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Why Scent Detection?

11/25/2018

 
  • Our dogs live in a world of scent, this sport allows them to use their amazing abilities.
  • It is fun and interesting to watch dogs work out a scent puzzle and source the origin of the scent.
  • Most dogs love being able to use their noses and explore.
  • A wide variety of dogs can play - young dogs, older dogs, dogs with physical challenges (my dog Hunter was blind and enjoyed playing, he didn't need to see to play).
  • Sniffing and searching is excellent mental exercise and enrichment for the dogs.
  • Dogs can develop confidence as they learn to lead their owners to the source of the scent.
  • You don't need a lot of special or expensive equipment to play.
  • You can start the training inside in your living room.
  • Did I mention it's fun?
I've been having a ton of fun participating in this sport with my dogs, and teaching others how to play.  I love watching how individual dogs bring their own personalities to the search.  So if you think this sounds like something you would be interested in trying with your dog let me know.
Hunter Searching
Hunter passing his DOT
Tilly Searching
Tilly practicing

Toys, Toys, Toys

11/10/2018

 
Picture
If you’ve ever walked in a pet store you’ve probably had that feeling – wow, look at all the great toys!  How do I decide?  If you have a strong, determined chewer, you’ve probably also sighed knowing you can strike most of the toys off your list if you want one that lasts longer than 5 minutes.
Rope Toys
A good choice for playing tug and for teething puppies.  Some dogs will toss these around and amuse themselves.  My dogs like to sit down and snap all the treads, so I need to supervise and frequently inspect the toy for signs it is too damaged and needs to be replaced.

Picture
Balls
Available in a variety of styles – squeaky, tennis, chuck it etc.  Some dogs LOVE playing ball and will fetch for hours.  Others will look at you and wonder why you threw it away if you just want it back after all.  One thing to watch out for is that some balls (such as tennis balls) can promote wearing of your dog’s teeth possibly due to the abrasiveness of the cover.  I’ve had good luck with the balls made by West Paw, Kong also makes a ball in addition to their signature ice cream scoop shaped toys.

Squeaky Toys
These toys come in a wide variety of shapes and materials.  Some dogs will carry them around and treasure them for years, while others won’t rest until the squeaker has squeaked its last squeak.  If your dog is likely to attempt to remove the squeaker from the toy, it is best to supervise any play with these toys and be prepared to trade your dog for the toy when it is time to remove the squeaker or replace the toy.  There is a company making stuffing free fuzzy squeaky toys, and once my dogs remove the squeakers they will continue to play with these toys as tug objects.


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  • Home
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    • Scent Classes
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