Review of Important Concepts

If your dog was having difficulty staying at source, it's really important to reinforce that now, otherwise you won't have an indication of where the hide is when it is blind to you.  Some dogs are also finding the search more interesting that the source.  Source should ALWAYS be #1 on their list.

Here are some reminders to help your dogs with these two issues.

  • REWARD, REWARD, REWARD!!  Don't skimp on those treats.  The more they get, the more important the source will become.  The dog should *never* only get what's on top of the odor tin.

  • Continue having your dog work hard to get the treats from you.  The more they have to work for it, the more it builds the arousal for odor.

  • Make a point to touch the odor tin with your hand or the treat when rewarding your dog.  Otherwise you are not rewarding at source.  The communication should be that the treats come from the odor -- not you.

Lesson Review

In case you missed class or would like to review, here’s the link to what we did this week.

Week Five Homework

  • Do NOT do perimeter work!  We'll get back to it later.

  • Continue both box work and hides outside the boxes with no boxes present.

  • When hiding in boxes, work toward having all four flaps closed. 

  • When hiding outside of boxes, be sure to place the source next to something that will pool the odor in some way.

  • Continue elevation. (No higher than the dog's nose.)

  • Start working in grassy areas -- remember to start on pavement and quickly return their once you've rewarded your dog to prevent urinating.

  • Begin using your search command every time you release your dog -- NOT BEFORE the dog is released.

  • If you have an assistant, try some multiple hides. 

The Unsung Sense: How Smell Rules Your Life

Here's a fascinating article on the under-rated sense of smell in people!