Scoping things out

[Alana McGee]

Hi Shannon,

Ashley has to check the area before she starts finding. Sometimes, she’s moving really quick (trot), other times a little slower. Occasionally, she has actually found a target and even touches it and yet she continues scoping out the area. This caused us distress at first since she did not alert, but we have learned she needs a few minutes to check the area. We can see when she hits scent. Then, when she gets to finding it can be rapid fire. Bill edited a video for the kids to watch and his comment was something to the effect of ‘Ashley has a map to the targets’. Some of the targets take a little time to pinpoint and others it appears as if she walks right up to them. She finds, alerts, I get the target, reward and she’s off to the next one. I really need to be on my toes! 🙂
Note : this is with simple hidden targets – not buried.

To us, it’s really interesting seeing how each dog has a different style for search and find.

[Alana McGee]

Hi Annie,

That is so interesting! I totally get the ‘building maps’ thought, I’d never considered that might be happening, but it makes sense.

I too find it fascinating that we can all give our dogs the same task (find truffles) and because of the nature of the work they are all able to and even encouraged to figure out the problem in their own way. When I watch Monza, Vidoc, Spring or any of the other dogs in the class they all approach the task differently. We have to become experts at listening to our dogs – that is pretty cool stuff!

[Alana McGee]

I agree Shannon, I LOVE watching all the dogs in the class. We humans approach tasks differently so why shouldn’t dogs?

Annie – i love the building maps! Ashley sounds so cool to watch hunt. I secretly hope you will take a Gold spot in December, but totally understand if you continue at Silver. 🙂

[Alana McGee]

Shannon,

We love the ‘building maps’, that is a great description.

Lois,

I would like to, but not sure yet. We are having a lot fo fun with class.

[Alana McGee]

In nosework, it is not uncommon for a dog to hesitate by a target odor and keep on going. An authority said it almost like they don’t want the game to end, so keep on going.

Perhaps our dogs are not only mapping but shopping. “Hmmm, which one shall I take first?”

I call it a “sniff-by.”

[Alana McGee]

hehehe, I love “sniff-by”

[Author]

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