Blogs

My new puppy Drac joined our family about 8 months ago and I’ve been reflecting on how each new dog changes us and how we adjust to the new addition.

In the sport of Nosework, I've been noticing more and more dogs finding and then leaving odor. There can be many reasons for this, some more obvious than others. One reason a dog may leave source is picking up another scent cone if multiple hides are placed in the...

I've been continuing to build Drac's value for odor, alternating between simple interior hides and containers. I recently introduced him to vented cardboard boxes and was using them in simple searches with just a few containers. ORT stands for Odor Recognition Test...

A very important stage of learning is generalizing a behavior in new environments and/or with new conditions. With initial behavior training, you usually start in a familiar environment without distractions.  If I only train in my living room, will my dog perform the...

Three weeks ago today I started my new puppy on Nosework.  That's a very short amount of time but in dog training MUCH can be accomplished.  I've been trying some new tactics - adjusting things for a puppy but also upping the ante when I felt he was ready. If we don't...

It seems not a week goes by without reading or being asked if Nosework interferes with other scent sports, whether being tracking, scent articles or more recently field hunting. We've all heard these types of concerns before with other sports. I was told by a...

I started Drac on Nosework last week. He was 12 weeks old. There was no reason to start at that age, I just knew I wanted to start him soon! The first month of having a new puppy is filled with so much change, adjustment, relationship building, lack of sleep and poop!...

With Yin, comes Yang! "Nothing is completely Yin or completely Yang. Each aspect contains the beginning point for the other aspect ...as one aspect increases the other decreases to maintain overall balance of the whole." Drac has this adorable natural sit and look...

We've survived another week!  The name of the game at this age seems to be "what does he have in his mouth now"?? With the gazillion chew toys around, why do they want to chew on wood, cardboard, shoes and every small object?? The week also included an unexpected trip...

I've had Drac home for a week now! Head over heels in love with him! I thought I'd share what I've trained this week. Well, it might be a short blog! I feel like I just survived with potty schedule and managing the introduction of a new dog! What I have succeeded in:...