I don't think I mentioned this workshop... I attended one about a week ago.

Interesting stuff. I bought some cheapo makeshift scent articles and a pair of
tongs to practice with Madigan. I'm not interested in competition, but it is
way cool to watch an untrained nose in action doing what comes naturally.

We were taught to put treats on the articles at first, then under them, then
without treats. Madigan was going after the right article without a treat
after 4 trials.

But what was really interesting was the second time we worked with it. We used
the same set of articles, but scented a different one. Even using treats on
the hot scented article, Madigan kept going to the *original* cold scented
article, and looking at me like, "Mom, you KNOW this is the right one!"

And here I thought I damaged her nose with all the cigarette smoke. :}

What was also fun to watch is that nobody had to give any kind of command to
send their dogs to the pile. Instead, we all had our dogs in a stay while we
set the articles up, and then we released the dogs. They would run straight to
that pile every time.

Anybody have experience competing with scent articles?

Canine Action Dog Trainer
http://www.canineaction.com
My Kids, My Students, My Life:
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