine, and it’s very interesting to see how he becomes quicker and quicker at locating the scent each week. It’s fun to see that he’s still having fun in his “senior” years.
Thank you for the kind words!