 By: Erica Wells
Erica is a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) through the National Association of Canine Scent Work. She teaches Agility and K9 Nose work classes, both sports she participates and competes in with her rescued Brittany Spaniel, Mimi and newest monster, Gator. -- I am passionate about dogs using their noses. The dog olfactory system fills the majority of their brain and their sense of smell is light years beyond our own. We are only just scratching the surface learning about the magic of what dogs can smell and what they can teach us through the use of their powerful nose! My introduction to the sport of K9 Nosework began when my newly adopted Brittany puppy was about 5 months old. She was a VERY busy puppy, far busier than any dog I had ever owned and the first puppy I’d had in about 20 years! While she got plenty of exercise and we did plenty of training, something was missing. I saw a flyer somewhere about a workshop coming to town about “the new sport of k9 Nosework” for dogs of all ages-so I went! It was transformative. Suddenly, my crazy puppy had an outlet using her nose for good and not evil! The only issue was that she wasn’t very food motivated, I mean, she really didn’t care about food at all, BUT she was already a crazy ball dog so we used her ball. She hunted for stinky treats in boxes and got rewarded with her ball. 10 minutes of playing the game and she was actually able to settle, it gave her an outlet and made our training sessions for the “boring stuff” more productive when we trained after doing a bit of Nosework. I was amazed at how well the game worked and wanted to find out more-so when the National Association of Canine Scentwork (NACSW, www.nacsw.net) had their first instructor training course outside of California I signed on and the rest is history. Ive been teaching K9 Nosework for 8.5 years now and loving every minute of it. The sport has grown and grown with multiple venues signing on including United Kennel Club (UKC) and American Kennel Club (AKC) but many folks in my classes just want something to do with their dog, they don’t compete and don’t plan to compete but those dogs’ noses are just as sharp and as amazing as any competition dog. In NACSW the venue I do most of my trialing in we use the target odors of Birch, Anise and Clove. The dogs hunt for these odors on vehicles, interiors, container searches (think card board boxes, backpacks, luggage, tupperware-almost anything goes) and the dog’s job is to “alert” the handler that they have found their target odor. Some dogs do this by looking at the handler, lying down, sitting, a light paw or a nose freeze. There are MANY different alerts but the one thing all the dogs have in common is they stop sniffing! It’s our job to know if they are telling us they have “FOUND IT”. One of the things I love about Nosework whether it is the dog hunting for cookies in boxes or competing at the highest level (in some venues) dogs who are reactive can still play the game. It is a wonderful way to enrich a reactive dogs life-even if you are just heading out to a sniff spot-why not bring a long some containers and hide some treats or toys for your pup to find or just bring hands full of kibble and spread the love around for him like a canine treasure hunt! Their noses are amazing and they LOVE to use them. My elderly reactive dog who was also a terrible car dog loved to play the Nosework game at home. He did learn the target odor birch but mostly he just wanted to find food, wherever he could!! Most Nosework classes will accommodate dog reactive dogs because dogs work solo. Each dog has a turn in a Nosework class and no other dogs are present. They are either beyond a barrier, crated in another area or in cars when it is not their turn. I've had some dogs who are even people reactive in my classes. We can make almost anything work so that every dog has an opportunity to experience the fun of Nosework. After teaching for so many years I've also seen something magical happen in dogs whose confidence was lacking and exhibited shyness or fear in the early classes. As their owners worked with them, they started to open up. It is truly a joyful experience to see a dog who when first came in to the search area would not even get near the open box full of cookies to a dog that sometimes even in a few weeks time was happily running about the room HUNTING for their treasure. It has literally brought me to tears on more than one occasion. My little “parma-foster” now almost 10 year old Mimi led me in to Nosework and then to the wonderful world of truffle hunting which I LOVE because it gets me outdoors on trails in the quiet wet winters of the PNW. She also led me to my second Brittany, Gator, now 2, who is using his nose on counters, in competition, in the truffle forest AND in a bird field in hunt tests and field trials and I may even learn to fire a shotgun! That is something I NEVER thought I would be doing. Never say never. Your dog’s nose really is the path to many a splendid thing! You can find me on facebook at k9snifftimeseattle.com, @k9snifftimeseattle on instagram and teaching classes through: www.dogsdayoutseattle.com www.fourpawsports.com www.truffledogcompany.com Happy Hunting! ********************* About Sniffspot Sniffspot is like Airbnb, but for off leash dog spaces. Anyone can earn money from sharing their yard as an off leash dog space. Anyone can find the perfect nearby off leash space for their pup to play in. You can learn more about how it works at www.sniffspot.com. You can learn more about hosting here. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
0 Comments
Reviews are a super important part of attracting sniff spot guests. The First Review Program offers guests a rebate on their visit price if they write the first review on a sniff spot. So if hosts do not have any reviews and a guest visits that sniff spot and writes a review, they can claim a rebate on their visit.
