Introduction to Clove & Nose Work in the Rain

At Pongo's class last Monday, he was introduced to clove - the third and final odor in nose work.  As I have mentioned before, it is easy to introduce a new odor once your dog has learned one.  You simply pair it with the known odor.  After doing vehicle searches outside, some with birch and some with anise, the instructor had us come inside to introduce the dogs to clove.  When introducing dogs to odor, she always goes back to using boxes.  There were approximately ten or twelve boxes in a ring, and one of them had a tin with birch and a tin with clove.  Both tins were in the box.  This is called pairing. Each dog was given a chance to find multiple hides with the boxes before the end of class. Then we were each given a ziploc bag with six cut Q-tips scented with clove oil to practice at home.

I purchased two small tins with holes punched in the lid from my instructor.  The lid slides open and there is a magnet inside so you can attach it to anything metal.  These are great for vehicle hides, but also stick to the refrigerator or metal table legs, etc.  I purchased mine from Pongo's nose work instructor for convenience, but you can get them for about half the price online.  Official products can be purchased at: http://www.allgooddogs.biz/products. 

This week Pongo and I practiced with clove by pairing it with birch, each odor in a different tin, but placed together.  Instead of getting out the boxes that we practiced with while we were training for his ORT (I had broken them all down and put them away), I simply placed the two tins together in different places around the living room with a treat.  Pongo's new nose work instructor says that you should pair odor with treats about 75% of the time to keep your dog interested.  Previously, I was pairing much less than that, thinking the goal was really not to pair with food very often. 

Today, Pongo had a nose work date at noon.  We met two of my colleagues from work and their dogs for vehicles and exterior searches.  Pongo had never been to the house we met at and the driveway was gravel.  At first, he was very distracted and it took a while before he began to work.  It is always helpful to be able to have someone else watch or video you, as they may notice and be able to point out things you are not aware of.  My friend Mary noted that Pongo didn't seem to like the gravel and was walking like it hurt his feet. This made so much sense to me when I thought back to other times that we worked on gravel, but I had never really noticed. 

  Here, Pongo details the rear bumper.

Pongo sniffs the wheel well.

Pongo is rewarded at the source of odor for his find.

Lincoln, a Papillon, is an avid agility competitor who loves nose work, too.

Update: December, 2013 Lincoln earned his Masters Agility Champion (MACH) title.

To view his performance, click on the link here:

 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-6mTSGLAu-i5xugNUCibPKQhM9JCedqX

Daisy, a Chihuahua-Papillon mix and agility competitor, searches the wheel well.

It is exciting to watch dogs of all breeds enjoy and excel at nosework.  We were outside for nearly two hours this afternoon, taking turns with four different dogs - Pongo, Daisy, Lincoln and Crosby (pictured in my last blog).  The rain went from a light drizzle to a steady downpour.  Practicing in the rain, I'm told, is very important as you can't control the weather the day of a trial.  Dogs often fail at trial when it rains because they didn't train in the rain.  Well, that won't be a problem for Pongo!  Here in the Pacific Northwest we do everything in the rain.  And the rain has never fazed Pongo.  He'll stay out in the rain for hours!

I am so thankful to have a group of friends who are doing nose work with their dogs.  It is furthering my knowledge by watching them work and by having them watch me.  Thanks Mary and Ellie!

I always come home with a happy dog and that's what it's all about.