We started a new class today. It is called Nose Sport. It was so much fun. Our new instructor is very nice and so knowledgeable. She works with everyone so well.
Pirate, Quest and Spirit had taken K9 Nose work classes before and they loved it. Then we found out that the Essential Oil, Birch, that the organization uses as one of the search odors is dangerous for dogs. We notified one of the founders of the organization, that we were concerned about having our dogs breathe it, or come in contact with this oil and the only answer we got was that "like chocolate, a little would not hurt". After checking with five different veterinarians we could find no acceptable reason to subject our dogs to this unnecessary danger when there are so many other safe choices. So we are now in our own class and the odor we are using is vanilla. Everyone is happy with it and the dogs are doing great! We will not be able to compete in trials, but the safety and health of our dogs is more important to our group than competition. So we will be using safe odors that are approved by our veterinarians until or unless what we consider better thinking prevails with the K9 Nose work organization.
Today was our first class. I took Journey in first, as he had never tried it. He was so cute. He sat beside my chair so straight and tall. He was very interested. When it was his turn to search the boxes for the first time, he took it very seriously. The boxes were spread out around the room and he quickly found the box with the small metal tin which contained vanilla scent. We had a "party" of praise and treats and then he got to try it again. He is thoroughly convinced that he is just as amazing as I told him he was.
As other dogs took their turns, I switched dogs and brought Pirate in. He is sort of an expert, as he has been doing this for quite a while. He has never used vanilla though and I was wondering how easy it would be to switch him to a different odor. I let him sniff the odor and he then went to the boxes and found the right one almost immediately.
Quest was just as good. He was actually a little less distracted and the second box he went to was the one with the vanilla.
Spirit just could not be left out, and although he needs a little help going up the entry stairs, once he was inside he headed for the boxes immediately. After sniffing two boxes, he found the odor. He may be elderly, but there is nothing wrong with his nose. It is wonderful to see him working again and so interested in performing. He was very proud of himself each time he was successful. He only did two searches today, but possibly he will do more as he works up to it.
This is a wonderful sport and I especially like it because the dogs are the only ones who know how to do it. Humans make the rules, but the dogs are the only ones who really know what they are doing. There is no way we could do it. This is truly their game!
