Beginners Nosework Week 5
Containers - Linear Searches -
Start Lines and Handling Skills
Containers is the first element we work on when starting nosework. We started out with big open bowls and you worked on generalizing open top containers at home. We then moved to smaller metal switch boxes which help the dog to pinpoint source in a smaller area.
Now, our goals with containers are to:
1. Generalize even more. We want your dog to learn that odour can be in any type of container, including boxes, plastic boxes, tubs, or toolkits, shoes, socks, pipes, cardboard boxes, trial type boxes, etc. You name it, odour could be in it!
2. Set up successful searches including linear searches. We want to establish a structured way of searching. We want to teach the dog to search, rather than select. A dog who is selecting is moving from object to object within a room, as opposed to searching the whole room and following the scent cone. A dog who is searching, not just selecting, understands that odour can be anywhere, not just on objects.
3. Develop our handling skills and Introduce a start line. Handling is hugely important in nosework. Whether working off leash or on leash, we want to learn how to facilitate a dog-directed search.
4. Introduce and acclimate the dog to the cardboard boxes used in trials. Some dogs delight in smashing cardboard boxes! But box smashing will get you disqualified in a trial. We will acclimate each dog to cardboard boxes to teach them to interact with the box with their nose only. If we get a box smasher, we'll work on changing it!
Searches
Do these searches using a start line and your search cue. Use whatever containers you were using previously - something that your dog is familiar with and already has a strong history of using.
You can do the searches off leash and on leash. It is a good idea to practice working on leash at least some of the time. You can also try a little bit of distance off leash. Go to the start line, give your cue, and stay stationary. See if your dog can work away from you.
The Loner!
1. Group several containers together with one hot box and ask your dog to search for the hot box.
2. Keep the group of cold containers but move the lone hot box off to the side on its own and ask your dog to search. Your dog will first go to the group of cold containers and when they don't find odour, they will have to search for the lone box off to the side.
Get Outta My Way!
Put down a few cold containers and one hot one. Add a few simple obstacles to the search that your dog has to go around or bypass to get to the hot box, for example, place the hot box behind a big cardboard box or a chair turned on its side. You can place other smaller obstacles in the way too, to create a bit of a maze your dog has to navigate in order to get to odour.
Decoy!
Place one decoy cold container in the centre of the room and tuck one hot container off to the side among some other items, i.e. the hot box is not immediately visible. Your dog will gravitate to the lone cold box and when they don't find odour, will have to search for the hot box.
Assembly Line!
1. Create a line of 4 - 6 cold containers spaced 2 - 3 feet apart. Add one hot box to the beginning of the line. Ask your dog to search.
2. Move the hot box up one space so it is now second in the line and ask your dog to search.
3. Move the hot box up another space so it is now third in the line and ask your dog to search.
4. Repeat this process until your dog has searched the line with the hot box in every position.
Now, our goals with containers are to:
1. Generalize even more. We want your dog to learn that odour can be in any type of container, including boxes, plastic boxes, tubs, or toolkits, shoes, socks, pipes, cardboard boxes, trial type boxes, etc. You name it, odour could be in it!
2. Set up successful searches including linear searches. We want to establish a structured way of searching. We want to teach the dog to search, rather than select. A dog who is selecting is moving from object to object within a room, as opposed to searching the whole room and following the scent cone. A dog who is searching, not just selecting, understands that odour can be anywhere, not just on objects.
3. Develop our handling skills and Introduce a start line. Handling is hugely important in nosework. Whether working off leash or on leash, we want to learn how to facilitate a dog-directed search.
4. Introduce and acclimate the dog to the cardboard boxes used in trials. Some dogs delight in smashing cardboard boxes! But box smashing will get you disqualified in a trial. We will acclimate each dog to cardboard boxes to teach them to interact with the box with their nose only. If we get a box smasher, we'll work on changing it!
Searches
Do these searches using a start line and your search cue. Use whatever containers you were using previously - something that your dog is familiar with and already has a strong history of using.
You can do the searches off leash and on leash. It is a good idea to practice working on leash at least some of the time. You can also try a little bit of distance off leash. Go to the start line, give your cue, and stay stationary. See if your dog can work away from you.
The Loner!
1. Group several containers together with one hot box and ask your dog to search for the hot box.
2. Keep the group of cold containers but move the lone hot box off to the side on its own and ask your dog to search. Your dog will first go to the group of cold containers and when they don't find odour, they will have to search for the lone box off to the side.
Get Outta My Way!
Put down a few cold containers and one hot one. Add a few simple obstacles to the search that your dog has to go around or bypass to get to the hot box, for example, place the hot box behind a big cardboard box or a chair turned on its side. You can place other smaller obstacles in the way too, to create a bit of a maze your dog has to navigate in order to get to odour.
Decoy!
Place one decoy cold container in the centre of the room and tuck one hot container off to the side among some other items, i.e. the hot box is not immediately visible. Your dog will gravitate to the lone cold box and when they don't find odour, will have to search for the hot box.
Assembly Line!
1. Create a line of 4 - 6 cold containers spaced 2 - 3 feet apart. Add one hot box to the beginning of the line. Ask your dog to search.
2. Move the hot box up one space so it is now second in the line and ask your dog to search.
3. Move the hot box up another space so it is now third in the line and ask your dog to search.
4. Repeat this process until your dog has searched the line with the hot box in every position.