Here is how it works: 1) Find a sniff spot with no reviews, 2) Book the sniff spot like you normally would, 3) Once you submit your review, simply email support@sniffspot.com with your account email and provide the link to the listing you reviewed, 4) We will issue you a refund for that visit on your payment card. There is no cap on how many visits you can claim for this program. You could visit sniff spot for free every day if you wanted! Note: you need to claim your refund within the same calendar month as your visit for it to be valid. By: Danette Johnston
Owner - Dog's Day Out, Ballard, WA Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) Licensed AKC CGC Evaluator NW Coordinator, Doggone Safe Whether you are looking to bring a new dog into your home or you just want your dog to hang out with your friends or family members’ dog, being able to read the dogs’ body language is imperative for success when introducing dogs. Be sure to give yourself an education on canine body language before proceeding with dog introductions! I have two ways I generally recommend having dogs meet each other: 1. TANDEM/PARALLEL WALK- For non-leash reactive dogs. Equipment needed: Dogs on regular leashes (no flexi-leads) and harnesses (no neck collars).
2. TANDEM PLAY – I use this when one of the dogs is too leash reactive to be able to do a parallel walk, even at a distance. We often use this with shelter dogs who we want to let play with other dogs but are so leash reactive that it would take months working on the leash reactivity before allowing them to get the much-needed play with other dogs. Reactivity on leash is not necessarily indicative of off leash behavior. Equipment needed: A large, preferably neutral yard such as a Sniffspot or large room with some sort of barrier in the middle, dogs on leashes and harnesses, and possibly muzzles and long lines (see below).
TOOLS TO USE – if we are unsure of how one or both of the dogs will react, I will often use long lines and basket muzzles. A long line gives the dog freedom of movement with no leash tension but a “handle” for the humans to grab if needed. It is crucial that a dog be conditioned to a muzzle before using during introductions. I do NOT want to slap a muzzle on a dog and then toss him in with other dogs. Use a basket muzzle (not cloth) so the dog can get treats through it, drink, pant and play. A fantastic and comprehensive resource for muzzle training is the Muzzle Up Project website. ********************* About Sniffspot Sniffspot is like Airbnb, but for off leash dog spaces. Anyone can earn money from sharing their yard as an off leash dog space. Anyone can find the perfect nearby off leash space for their pup to play in. You can learn more about how it works at www.sniffspot.com. You can learn more about hosting here. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook!  By: Kristin Rosenbach Owner - Wagnificent K9 Truffle Dogs, LLC Freelance Truffle Hunter & Teacher Reiki Master Teacher When I made the decision to begin truffle hunting, I never imagined how much our lives would change. I became fascinated with truffles after tasting them on a trip to Italy. I joked that I was going to teach the dogs to find truffles. One day, in a random internet search, I discovered that they grow where I live, here in the Pacific Northwest. I decided that it was meant to be. And I’ve never looked back. I learned everything I could about truffles and scent detection. The adventure began. During that time, Callie, my Border Collie, was injured in an agility accident and would be on restricted activity for several months. We needed an activity to keep her happy while being compliant with her restrictions. Truffle hunting is a scent detection activity where a handler and dog work in partnership to locate underground gourmet fungi called truffles. It was perfect! Little did I know that learning to truffle hunt would not only satisfy her mentally and emotionally during her recovery, but it was also going to change our relationship. Many years ago, I made an agreement with Callie to stop using the term “reactive” because it feels limiting to me and I want the two of us to evolve in our partnership. I stopped seeing her as reactive and began respecting her discomfort around other dogs by protecting her space. Gradually, she became more accepting of less space and I, perhaps more importantly, became less charged by OUR triggers. We both understood each other better. We both saw the world as a less scary place. Part of that process for us involved learning to find truffles. It was an activity we could do without the stress of being around other people or dogs. We could connect in a way that was much deeper than ever before. One person and one dog, hands and paws in the dirt, and surrounded by the soothing energy of nature. We made up our own rules and learned our own language, one that is perfect and unique to only us. As the years went by, I began noticing significant changes in our ability to cope with suburban challenges, recover from stressful events, communicate with each other, and respond to the other’s needs. I owe this partnership that I cherish so much to the discoveries we made while learning to find buried treasures that only a dog’s nose can find. Here is why I believe truffle hunting is a great activity for reactive dogs and their owners:
