Good Dog Dog Training https://www.gooddogdogtraining.com Tue, 02 Apr 2019 22:12:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.1 https://www.gooddogdogtraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-2Paws_clear2-32x32.png Good Dog Dog Training https://www.gooddogdogtraining.com 32 32 Nose Work https://www.gooddogdogtraining.com/2019/04/01/nose-work/ Mon, 01 Apr 2019 17:13:15 +0000 https://gooddogdogtraining.com/?p=890

Structure for our Nose Work Classes – 3 sets of six week-classes for our Foundation Classes. Classes are about 90 minutes.

Intro to K9 Nose Work  – figure out your dog’s searching style. Explore his strengths and weaknesses while he searches for a primary reward (generally food).

Introduction to Odor – teach your dog to find the birch odor to earn the reward!

Introduction to Vehicles and Exteriors, and Handler Discrimination – increase the complexity and the level of distractions. Find the birch, anise and clove, (not the kitty, the bird, or the candy bar wrapper) in the park, or hidden on a car. Yes – they will ignore big distractions. We also introduce AKC Handler Discrimination where the dog finds YOUR scent!

After the three Foundation Classes, above, the dog and handler team can go on to “Continuing Nose Work” classes. We have classes mornings, evenings and on weekends. You will be on a “punch card” system and can attend according to your schedule.

 

FAQ

Will Nose Work make my dog a worse sniffer?

No, nose sports provide a healthy outlet for your dog’s desire to sniff.

 

Will Nose Work teach my dog to jump on counter or rummage about looking for odor?

No, we are careful to use the food, at the beginning, in very controlled ways to avoid this. Later, when the dogs are on odor, equipment such as a harness, and a Search Cue, sets the stage for searching. Dogs will be taught to know when they are searching.

 

The Concept

K9 Nose Work and AKC Scent Work are modeled after the training and search methods of drug and explosive detection dogs. It is designed as a class activity and as a competitive sport.

No obedience skills are required.

There are two main organizations which provide events for competition:

1. K9 Nose Work – National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW)

In the sport of K9 Nose Work the dog and handler team search four elements in a trial. The team must be qualify in all 4 elements to title.

        Interior Search

        Exterior Search

        Vehicles

        Containers

 At NW1 competition the target odor is birch.  NW2 and NW3 add new odors, and increase the complexity of the search. The four basic search elements remain the same.

It is a basic tenet in all K9 Nose Work activities that dogs are kept apart. This allows all dogs to enjoy the sport.  Dogs are not in the search area at the same time. They do not pass through doorways at the same time. They are crated or, weather permitting, in their vehicles when waiting to work.

By allowing the dog to work without other dogs present, we develop focus and confidence. Our classes follow this philosophy.

  • An ORT (Odor Recognition Test) is required as prerequisite for Trial. The ORT is a box drill. Your dog must indicate which box out of 12 boxes has the birch odor in it. Our second set of classes will prepare your dog for the ORT.
  • K9 Nose Work also has “Element Trials”. An ORT is required for these, too.
  • Handlers must be members of NACSW and renew annually. Dogs are enrolled for life.

Our students have done very well in K9 NW competitions. It is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. You learn by watching other dogs run, too. Many of the students have become good friends.

For more information see www.NACSW.net  or visit my website www.gooddogdgotraining.com

 

2. AKC Scent Work

  • AKC Scent Work trials will often have dogs lined up in sight of each other. Dogs will work alone. 

  • However, unlike NACSW, AKC Scent Work is NOT designed to accommodation dogs who are fearful or reactive to other dogs.

  • Dogs must be AKC registered to compete. AKC has a program for  registering mixed breeds and purebred dogs without registration papers.

 

AKC Scent Work has 2 Divisions:

    Odor Division

 

The dogs search 4 Elements:

        Containers

        Interiors

        Exteriors

        Buried Hides

  • There is no requirement for a “pretest” to enter a trial.

  • All AKC trials are entered by each ”element”, individually.

AKC Handler Discrimination Division

  • We will teach your dog to find your scent.

For information on AKC Scent Work visit www.akc.org/scentwork

]]> 890 Good Dog’s Agility Program https://www.gooddogdogtraining.com/2018/07/21/good-dogs-agility-program/ Sun, 22 Jul 2018 01:20:56 +0000 http:/?p=1

Are you looking for a way to bond with your dog?

