ZEAL Training in Nosework
 at Craftco Metalworks’ storage yard
 9-7-24

The young dogs do not yet wear the tracking harness, which is itself a pre-command, as I only put it on just before the starting cones, or in a trial, when the dog ahead of us goes into the search area.  And I take it off as soon as we finish our search, so the dogs know when the serious work time has ended.  Instead, their cue is a box with a cocktail of all 5 scents, set by the car, so that they come out of the car and have a reminder what we’re going to do.  Today Zeal was in quite the mood – she was ready to play and attacked the boxes (called “containers” in nosework) with gusto.  Denise got some hilarious photos of her on both searches today as I tried to get her to settle down and do an indication without destroying the box.  Zeal is very expressive, so watch for the faces she makes, and her eye rolls. “Killing the container” seems to be a common German Shepherd response to searching boxes.  I think they think they’re boring and hope that if they destroy the box they can get to the “real” search.  Containers is one of the four elements in UKC nosework (along with interiors, exteriors and vehicles), so I constantly work on G-E-N-T-L-E indications on the containers.  Hopeful is particularly rough on the containers.  At our last trial, the judge said she didn’t give us a fault on the containers because I was urging Hopeful to go “EASY”.  I sure do a lot of that on all of mine…

Zeal has decided she really likes nosework and is now searching nicely on the 15′ longline, allowing me to begin staying farther away from her and encourage her to take the lead in the search rather than depend on me to show her where to begin searching.  She is also remembering to sit or down to indicate her find, and is less distracted by anything going on around us.  Good girl!!!

I am very pleased that Zeal has learned that ball throws at the end of a search are the ultimate reward.  Our searches have 5 hides.  I give treats for the early finds so that the dogs don’t lose their minds and want to play ball rather than be willing to look for the next hide.  When they find the last hide, I throw the ball as we head back to the car.  Using a toy as the reward for a find gives better drive and intensity to search, so I’m always thrilled when a young dog makes the connection between ball and work.  Zest also loves the ball reward; in fact, since she isn’t very interested in searching, I’m using ball throws to reward EVERY find (plus treats).  Pascha and Dakuya absolutely refuse to chase the ball when I throw it at Craftco, yet they are ball maniacs at home. I’ll keep trying. 

I get the biggest kick out of her when I give her treats as a reward for a find.  She reminds me of a little bird being fed by its parents.