Scentwork Workshops

Two Separate Workshops

Each session is a separate workshop with separate registration and participation limits.

• 10:00 — 11:30 AM
  Nosework, Try It
• 1:00 — 2:30 PM 
  Sniff 'n Go  

No Lunch

As there is likely to be relatively little overlap between attendees at each workshop, no provision is made for lunch. If you are enrolled in both workshops, please consider bringing your own lunch or snacks for yourself.

For More Information

Please review carefully the information applying to the workshop you are attending. There is a section for each.

Questions?

Hilary Burns, hilaryb3@gmail.com

On The Day

For All Attendees

• Please be on time for class. We will start without you if you are late.
• For these workshops food is not provided. If you are signed up for both AM and PM workshops you are on your own for lunch. There may be sufficient time between workshops to obtain lunch locally if you don't bring one; however be mindful of being on time for the afternoon workshop start time — see bullet point one.
• While rural, the site is personal private property — please pick up after your dog.

For Dog + Handler Teams

Be sure to arrive early enough to get set up and your dog pottied before the start time, we will be starting in time

Bring the Following

• Your dog! 
• Super yummy treats that you are SURE your dog loves A LOT. 
• Bring at least small 30 pieces (pre-cut and ready before the class) about 3/8” x 3/8”  to  1/2” by 1/2”. 
• They must not be crumbly, shredded, greasy, damp, or otherwise messy to handle.  
• Good choices include, any kind of firm cheese—string, cheddar, gouda, etc., cooked and patted very dry meat chunks sized as noted above (no shredded chicken or other type that falls apart when handling it, hot dog slices are fine as long as they are very dry), pre-made packaged treats that fit the description above as long as your dog loves them.  NO kibble, NO boring treats, NO super crunchy treats that your dog can't swallow quickly—they need to be able to eat it quickly!
• Your treats should be in a plastic sandwich baggy or small plastic storage container not larger than 4-5” wide. 
• Your name and the dog’s name in big bold lettering should be easily readable on the baggy or container.  
• A long easy to handle leash, at least 6 ft., but ideally 8-12 feet, NOT a “Flexi" type retracting leash. (I will have some leash options to borrow if you don’t have an appropriate leash.) A light weight and flexible material leash is best with no heavy attachments like poop bag holders, no extra metal D rings, no knots, etc.  You will want it to slide easily through your hands without your dog being super aware of it.
• Flat buckle/clip collar and/or optional working-style harness with back attachment (not a "no-pull” front clip walking harness).   
• NO pinch, prong, choke chain, or e-collars are allowed while the dog is working in the search area.  You may walk them into and out of the building on such, but they must not be used during the search. 
• Water for your dog and you.

Notes from the Instructor

•  If your dog has any food allergies please alert me as soon as you arrive.  Sometimes a treat gets left behind in a box by the previous dog, I will need to know If I have to double check all boxes before your dog runs their turn.

• Your dog must be comfortable waiting in your car for their turn to run, bring shade cloth and fans or other items to keep your dog cool.  If you do not have shade cloth let me know and I can to arrange some for you to borrow.  

• Your dog must not be able to escape through open vehicle windows.  Crated inside the car is ideal.  Make sure your dog can't get into anything unsafe in the car, or into any extra treats, or a purse, etc. while waiting in the car.  Again, a crate is the safest option. 

• All searches may be videoed and made available to the participants in a private on-line folder for review by all class participants. Videos may be used for other training purposes, by signing up for classes/events you agree to their use by me in classes or seminars.  If you do not want your searches recorded or used for other training purposes you will need to remind me at each run to not video your search.  

Heat protection for your dog

You are responsible for the set-up of your vehicle to protect your dog from excess heat while parked during class.

Your dog will need to remain in your car unless they are searching or out for a potty trip.

If at anytime I feel, or a class member notifies me, that there is a concern for the safety of your dog it will be addressed immediately to include asking you to leave the class/event if you cannot provide a comfortable/safe environment for your dog. 

Coronavirus Information

If you are feeling even the slightest bit sick, have a fever, or have been around anyone that is sick, or suspect that you have been exposed to anyone who is sick in the last 14 days, DO NOT COME to the class/event.

Please respect my stated safety requirements for participation in my classes/events as noted below.

Each of you will be responsible for keeping appropriate physical distance as specified above from each other. I will be reminding you as necessary, I would prefer not to have to do that, please monitor yourselves.

Recommended Reading Before Class

What is K9 Nosework?

https://k9nosework.com/about-us/what-is-k9-nose-work/

Inspired by working detection dogs, K9 Nose Work is the fun search and scenting activity for virtually all dogs and people. This easy to learn activity and sport builds confidence and focus in many dogs, and provides a safe way to keep dogs fit and healthy through mental and physical exercise.

K9 Nose Work starts with getting your dog excited about using his nose to seek out a favorite toy or treat reward hidden in one of several boxes, expanding the game to entire rooms, exterior areas, and vehicles. As your dog grows more confident with his nose, target odors are introduced, and competition skills are taught.

Prepare for a lifetime of fun with your dog and K9 Nose Work!

Additional information

National Association of Canine Scent Work: NACSW.net

Quote

What is K9 Nose Work™

The activity of K9 Nose WorkTM was created to give the pet dog something they love to do, scenting, that is an integral part of their natural instinct. All the typical skills we typically teach a pet dog, such as sit, stay, heel, are incompatible with independent hunting. We want to renew and release their natural hunting instinct and let the dog discover it’s own hunting independence. As a result we are invited into their amazing world of scent.

Single­minded independent focus on the thing that is motivating to the dog is built by the dog. We are trying to shape the dog’s focus, pursuit and drive through building the core foundation skills. But, our main task is to become a master of observation of the dog.

In the beginning the dog comes to nose work expecting direction from the owner, this is how the pet dog generally operates in life. As we move through the training steps we start tapping into instinct, into their natural seeking circuit, thus opening up their world to us.

We are not just teaching the dog to recognize a specific odor for a reward, we are building the drive and desire in the dog to independently switch on their seeking circuit. The more the dog is comfortable with seeking the more drive they will have to seek/hunt.

We want the dog to progress through their own process of discovery. We then end up with a dog that is telling/showing where odor is, not asking where odor is. We let the dog initiate everything in the search. Patience is key in the beginning steps when independence is the goal. We are only controlling the search parameters — not the dog’s search.

Only after we have solidly encouraged and built the drive and pursuit/hunt skills for the primary reward, over a significant period of time, can we begin to pair that reward with the target odor. The value of pairing the reward with the target odor is that it makes the odor important and not the “behavior” of finding odor important. It is a very fine line, natural hunting instinct is the “behavior” you want, not a trained behavior action.