Perhaps burn off some canine energy?

Build confidence?

Increase focus?

You may want to try Agility. Good Dog will be offering two Agility classes, intended for dogs who are new to the sport.

In our classes you will learn to work as a team with your dog. Your dog will be introduced to jumps, tunnels and other obstacles. More importantly, he will also learn to focus on you and how to really listen well. Many will notice that their dog has gained confidence.

Our Agility for Fun class offers you and your dog a relaxed, non-competitive introduction to the sport of agility. You and your dog will get a good workout – mentally and physically!

You will see benefits from Agility for Fun out of class as well, as your dog becomes more in tune with you.

Our Agility Foundation class is available as a follow up to our Agility for Fun class, for those who may be interested in going further in the sport of Agility. It can also be the starting point for a team that knows they are interested in Competition events.

Prerequisites for both classes:

Beginning Obedience OR  Tweens with consent of instructor

Those with previous agility experience: consent of instructor (send us an email or call Donna)

Our Instructors –

Sarah Mesenhimer Johnson – Agility for Fun

Jen Mangelos – Agility Foundation

Through our website Good Dog Dog Training

Enrollment –

Classes will be Wednesday or Thursday evening

6 week sessions. (Details on website.)

Location –

Nunes Agility Field

Turlock, CA

Come join the fun.  Enjoy Your Dog!

]]> 1 What Does “Socialization” Have to Do With Obedience? https://www.gooddogdogtraining.com/2018/04/23/what-does-socialization-have-to-do-with-obedience/ Mon, 23 Apr 2018 22:06:56 +0000 https://gooddogdogtraining.com/?p=902

“My dog knows… Sit, Come, Heel… unless…”

Does he REALLY?

This is a such a familiar comment from a dog owners. They tell me, “My dog knows these commands, but just does not obey”… if excited, if out of the home, if there are visitors, or if around other dogs.

May I suggest, the dog may not really know what you think he knows.

Let’s start with the simplest behavior – sit. Fido sits every morning for breakfast, and he sits for his afternoon dog biscuit. So, Fido “really knows” sit, right?

Not based on that information.

GENERALIZATION
One of the most important facts to know about training a dog is this: Most dogs do not generalize well. What does this mean? Dogs are “situational” learners. So being in the habit of sitting for a meal, does not prepare a dog for sitting for greeting a neighbor when out on a walk. The context, the environment, are entirely different.

What will prepare a dog for sitting to say hello to a person met on the sidewalk? Two things:

  • First, being at ease and comfortable on a walk on the sidewalk.
  •  Second, being instructed, methodically at first, to sit there. No shortcuts. With people incrementally closer. Treating the command more like it is a new concept. Your dog would tell you – it is a new concept when friendly neighbor is on the sidewalk!


Being at ease and comfortable wherever you’d like them to obey a command, is the more important of the two tasks. It should be your first goal in training your dog.


SOCIALIZATION IS ESSENTIAL TO GENERALIZATION
What do trainers really mean by “socialization”?. A well socialized dog is at ease with noise, crowds, wheelchairs and wind. A well socialized dog is a dog who is able to focus and process obedience commands in a variety of circumstances. They can only do this when they are not overstimulated or overwhelmed by a novel environment.

Note that a well-socialized dog is “at ease” around other dogs and people. He is not “so friendly” (over-excited) that he cannot focus.

Anyone who has trained dogs for work or competition can tell you the benefits of working with a “bombproof dog”, a dog who is comfortable and therefore not distracted by new people, places or things. And on the other side, others have stories of having a smart, eager dog at home, who falls apart when outside – nervous, insecure, aggressive, sensitive, over excited – all of the tendencies which will undercut optimal performance.

So, if it suggested that you bring your dog to a group class, think about these things.

“I WANT TO TRAIN MY DOG IN PRIVATE LESSONS – HE CAN’T FOCUS IN A CLASS!”
Many people will tell me that they would rather do private lessons, because their dog cannot pay attention in the presence of dogs, people, etc. Barring serious fear or aggression, these dogs should indeed be in a group class. All the sits taught in the kitchen will not help Fido sit nicely to greet the neighbor on the sidewalk!   

Whether you are training your dog for competition, want him to be polite on walks, or just have him manageable on trips to the vet – socialization is the key to an obedient dog you can ENJOY!

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