tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.comments2023-07-22T01:06:05.554-07:00K9 Nose Work®Jeff McMahonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634038342280050377noreply@blogger.comBlogger274125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-20927461315969006972022-03-17T12:49:44.296-07:002022-03-17T12:49:44.296-07:00Have been doing classes for a year now. My dog aft...Have been doing classes for a year now. My dog after she stays at the hide gives me a look back and that to me seems to be her confirming so I let her do that before saying alert. Is this wrong or right? Is there a way of making that look back strong enough to finalize her finding the hide?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01454278173927256262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-8771533361598317232022-01-25T14:15:40.168-08:002022-01-25T14:15:40.168-08:00If you're still reading these comments I want ...If you're still reading these comments I want to thank you for posting this great article. It's just what needed clarification on. My problem is that my Berner and I make a great team until it comes to buried order. She alerts on every container. I'm trying to go back to basics and re-shape her alert on buried. I'm going to give your method a try-ThanksAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00090635955692909564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-48093653432663757982021-01-22T04:35:39.050-08:002021-01-22T04:35:39.050-08:00Very nice post thank you for sharingVery nice post thank you for sharingAnushka Jhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16391374981587162775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-131556764842536222021-01-22T04:35:24.872-08:002021-01-22T04:35:24.872-08:00Very nice post thank you for sharingVery nice post thank you for sharingAnushka Jhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16391374981587162775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-15264171945247170482021-01-22T04:32:31.818-08:002021-01-22T04:32:31.818-08:00Very nice post thank you for sharingVery nice post thank you for sharingAnushka Jhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16391374981587162775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-61780922611213605682020-02-10T05:02:25.347-08:002020-02-10T05:02:25.347-08:00I just tried my Doberman Jazz at finding hot dog b...I just tried my Doberman Jazz at finding hot dog bits hidden in our rock retaining wall. We had never done anything nose related but he knows what “find it” means because I’m always sending him out into the yard to find a certain toy. I never expected the level of enthusiasm and focus that he gave me without me having to redirect him to the task. Needless to say I got excited and ready to dive into training. Then it dawned on me that I had no idea what I was doing. <br />SO GLAD I FOUND THIS ARTICLE!!! Thank you for being clear and detailed when explaining all this!<br />I can’t wait to try again tomorrow!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09148255002493031212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-67837223553479163342019-08-02T21:07:28.249-07:002019-08-02T21:07:28.249-07:00A superb very informative video which teaches Nose...A superb very informative video which teaches Nosework in a very simple step by step method. I have worked with 10 dogs by following ur instructions on the video with 100% success. Would like to know if u have come out with the Part-2 of this DVD as I am eager to go ahead with this system of training. I am from Mumbai ( Bombay ) , India. <br />ABHIJIT CHITNIS Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05632618098759393763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-55710080931710153422018-11-14T15:20:00.419-08:002018-11-14T15:20:00.419-08:00Thanks for the reply Jeff. We had major improvemen...Thanks for the reply Jeff. We had major improvement at this latest NW3 trial but no title. We were 6 out of 9 hides for the day at a 72.92. Great learning experience after a long time off. Since NW3's don't happen here that much, we got into AKC and we've wrapped up our novice titles and look to secure a couple advance titles Thanksgiving weekend. After that in December yet another NW3 in Jacksonville. We've been working really hard and will give it a try again. However it goes, it's all about fun anyway. Best regards!Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00410176577206230864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-45685636085937519492018-09-21T20:38:24.432-07:002018-09-21T20:38:24.432-07:00Good post. Second dog, second nw2, with a difficu...Good post. Second dog, second nw2, with a difficult dog and I'm still wondering, are we ready? And the post was still useful. It's a journey, and wonderful if your dog isn't stressed out or feeling too pressured.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10369672453850927395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-16436277097941316072018-04-12T00:15:29.809-07:002018-04-12T00:15:29.809-07:00Hey Scott,
