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Continue reading →: Wrapping Up 2024: Thank You!
It’s the end of the year, and time to look back and do some reflection. The picture at the top of this post is an old one, from 2017, and shows Riley the Chihuahua doing some brilliant work in an UKC vehicle search. Riley searched with the big dogs back…
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Continue reading →: The Detective Level: Working on the “One Hide Left Behind” Syndrome
I finished the second iteration of my Detective class last month, and have been very pleased with how it went. This group of students was very different from my first, and they really did well! I am continuing to make adjustments to the curriculum. I am after the holy grail…
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The Swinging Pendulum in Scent Work Handling
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Continue reading →: The Swinging Pendulum in Scent Work HandlingI follow a few good trainers/teachers, because the learning in this sport never stops, and I need good information. One of these trainers is Cameron Ford (K9s Talking Scents Discussion on Facebook), who has been around forever. I caught a quick video clip of a conversation Cameron was having with…
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Continue reading →: Vehicles, Some Bad Handling, and Some Communication
I admit it, I love a good vehicle search. Once upon a time, back when I was only doing UKC nosework, and was working Riley the chihuahua, I hated the vehicle searches. Mostly because I didn’t understand them, and they kept going wrong. Especially after we reached the Superior level.…
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Continue reading →: Can Dogs Count?
I am running Yeti in practice. It’s a largish outside area, and he started off well, getting a hide near the start and moving quickly to source another. He has circled the area and is slowing now, and I get ready to call another alert. When I have rewarded him…
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Continue reading →: Facing the Detective Level
Last month, Yeti finished his overall Masters title. We actually managed to pass two Master Interior searches in one weekend, a feat I had not imagined that we were capable of. I had expected that we would spend a good part of next year finishing the Masters Interiors title. But we…
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Continue reading →: In Praise of Sniffy Adventures
And now, just for a change of pace, a bit of creative writing… Sunday morning, I am up early walking the dogs before the heat sets in. They all get separate walks when I have time, as they all have different needs at this point in their lives. Astra goes…
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Continue reading →: 11 Guidelines for AKC Scent Work Competitions
There have been a few facebook posts recently asking about scent work trial etiquette. I thought I would take a stab at writing some up, a reminder for me, some instruction for my students. Many of us are experienced dog sport competitors, but new folks are starting scent work all…
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Continue reading →: Why You Should Go to the Container Briefing
This is the scenario at just about every AKC trial I attend: there is a general briefing, announcements, judges’ comments, and then everyone splits up to go look at the search areas before the judging begins. And, inevitably, the areas that people crowd to go to look at are the…
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Continue reading →: The One AKC Scent Work Regulation You Need to Know About
I was at a trial recently. For once, I was not judging, and I was not on the volunteer roster, so I got to spend a lot of time in the crating area, reading and relaxing before my classes. And friends, it was not pretty. There was A LOT of…
Hello,
I’m Ellen
A Scent Work trainer, instructor, competitor, student, and judge. Welcome to Sniffing Around Scent Work, a blog where I write about my experiences, thoughts and musings on my favorite past time.
Sniffing Around Scent Work 