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NW430: Common Scents Proofing: Building Confidence with Distractions

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NW430: Common Scents Proofing: Building Confidence with Distractions

Course Details

Distractions, distractions, distractions.....In this class we will develop the ability to search in the midst of many types of distractions.   This class is designed to build confidence and empower our dog in the face of distractions. Through proper environmental setup and strategic hide placement we will slowly increase criteria.  We will also discuss how using pattern games and start buttons can help our dogs communicate where they are emotionally and when they are ready to work.

This class will cover peemail, environmental distractions, food, toys, crittering, and marking.  AKC Scent Work specific distractions will also be covered, starting away from odor and then adding the odor with the distraction. 

When your dog becomes distracted or struggles in a search, it is best to abort your search and then step back and evaluate the environment and the hide placement.  Is your dog confident in the environment?  Is the hide placement set for your dog’s skill level in THAT environment? Are there distractors that have his attention?  Was your dog focused on the start line before releasing to search or was your dog still taking in the environment?   When these things happen, we need to address the environment not our dog.  Our dog is just letting us know that they are not ready for this search in this environment on this day.

As we increase the level of the distractor, it is important to check in with our dog and ask for their input and adjust our training plan as needed. If they are taking cookies too hard, displacement or distraction sniffing, checking out, etc., the environment or level of distraction will need to be reduced.  Pattern games are very beneficial, by using pattern games our dog can communicate when they are ready which will build a nice focused start line performance. 

It is important to maintain motivation and confidence when working with distractions.  We cannot expect our dog to work through distractions if they are not motivated by odor as well as they cannot be successful if they do not have confidence in the environment or with the task.

In the last week of class, personal plans can be developed on how to continue working through distractions as needed for each team.

"When a flower doesn't bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower."   Alexander Den Heijer

critter

And look at him now!

Pmail issues, we've got you covered!

Teaching Approach

 Lectures will be released weekly so you can plan your week based on homework and reading assignments. In addition to exercises and games, there will be lectures on key concepts. Homework is not assigned on the concept lectures. Lectures with exercises will include a written portion, example videos, and homework. The exercises will vary week to week based on the subject each week.  Some will require more space as we work on outside distractions.  There will be some bending required, however no quick movements are necessary. If you have questions in regard to content or requirements, please contact me via the instructor link.

Melissa ChandlerInstructor: Melissa Chandler

Melissa Chandler (she/her) lives in Ohio and is owned by her Weimaraner and Vizsla.  Melissa has been addicted to dog sports since starting in 4H and AKC Jr. Showmanship.  She has competed in conformation, agility, obedience, hunt tests, nose work, and rally.  She has also...(Click here for full bio and to view Melissa's upcoming courses)

Syllabus

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{subject to change}

Building odor value

Motivation games

Good Decisions

What's Your Sign?

Intentional distractions in the interior

Nose point accuracy with distractions

Directing to cover search area and handle distractions

Bonus: Parkour in nosework 

Using your nose work gear to your best advantage

 Start lines –getting the best start to your search

Party to the car!

Distractors in containers

Bonus: Rose Among Thorns

Handling floor surfaces

Working multiple hides

Aborting a Search

Bringing the outdoors in

Are you searching?

Outdoor distractions

But… but… It’ a SQUIRREL!!  

Environmentally Sensitive 

Building and maintaining confidence

Marking in the search area

Premack in searching

AKC Non-food distractors

AKC Visual distractor

AKC Auditory distractor

AKC Mimic Distractor

AKC Human distraction

Putting it all together

Personalized plans on how to move forward

Prerequisites & Supplies

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Dogs should be working odor on all 4 elements (containers, interiors, exteriors and vehicles), distraction experience not necessary.  This is a great class to start distraction training

FDSA nose work foundation is not required for this class.

Different types of distractions will be needed (food, toys, novel items) as well as animal scents will be used in a couple of the lessons.  Available at any hunting store : http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-oz-Dog-Training-Scent/706645.uts?slotId=0

A travel nose work kit will be beneficial as we progress to taking our show on the road.

Video capabilities and tripod needed for gold and working silver levels (or a personal videographer willing to travel J ) 

Sample Lecture

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Testimonials & Reviews

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A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...

Melissa is very dedicated to each student, and her input has made a huge difference for us. She always keeps track of each dog's strengths and weaknesses. She has a talent for reading a situation, and giving appropriate and positive advice.            


So many ideas to help dogs overcome distractions and keep working the scent whether they are eye/movement sensitive like mine or worried about new environments or have difficulty with particular distraction/s. Fab course           


Melissa has been wonderful in helping me with my environmentally sensitive dog. I wasn't as active in this class as I was my last due to health problems that cropped up during the course of class and trying to get my dog ready for trial but the information in both the class itself and what Melissa wrote in my Gold Thread will be invaluable as we hopefully move forward. Thank-you Melissa! If Ezra and I are able to accomplish anything moving forward it will be because of the work we have done with you and Julie.       


Thanks for running this class. Loved it.         


This class will be very useful to me. I haven't had a chance to practice it yet as I was currently in a ScentWork class, etc. but looking forward to employ all the ideas to help my environmentally sensitive dog! Would recommend it to anyone.            

Registration

Next session starts: October 1, 2022
Registration starts: September 22, 2022
Registration ends: October 15, 2022

Registration opens at 12:00pm Pacific Time.

NW430 Subscriptions


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Tuition $ 260.00 $ 130.00 $ 65.00
Enrollment Limits 12 25 Unlimited
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