"Scent Games" to play with your dog....

[Brooke&Ryan]

Hi Guys---

Since re-reading "Bones Would Rain..." by Suzanne Clothier, I have been re-reading the articles on her website (www.flyingdogpress). I found this article that she wrote awhile ago & thought I would post it again for people with new puppies or some of our new members. Julius LOVES all of the games she lists in this article.

http://www.flyingdogpress.com/scntgame.html

Julius just LOVES this game... We actually have a glove that I stuff in my back pocket & just happen to drop....

WHAT A KLUTZ This game allows you to show the dog how important his nose is to you. Dogs like to feel useful, and this particular game helps boost a dog's confidence and self importance. As you are walking, discreetly drop an object you have been carrying or held in your pocket. Continue walking for 10-15 steps, then stop as if mildly concerned, patting your pockets and looking around. Here's your chance to really put on a performance! Ask the dog, "Where is it? Can you help? Can you FIND IT?"

Begin walking back towards the spot where you dropped the article, encouraging the dog to sniff the ground by pointing and telling him to FIND IT. As you get closer to the object, give the dog a little room so that he can find it all by himself. If he needs help, try a subtle kick of the object (after all, you are the klutz who dropped it - why not go ahead and trip over it too?) to bring it to his attention while you pretend not to notice. Once the dog indicates the article, make a huge fuss over this genius who has saved you from dropping an old glove!

Vary the type of article you use, and be sure to include metal objects such as car keys, a crumpled soda can, even a ring or bracelet you have worn. Obviously, be careful when you drop these and be sure you can find them again! Don't use valuable items - just facsimiles. Your dog's ability and willingness to work on metal objects will be helpful in the Utility ring, but more importantly, this skill could come in very handy some day should you lose your car keys. NOTE: Metal/hard objects do not hold scent as well as fabric or leather. This does not mean that your dog can't find them, just that his reaction may be different and he will probably have to work closer to the object before locating it.

The difficulty of WHAT A KLUTZ can be increased by: longer periods of time between the drop and the search, having the object thrown to the side or even off the path you are traveling, and multiple object drops. Especially fun are surprise set-ups where you plant an object along a path before taking the dog that way. You may point out the object to the dog with a question of "What's that?" and praise him for investigating, or walk past it and then send him back with a FIND IT command. This is a great preparation for tracking dogs who must learn to indicate on found items. A final twist for tracking prospects is the addition of objects dropped by people other than yourself. Be warned - this can be so much fun for the dog that he'll gladly show you all the neat trash dropped by other folks along the street, in the rest areas, etc.! John had been shown some unusual objects by his dogs while simply out walking.

Brooke

[moondog]

Funny you should post this today...

I doggysat my son's dog today and we played "Which Cone Is It?" Put her tennis ball under one cone and encouraged her to knock it over for the ball. Then used 3 cones without her knowing which one the ball was under and asked her "Where is it, Gracie?" She caught on fast...nailed it 3 out of 3 times and came away with her prize very proud of herself...

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by moondog

and came away with her prize very proud of herself...

It's amazing how proud they are of themselves, isn't it?!?

Julius must think I'm one of the most forgetful people who is constantly losing things. The other day I dropped my hair holder on the ground during our walk & he had to go "find it..." He probably thinks "Crap, she lost something else...."

But his happy dance & prance once he finds it is just priceless! They really ARE proud of themselves.

[Cash]

Originally Posted by Brooke&Ryan

It's amazing how proud they are of themselves, isn't it?!?

Julius must think I'm one of the most forgetful people who is constantly losing things. The other day I dropped my hair holder on the ground during our walk & he had to go "find it..." He probably thinks "Crap, she lost something else...."

But his happy dance & prance once he finds it is just priceless! They really ARE proud of themselves.

This is a great game. The only thing I manage to leave behind is my spare set of keys. Not the worst tragedy in the world, but I'll make it a game. He is sooooooo thrilled with himself each and every time he finds them. I know he is thinking...if only the mom was as smart.

[miccmill]

This sounds like a great game. I think Hanna's gonna love it.

We'll be trying it out today. Thanks for posting this.

[alexav]

That's a fun one, Brooke.
Another one I learned recently is "The spoon pile".
Buy or dig out some old spoons, 8-10. Let your dog watch you arrange them on the floor and put squeez-cheese or peanut butter on one. Send your dog with a happy "Find Mine!".
It's a prep/imprint for utility but fun for the average dog too. Really gets the dog using that nose and Rushing in to the article pile when (and if )that time comes.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by alexav

That's a fun one, Brooke.
Another one I learned recently is "The spoon pile".
Buy or dig out some old spoons, 8-10. Let your dog watch you arrange them on the floor and put squeez-cheese or peanut butter on one. Send your dog with a happy "Find Mine!".
It's a prep/imprint for utility but fun for the average dog too. Really gets the dog using that nose and Rushing in to the article pile when (and if )that time comes.

Ooooh, how fun. So then do you turn the spoons upside down so that the cheese/peanut butter isn't visible?

I'm thinking Julius would LOVE that game.

[alexav]

Originally Posted by Brooke&Ryan

Ooooh, how fun. So then do you turn the spoons upside down so that the cheese/peanut butter isn't visible?

I'm thinking Julius would LOVE that game.

I put a thin line of SC down the lower part of the handle on the back of the spoon and place them right side up. That way they have to pick it up or otherwise turn it to get to the yummy side.

Oops, almost forgot! Be ready....If the dog picks up the spoon and brings it back to you, reload it quick and let him lick it. See where this is going?

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by alexav

I put a thin line of SC down the lower part of the handle on the back of the spoon and place them right side up. That way they have to pick it up or otherwise turn it to get to the yummy side.

Oops, almost forgot! Be ready....If the dog picks up the spoon and brings it back to you, reload it quick and let him lick it. See where this is going?

Well we are going to try the spoon game tonight. I'll be sure to take some pictures!

[miccmill]

We just came in from our little 10minute walk. I took my gardening glove in my back pocket and dropped it, walked about 3 feet from it, now she's about 8 feet from it and said "OPPS, Find it Hannah" I must admit, I did demonstrate what I meant by "find it" by bending over and looking at the ground which she immediately mimicked. She found it, looked at me and I said "GOOOOD FIND, YEAAAA" Then she picked it up and shook it LOL then did a perfect out.

We have a grassy park like mall in the middle of the street with street and houses on each side and we had maximun distractions tonight. Kids playing, people walking by, cars and a loose poodle! So I'm very proud of her for playing the game and not tuning out.
Of course I told her she was the smartest dog on the street

[BostonRott]

Cool game, I'm going to try it out with Xcel, he definitely likes using his nose.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by miccmill

Of course I told her she was the smartest dog on the street

That's because she IS the smartest doggie on the street!