I definitely remember you & Julia!...Hey Scott,<br /><br />I definitely remember you & Julia! So cool to hear that team Julia will be back in action after all these years. I know Julia's sniffing skills will polish up in no time and I'm sure she won't make you work too hard on the handling side!<br /><br />Have a really great time at your 2nd NW3.<br /><br />JeffJeff McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634038342280050377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-91478976656491523072018-03-26T15:56:28.977-07:002018-03-26T15:56:28.977-07:00Hi Jeff, new to your blog but remember working wit...Hi Jeff, new to your blog but remember working with you I believe when I trained with Penny. <br /><br />Julia got her NW1 in San Pedro in 8/21/11, then her NW2 in Los Alamitos on 1/29/12, then we tried our hand at NW3 in San Pedro on 11/24/12 without much success. We didn't title but we did learn a lot. We haven't competed since. <br /><br />After some life altering changes I moved to Florida where nose work, or NW3's don't happen too often. We've been training again for only 4 months. So after years of not competing or training for that matter since leaving California, we're going to give our 2nd NW3 a try. Julia picked up where she left off and feel it's worth giving it a go. <br /><br />Very nice information you share here. I look forward to reading more. Just wanted to say hello.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />ScottScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00410176577206230864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-62095814373249651632017-08-26T15:47:52.443-07:002017-08-26T15:47:52.443-07:00Kathy Holbert from Philippi, WV taught me this met...Kathy Holbert from Philippi, WV taught me this method of training during my very first training session. Kathy Holbert has a wealth of knowledge under her belt. I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank Kathy CHIODO Holbert for all the time and commitment she does for all of us in the SAR world. Thank-you Kathy Chiodo Holbert. You have given so much back to the community. What a cool great person you are. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16548144364513134066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-84692684969134298132017-08-06T02:16:22.373-07:002017-08-06T02:16:22.373-07:00I always learn from your blogs, Jeff. Thanks.I always learn from your blogs, Jeff. Thanks.GDA Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360527233498557262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-45074249733973074402017-07-18T08:46:10.281-07:002017-07-18T08:46:10.281-07:00Thanks for reading and commenting! I'm going t...Thanks for reading and commenting! I'm going to simply address the question related to final response, which was, do you teach an indication to avoid the dog offering confusing behavior that could be truffles... Or it could be cat poop.<br /><br />Probably, the set of behaviors displayed by the dog when hunting for cat poop are discernibly different than when hunting for a target odor, so you'll want to learn to recognize the dog's distracted behavior.<br /><br />If you're getting clearer behavior at source with certain types of hide placement, that's great. I wouldn't train an indication to primary reward, I'd train the indication to truffle scent. But, make sure you really need to train an indication, as opposed to just proofing the dog off of distracting and/or novel smells. a dog engaged in searching should not interact meaningfully with distracting smells, whereas, a dog engaged at source should be committed to the source and anticipating reward. <br /><br />Happy Sniffing!Jeff McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634038342280050377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-56417967474587347922017-07-12T23:02:53.110-07:002017-07-12T23:02:53.110-07:00I hope you are still reading the comments here. I ...I hope you are still reading the comments here. I have 6.5 years old a German Shepherd who was trained as a cadaver dog before I got her. One of the reasons her previous owner got rid of her is that she was unreliable as a search dog. I started to teach her to find truffles as a hobby. We have no instructor, I'm mostly learning from the internet and books. I'm doing the method you described in your blog, using only primary rewards first, later I will introduce the sent. Since truffles grow under the ground I often dig her food. When she finds something in a place she can reach the reward easily she offers very little behavior changes, but I think I'm starting to figure it out. When she can't reach it easily or it's under the ground, she will scratch. However she also scratches when she finds anything she considers edible, like cat poop. I think it's going to be a problem later. What should I do? Teach her indication early?Borihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15893470310269621123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-61471077254201564222017-05-27T06:03:50.730-07:002017-05-27T06:03:50.730-07:00Thanks Jeff, this a really helpful article.Thanks Jeff, this a really helpful article.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12692932473375575951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-67730804395016460872016-10-25T11:15:45.121-07:002016-10-25T11:15:45.121-07:00Great advice, I should have read this before our f...Great advice, I should have read this before our first ORT. I did two dogs, my collie hound mix and my cattle dog. The first dog did very well and confidently alerted on all three odors. My cattle dog who usually does well in practice is more high strung and dog reactive and I'm sure waiting her turn added to both of our anxiety. She got birch after walking around the boxes twice, but interestingly she seemingly confidently false alerted on completely the wrong boxes on the next two.