Rattie boys rockin Nose Work!

D'light and I were up and out of the house early Sunday for our weekly Nose Work session with Erica Wells - CNWI . This session we ventured out to Tolt-McDonald Park  and we had a super time.

Our past foster boy Corwin (was Balboa)  & his dad are also in our weekly session.  So lots of fun for Corwin and D'light  - they are doing pretty amazing.  Hard to believe that not that long ago these were two fearful boys, scared of most things in their environment.  Look at them now! 

 

Many thanks to Erica Wells for not only being a wonderful Nose Work instructor but for always setting up her students (dogs & human) for success!




D'light ready to have fun!

Corwin says "I'm ready to search"



Both boys are "on odor" meaning they search to locate odor. The target odor is hidden and its one of three natural essential oils - birch, anise or clove.

 

 

The target odor is often hidden in small tins/tubs as well as lots of other small "containers".  The container is then hidden and the dog searches and "alerts" his/her handler. 

 

Tins

Tubes - the odor is placed on the q-tips

 

 

It was a busy morning - 3 exterior searches and 2 vehicle searches!

 

 

Let's do this!

 

Corwin & his dad finishing a 4 hide exterior search!  Erica telling them "Nice work guys!".



"When is it my turn?!"

 D'light did excellent on his first two exterior searches and then it was onto vehicles and one more exterior search.

Corwin's turn and he quickly located the 3 hides on the first vehicle search.

 

Found the first one and on to the next one...

Working to locate the odor - Corwin may be small but this boy can search!



"Alert!" and good job Corwin

D'light watching Corwin and taking notes!

 

Corwin and his dad working the last exterior - 2 hides in all that road equipment!
 

D'light waiting for his turn - both boys watching what's going on.  D'light happy to be sitting with Corwin's dad getting those lovely back of the hand touches!

 

Time for D'light to search!

D'light quickly locates odor...

"Alert"! He lets me know he's found it!

On to the next hide and it's up high in the drain spout. 

 

On to vehicles...

 

"Alert" - good work D'light

On to the next hide

"Alert!"

Next, we move to the tractor - this was a new vehicle for D'light and he did great!

 

He's in odor - meaning he knows the source of the odor is close

Taking in the odor, sorting out where the source of the odor is located

"I know where it is!"

"Alert!" - It's up high on the silver metal part.  He's getting his food reward for locating the hide

 

 

After we were done D'light was also done - he was asleep in his crate as we left the park. This is a lot of mental work and he and Corwin continue to impress us all! 

That was a ton of fun!!