Staging the Search Area for K9 Scent Work | #DingleDaysPodcast 005

Staging the Search Area for K9 Scent Work | #DingleDaysPodcast 005

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Geryah discusses the basics of staging an AKC Scent Work training area for dog owners. She describes her checklist for preparing you for your next trial better.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET STARTED:

No one wants to be the handler with a dog that showed up to game day ill-prepared. In this episode, I explain how you can set up an AKC Scent Work Novice practice area to prepare you for your next trial better. When getting started with scent work trials, aka “competitions,” one must first understand that there are two scent work trial divisions: 1) the odor search division where the dog searches for odor of essential oil and (2) the handler discrimination division. These are go/no-go events. So, you either qual or you don’t. You’re looking to the dog to communicate to the handler that the scent has been found. This indication is referred to as “a change in behavior” (i.e., pawing, lie down, nose to target, something like that). You can pretty much train for this anywhere, and I explain to you referencing some equipment lying around your house.

Here’s our checklist...

- Our scent (for novice search work, we will use Birch)

- Our containers (for novice search work, the container should be identical, and we need 10 of them)

- The arrangement should be two rows of 5

- Our spacing - 12” all around and 36” between rows (this is to allow for maximum accessibility for all persons and dogs with potential handicaps that require assistance devices)

- Our boundaries - at a minimum, you must mark the four corners of your search area. You can use things like tape, plastic fencing, chalk, flags, or anything else that’s capable of marking your search area

- Number of hides: for novice scent work, there should be no surprises. There will only be one known hide at this level

- Time limit: you’ve got two minutes to get ur’ done. That’s right; you’re on the clock, so make sure to practice accordingly

- Distractions: None, nada, zip! That’s right; the dogs have enough going on at this level without us interjecting any fodder (That’s right none-this course is for newbs!

- Required calls: this one is for you, the handler; you only need to call the alerts at this level (other calls might be to call a finish, for example, but worry about that down the road)

- So how big should it be? Well, about 200-400 square feet when all is said and done

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MY FREE K9 SCENT WORK SCORESHEET!

HERE ARE THE KEY TAKEAWAYS OF THIS EPISODE:

[01:06] Introduction to staging the search area

[1:07] Scents

[1:40] Containers

[2:20] The arrangement

[3:15] Spacing

[3:50] The boundaries

[5:00] The number of hides

[5:30] Calling your alert

[5:48] Time limit

[6:30] Distractions

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE

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Continue to Get After It!

– Dingle Days

Hi, I’m Geryah! I am a dog lover and enthusiast whose life is enriched every day by the company of my furry friend. I started training dogs in 2017, when I decided to make my passion a reality. I film, edit, and post training and pet photography videos with my GSD, Disney on my YouTube Channel: Dingle Days. My mission is to train dogs and teach people to enable pets to best share in our lives.