Each truffle hunt is unique so you and your dog will be continually developing your communication skills while diving deeper into your relationship and understanding of one another. I’ve been truffle hunting with Callie for 8 years now and we continue to experience shifts in our relationship as we grow. We come back from every hunt filthy, exhausted, and happy. You can learn more about truffle hunting with your dog and get started for free through my masterclass series on the podcast What The Dog Nose. I’ll be releasing new lessons during the 2018-2019 fall and winter truffle seasons. I encourage you to choose the best learning environment for you and your dog and that is why I’m making these masterclass lessons free. Happy hunting! Kristin Rosenbach Wagnificent K9 Truffle Dogs, LLC “Shifting the way people relate to and partner with animals.”
About Sniffspot
SEATTLE, October 17, 2018 – Sniffspot, the marketplace that provides private land for reactive dog exercise and enrichment, has announced the release of their website and mobile apps on iOS and Android. Through this website and app, reactive dog owners can find the ultimate solution for exercise and fun for their dogs.
“Dog ownership is becoming more urban, but it’s really hard to own a reactive dog in a city,” said Sniffspot founder David Adams. “Exercise is one of the hardest things. Most folks take dog exercise in the city for granted, but it’s really hard to find a place to exercise a reactive dog. Sniffspot provides any easy way to find and visit private off leash areas that are safe, clean and fun for dogs to exercise.” 75% of dog owners report that their dog has some reactivity with 22% reporting that their dog is always or usually reactive. Some experts believe that reactivity is growing especially in urban dogs, who need to contend with constant invasive stimuli. Despite the prevalence of reactivity, reactive dog owners are often made to feel alone and there is a dearth of reliable support options for them. Having a safe area to play and sniff is essential to having a healthy dog. Research shows that dogs get up to 3x better exercise off leash than on leash. First, off leash dogs can run and play, which, similar to humans jogging, burns more calories for them. Second, and more importantly, sniffing new areas is an important part of a dog’s mental exercise and reduces overall anxiety and hyperactivity. Public dog parks are core parts of city infrastructure, but their free and open nature can also be a limitation. These spots are not private, so they are not an option for reactive dogs. There is no screening of dogs entering these spots to ensure they are vaccinated and free of parasites. There are no enforced requirements for owners to closely supervise their dogs, which can result in dog altercations, dog injury and has even resulted in dog fatalities. There have also been cases of contamination, where dog feces, diseases or other poisons make dogs visiting these public dog parks sick. Sniffspot partners with local land- and homeowners in the Seattle area and across the US to provide safe and fun private play areas for dogs. Options vary from the rolling hills in our fully fenced, five-acre Country Pasture Getaway to the 175 acre PaJo Ranch in Monroe, WA. There are also many fully fenced yards inside Seattle itself. Sniffspot especially caters to reactive dog owners, whose dogs are often fearful and hence need private spaces to play. Each sniff spot listing provides information on fencing, privacy and our reviews include a section focused on whether the sniff spot would work well for reactive dogs. In addition, hosts can certify whether they have experience with reactive dogs. As of today, these “sniff spots” are now all easily accessible through a website and mobile apps on iOS and Android. The website and apps include simple log in, detailed search filters including mapping, and booking in just three clicks. This update is one more step on the journey of Sniffspot working to make the world a more reactive dog friendly place. Download our iOS app Download our Android app Browse our new web app |
Archives
November 2018
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
|
Make money and meet dogs with your yard. Learn more about hosting with Sniffspot.
|
About Sniffspot |
support@sniffspot.com
|
© Sniffspot, Inc.
|