<br /><br />I'm sure my first dog's unflappable social nature made gave me more confidence in our tests. Interesting how there is probably a bio-feedback loop that plays into each other there.Walkonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13878515453319974962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-31035372220266872162016-09-27T14:26:13.263-07:002016-09-27T14:26:13.263-07:00You had me @ "nose work peanut butter cup,&qu...You had me @ "nose work peanut butter cup," Jeff!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10364411848652908417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-19392625945295889422016-09-01T00:14:22.897-07:002016-09-01T00:14:22.897-07:00When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify m...When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Thanks!<br />________________________<br /><a href="http://www.indydogtrainer.com/" rel="nofollow">Indianapolis dog training</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18117844113087656197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-28375183841141548952016-08-30T14:03:15.882-07:002016-08-30T14:03:15.882-07:00Loved it. And as always well-written. I heard my m...Loved it. And as always well-written. I heard my message to go back to my nose work roots occasionally. GDA Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360527233498557262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-17349917041898125462016-08-30T11:06:05.153-07:002016-08-30T11:06:05.153-07:00Great stuff as always Jeff!! You need to write mor...Great stuff as always Jeff!! You need to write more often! ��Marsha K. https://www.blogger.com/profile/04113480712860324302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-1632283460618750552016-08-26T18:28:54.990-07:002016-08-26T18:28:54.990-07:00SO WELL WRITTEN and such outstanding information. ...SO WELL WRITTEN and such outstanding information. Brilliant. And I laughed out loud.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06447988547261564497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-48173567869697470282016-08-26T07:55:38.709-07:002016-08-26T07:55:38.709-07:00Great analogy Jeff! Thank you for helping us all t...Great analogy Jeff! Thank you for helping us all to improve our teamwork! <br />Cindy RobertsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05659217198170987838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-22533611155243046632016-08-26T02:55:43.360-07:002016-08-26T02:55:43.360-07:00WOW! Some important information altho now I'm...WOW! Some important information altho now I'm feeling like we'll need some BodyPump on MY end of the leash!! Jeff always has interesting and informative info. THANKS!<br />Nan vonKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03892844720018372086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2958112649912191833.post-3933474164122002482016-01-15T09:31:16.948-08:002016-01-15T09:31:16.948-08:00Thanks for the comment, Lynne! I think, if you'...Thanks for the comment, Lynne! I think, if you're having fun and learning from your dog, you are in the best place possible. I don't get too deep into "how-to" in this blog, partly because there is no one way to work with your dog in nose work. I'm interested in sparking conversation and discussion, and helping people to evolve their thinking and discover their own path forward.<br /><br />When thinking about adding target scents to the game for your dog, first make sure you and your dog have worked the find the ball game in a variety of environments, with varying distraction (noise, other smells, etc), and that your dog has learned to work harder and harder for the ball, to the point where he would work for a long time trying to reach a sliver of his ball hidden somewhere that is quite difficult for him.<br /><br />Once you've satisfied that requirement, adding a target scent can be done in lots of ways. You'll probably want to pair the odor with his ball. This is the safest way to ensure a connection between the odor and his reward. Make sure to play with him at the odor and play to the odor, so he knows that interaction and fun happens at the odor. If you do this right, he will take the ball to the odor and see if it results in a fun play session. Connection made!<br /><br />Once you've built a strong connection between odor and reward, you can transition to odor only and deliver the reward for the dog contacting the odor source. When doing this, keep the searching super simple so you know what you're looking for and when you will reward.<br /><br />It's up to you to decide if you want a formal response at odor, and a number of other things, but pairing is definitely an effective and simple way to introduce a target odor, and if you are diligent with reward and playing at odor, you'll have a dog with an easy to read indication at odor source.<br /><br />Happy Sniffing!Jeff McMahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17634038342280050377noreply@blogger.com