Hopeful Working at the Dave Kroyer Seminar 9/17/22
See An Illustrated Explanation of Nosework for Those Unfamiliar with It
Learn more at www.davekroyer.com (including a thirteen-video “Super Snout series showing his method) and on @davekroyerdogs.

This seminar focused on efficient searching, accurate indications and reading the dog’s indication (whatever that indication may be).  In Dave’s method, the indication is a sit or down – or reaching up on high hides to get as close as possible – and staring at the hide until released by a clicker or spoken “yes,” at which time the dog goes away from the hide to the owner to receive its reward.  All of us in Sheridan use that indication but some seminar participants don’t.

I asked Dave for suggestions to deter Hopeful from body slamming me when I click to release her from an indication.  I laughed when I saw her photos because a bunch of them showed her in midair, waiting for me to take out her Kong-on-a-Rope for a ward of some tugging.  I know there’s a fine line between discouraging the inappropriate enthusiasm while encouraging enthusiasm for the hunt and the reward.  He pretty much said it will smooth out as she gets more experience – but he’s not the one who might be knocked down…

Mornings we worked exteriors at Craftco Metal’s storage yard; afternoons we worked interiors in Sue’s arena

On Saturday, Sheila, a professional photographer, took photos except when she was walking or working her dog.  Katina who has Kaiser (a Cantor/Lovely son from the RR litter), also took a few of me working Hopeful, if she had worked Kaiser already.

We had a lot of dogs register to work Novice searches, so I put Hopeful in Advanced even though she has only competed in two Novice classes at a trial.  Advanced classes contain only 1 hide (anise), with no distractions.  Novice exterior and interior search areas are pretty small, while the Advanced search areas are larger.  

Also participating in the seminar was Ursa (a Cantor/Mercy son from my UU litter).  Ursa did so well that Dave invited them to also do the Advanced Exterior searches.  Dave showed Scott how to use the ball to increase Ursa’s intensity in searching. 
See the main seminar page for Ursa’s & Kaiser’s photos.

Hopeful on Advanced Exterior Search 1

Hopeful on Advanced Exterior Search 2

When we moved to the training arena, Dave worked all of us on detailing, which is helping the dog to search by our indicating where to look.  We worked “W’s,” alternating high and low, using wooden boxes.  Dave had us work down the line of boxes, then make a circle back to the beginning, so that we always worked the boxes in the same direction.  To test commitment to the indication, Dave had us drop the lead and keep walking when the dog indicated, then wait before clicking to release the dog to come to us for its reward. 

Hopeful Detailing (W’s)

After that, Dave set up a HUGE interior search, using most of the arena with all kinds of items that could possibly hold a hide.  No one could watch the others work, so we all came into a blind search, and it was pretty intimidating, especially since we didn’t know how many hides there were.  A lot of teams struggled, and several dogs, including Hopeful, gave false indications when they stressed.  Dave then helped the teams find the one hide.

Hopeful doesn’t have a lot of experience yet, and it showed in today’s big interior search.  She got rattled in that HUGE area with all those things to check and finally false indicated when it was too much for her.  We took her over to the real hide and Dave helped her find it and be rewarded.  Next time she’ll be more confident. 

Hopeful on Interior search