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Activities for NOses

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Finvarra:
Following on from Alan's post in the Toys thread about the sniffer dog. Dylan is not a great one for toys, he likes his little,squeaky and his tea towel, but he doesn't really play much with cuddlies. If you throw a ball or kong he will chase it but not bring it back, once he has got it he loses interest. He likes to chase things, like seagull or crows. But he loves loves loves to find things, we hide things around the house and he turns from a fairly laid back lad to a waggy busy hoover until he finds the prize. I was wondering if there was any activity we could get him into that would utilise this. Obedience doesn't appeal, and I don't have the energy for agility  :005:, and we don't shoot. But I would love to get him involved in something bigger than just finding treats at home, that would utilise,his brain and his nose and his desire to find things. Any ideas, anyone?

Lesley and Dylan

bizzylizzy:
Humphrey's exactly like that and we've been looking at some dog clubs here that do Man Trailing or scent trail rallies, which I might have a go at in the spring. OH gave me a book on scent trailing for dogs for xmas - only haven't had a chance to look at it yet but will let you know if I find any good ideas in there.....!

lescef:
This is very much Maddie too, prefering to sniff.
There are scentwork groups around but they seem to be predominantly in the South of the UK but appear to be spreading a little.
 I'm on the Wirral and have just signed up to do a scentwork weekend in April.  However, it is expensive and at the moment there isn't enough uptake but I'm hoping it will take place.
It's with Talking Dogs Scentwork.

AlanT:
I looked at this:
http://scentworkuk.com/

Also this is a nice friendly person who does scent training:
http://helengreenley.co.uk/

But I'm a loner and quite happy to do blind retrieves and underwater retrieves with my dog, for half an hour or so most days.

On our 10pm bedtime walk, I leave the dog in the house and hide a ball up the street, in the bushes.

Ten minutes later we come out ON LEAD and run full pelt until we find it. Make no mistake this is exciting.
By this stage I really don't know for sure where it is.

Rarely do we make a U-turn and go back to find it. Suddenly it's just in the mouth.

I will have made right-angle turns, gone round corners, behind bushes etc.
I am in awe how the dog can do this.

It's eerie. Like he can read your mind or see though walls.

I can see that in the forest I turn up leaves, disturb fungus and mark a nice route, but on a wet pavement, streets with the odd car passing. How much track can a rubber street shoe leave behind?

I know from experiments that he must be within 10 feet to actually scent the ball. But he does finally home in by doing this.

A great sight is to hide the ball 5-6 feet up in a tree. He will do his best to climb that tree.

When I come and knock the ball out for him to catch it, you can see the sense of satisfaction and achievement he gets.

I'd encourage everyone to try these games. It has helped with guarding problems, recall, leave, stay and all the usual training stuff. To hide and find you need to also do these other things.

Finvarra:
This all looks very interesting and a lot of fun. Been googling it and there are a few different 'clubs'. The nearest Talking dogs one to me is the Isle of Mull, which is a bit far!! A good site I found is called Tracklines, some good info there. I'll see if I can find anything more local. We live Ina quite an isolated spot, so I do enjoy meeting with other dogs and doggy people. We have finished our puppy classes now, Dylan is fine with all the basics, and some tricks, but I miss the classes, and I think this would really stimulate him and be good for both of us. I've hidden things round the house and garden, but never out on a walk.

What was the book you got, Jayne?

Your dog sounds amazing Alan and must have a lot of fun.

Lesley and Dylan

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