#noseworks

Backyard noseworks!

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A post shared by ⚠️ Scared Dog Learning! ⚠️ (@thymeforthistle) on Feb 4, 2019 at 2:41am PST

Thyme went first because he is more experienced. Thistle watched because rivalry/mimicry. Then Thyme got put in another room so he wouldn't get upset at seeing Thistle work. Hit the arrow on the right of the video for Thistle’s video.

For the next week, this is how both dogs are going to learn*:

Intro Goal: Dog is choosing between two options - the food hand or the scent hand

Calculate the amount of treats you will need for about 20 - 30 repetitions.

Both hands at dog head level - 20 to 40cm apart

One hand has target scent. Other hand has treats.

Wait. Don't jiggle the target scent although you can stare at it. Wait wait wait. Dog will investigate treat hand. JUST KEEP WAITING. Don't give any verbal commands**

When dog check's out the scent - mark verbally and give the treat AT THE SOURCE.

"Reward at Source" - takes practice, feed dog under the scent so nose is on the scent

If dog's head moves away from source, move treat hand back to waiting position.

If dog's head stays at the scent, reward a few more seconds then put hand back in waiting position.

If you run out of treats in hand, raise the scent out of reach so you don't miss reward opportunities

When you're nearing the end of the 20-30 rewards - end on a big bunch of treats at the source like a whole handful or something

Then stand up with scent out of reach. Pack scent away. Go do something else or fun and let dog think it over.

You can do it again in like 10 minutes or 10 hours or the next day it's up to you, just keep it quick and easy and always end on a happy note for your dog at this stage.

It's not a race - work at the pace for you and your dog.

Goals for this week:

Dog recognises that interest in the scent hand leads to a reward.

Dog recognises that interest in food hand does NOT lead to a reward

(don't worry about indications at this stage)

Test to see if dog is ready for next stage:

If your dog goes straight to the scent hand, without offering additional behaviours, you are ready to proceed.

Dog recognises that interest in the scent hand leads to a reward.

Dog recognises that interest in food hand does NOT lead to a reward

I have been working on extending the duration of holding their nose to the scent for about 3-4 seconds. Only difference is that today I placed the scent on the ground. 

I wasn’t going to share these video’s - Thyme’s is nothing special. He struggles with staying with the scent because he is impatient, not because he doesn’t understand the criteria. That has been a running theme with him the past few months in everything, he has become so very impatient. Practice and maturity will ‘fix’ that.

But I am sharing it because in this lesson, Thistle copied Thyme. Thistle has never dropped on a scent before!. She is a stand and point-with-nose dog. Thistle doesn’t even like to drop for obedience, I think she finds it an awkward position. But tonight, with the scent on the ground, she got to see Thyme’s full indication and when it was her turn she imitated him.

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A post shared by ⚠️ Scared Dog Learning! ⚠️ (@thymeforthistle) on Feb 12, 2019 at 2:38am PST

(Thyme’s video first then hit little right arrow for Thistle’s video)

I am so delighted at this new offered behaviour. I am a little dismayed my video recording cut out the few drops that were more like bows because I am, if not anything, weak for adorable indications.

A re-cap of the intro goals:

Dog recognises that interest in the scent hand leads to a reward.

Dog recognises that interest in food hand does NOT lead to a reward

My dog’s have got this pretty much down. If anyone is following along with their dog animals - if they don’t quite understand this concept yet, then keep on at this stage. I use a marker word. You may prefer to bring in a clicker. Or work in silence. It’s not a race.

For those who’s animals seem to be understanding, on to goal two! The most important thing after the dog’s obedience to odour - indication and searching!

Indications are important, they’re how the dog tell’s you they found the scent. You want it to be something you can clearly notice.

Thyme is a drop with his head resting on the scent. I am hoping to expand that into a drop-and-bark.

Thistle currently just freezes - not very good indicator. I am also angling for a drop since she’s copying Thyme on that.

Steps for the next week:

Scent container on ground -start at your feet

Ask animal to search (use the word once and wait)

Reward at the source/scent

Then after 3-4 rewards at it, move it 30cm and repeat the routine.

Can start building in duration if you want. I am up to 4 seconds with Thyme and 1-2 seconds with Thistle

Watch as they’re touching the scent article for other behaviour you could shape into an indication. Having it down low encourages a drop. Having it on a chair you’re not on encourages a sit. Your dog might offer some well known tricks (Thistle tries out spinning, barking and scratching in her video). Reward the one you prefer at the scent.

(Noting if you want to do comp, don’t go for scratching. Nobody wants your dog scratching their car in the vehicle searches)

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A post shared by ⚠️ Scared Dog Learning! ⚠️ (@thymeforthistle) on Feb 16, 2019 at 12:18am PST

Signs you’re ready to progress:

uomdogs Thyme was full of energy during his assessment and completed twelve consecutive runs, showing us that he can successfully detect the frozen odour while initially trained on the dried odour. Lots of stamina and lightning footwork from this young boy! ⚡️ #goodboy#springerspaniel #pupper

This is recorded in real-time, for when I tell him to start searching and when he finds the scent. 

There’s no mistaking when Thyme finds the scent :) very important to try and make the indication super noticeable. 

One of the other dogs indicates by bowing. One scratches the container. A few others drop. My other dog, who is not a suitable test subject, indicates by freezing in a stand - this makes it hard to tell when she has found a scent versus sniffing intently.

Other indications I’ve seen that pop up include barking, sitting and in the sports world a border collie who will reverse backwards to do a rear end target! Indications can take many shapes, but when shaping remember how obvious you want it to be, do you want your dog scratching (car search volunteers might not like this), freezing in place (hard to spot from handler perspective).