Aging our hides

Worked exterior hides again today.   The tins themselves were aged about 30hrs since I took the Qtips out of the odor jar.   The hides were put out at 9:05a, and we ran them at approximately 12:15p.    The winds have been building all day, and were a steady 10-15MPH when we worked.

I was very happy with how quickly she worked and found the hides.   On the first one, I wanted to reward the hunt (vs the find), so I told her "yes" as soon as she got to source, even though she hadn't pinpointed it for me (she was an inch or so past when I said "yes").   The other two, I waited for her to pinpoint.

On hide #3, the lawn, I purposefully started us far back to make the hunt a larger portion of her work.   She already had odor when I told her to 'show me,' and we were about 30-35yds from the hide.

3hrs was a bit long to age them, for where she is in training.  1-1.5hrs would have been more ideal.  However, this is how life runs, and so we work with what we have.   :)

And so it begins!

I've been horribly remiss in keeping up with the blog (le sigh!).   Dogwalking keeps me busy these days, and I often feel like between kids/hubby, house, dog walking and trying to get my own girls exercised.......I have time for little else.   Quilting has long gone by the wayside.  :(

Fizz and I started an online Nosework course with Denise Fenzi and Margaret Simek on January 7th.   I have been interested in NW for some time, but was never able to make any of the beginning classes that are offered locally (due to my schedule).   When I saw this online class, I was SO excited.

Fizz LOVES nosework!  Her pedigree is loaded with SchH3 and FH titled dogs, including her grandmother who was DM-FH champion in Germany, and also carries an FH2.   So her talent was not a surprise ... but the joy she gets from it.....it's so much FUN! :)

Nosework was developed by K9 narcotics handlers in California, and is essentially 'narcotics work for pet dogs.'   Dogs are taught to recognize 3 odors:  birch (smells like wintergreen), anise (ew!) and clove.   Each trial is made up of 4 component searches:  containers (boxes, suitcases, purses, lunchbags......anything!), interior (inside a building), exterior (outside) and vehicles.  There are 3 levels of titles, NW1, NW2 and NW3.

Trials are hard to host (they require MASSIVE amounts of space), and rather sparse in offerings still.   Therefore, slots are treasured.   Before you are allowed to enter a trial, you must prove that your dog can recognize the odors that will be in that trial.   NW1 = birch only.  NW2 = birch & anise, NW3 is all 3 odors.   Today's ORT = Odor Recognition Test.   It is not a title, but proof that Fizz knows, and 'announces' the odors.   She does not yet have a specific indication behavior, and won't need one until NW3.  

Today was the beginning of our journey together into the world of trials.   Hopefully, we will be trialing in Obedience, Rally and Nosework, as well as earning Tracking titles.  It's been a long time since I've trialed a dog in anything, I think my last Agility entry was in 2006.   It felt so GOOD to be back! :)  I look forward to the journeys ahead of us, the friends we will meet and the fun to be had.    Welcome to the working world Fizz!!  :)