Best Way to Correct Sniffing?

[Muckdogs]

The only time learning stops is when we are dead. And even that is uncertain.

[MontanaRott]

Originally Posted by Muckdogs

The only time learning stops is when we are dead. And even that is uncertain.

Oh I believe that is when the REAL lessons begin.
So how is it going Patty? Have you had a chance to work a bit with the boy and see how he responds?

[Patty1231]

Well, it was raining all morning so I'm waiting for a break to take him out for more practice but we did go up to the park yesterday with OB collar and lead in hand and practiced in a graveled parking lot and a grassy area. I corrected him each time he went to sniff and said "ah ah, watch me". He started getting the idea by the time we were ready to just head out for our walk. I didn't want to overdo it because he'd just get bored and then we'd probably do more damage than good. Mount Rushmore wasn't completed in a day, after all. I also ran him through it again in the back yard last night but, of course, he always does well there but he did try to sniff a couple times and I corrected each and rewarded when he responded the way I wanted. I think I'm going to leave here pretty soon and try some training at the high school. If he does well, I'll take him out for ice cream - it is National Ice Cream Day, after all. Thanks for asking and we'll let you know how we're progressing.

[diddybopper04]

Another thing you can try as far as proofing is to bait the area where you are going to be working. Work the dog in and around the baited area, and reward him really well for paying attention. Then I would make sure he is safely confined once you are done. Go out and let him see you pick up all the tidbits, and then go and feed them to him all at once. He will learn this way that altho there may be a lot of really good smells around, if he does his work, he gets a nice reward.

[MontanaRott]

Originally Posted by Patty1231

Well, it was raining all morning so I'm waiting for a break to take him out for more practice but we did go up to the park yesterday with OB collar and lead in hand and practiced in a graveled parking lot and a grassy area. I corrected him each time he went to sniff and said "ah ah, watch me". He started getting the idea by the time we were ready to just head out for our walk. I didn't want to overdo it because he'd just get bored and then we'd probably do more damage than good. Mount Rushmore wasn't completed in a day, after all. I also ran him through it again in the back yard last night but, of course, he always does well there but he did try to sniff a couple times and I corrected each and rewarded when he responded the way I wanted. I think I'm going to leave here pretty soon and try some training at the high school. If he does well, I'll take him out for ice cream - it is National Ice Cream Day, after all. Thanks for asking and we'll let you know how we're progressing.

Sounds good so far! Phil does the same thing each session is short and sweet and ended on a high note for the dog. We worry about Guerin getting bored or burned out also and then being flat at trial. I love how when you have laid a good foundation with Watch me, it translates well into all areas of training, and proofing! Phil is working with our new rescue on the watch me, command. Enjoy the ICE CREAM!

[diddybopper04]

I see a lot of people use the "watch me" command for attention. Pesonally, I've always used the dog's NAME to demand attention, since in many venues, you can use the dog's name before each exercise. Legal cheating, IMO.

[MontanaRott]

We do use the name in addition to watch me. As well as a treat next to the face for a bit to help him keep eye contact. Our pup is 18 mo old and we are still proofing and laying foundation. Watch me can be fazed out as the dog learns what you are looking for. Guerin Ready? Is what they used when trialing.

[mickeymichellie]

One thing I found helpful was using a keyword for attention. "Ready" is a great one since that is something you normally say in the ring anyway. It should have the same effect as "watch me" and should alert the dog to the fact that you are working. Try small spirts to keep your dog interested. When you are out for a walk - stop, a quick "ready", reward for a quick look, 15 seconds of heeling, big praise for attention, continue on walk. If you drill everytime he will loose interest.

[fbkeays]

Fizbin is a tracking dog. He loves to use his nose. We also do obedience. We let the formal obedience "slide" while we worked on tracking. He knows what tracking is all about. So when I decided that we were going to get serious about the obedience, I taught him, "no sniff". When we were in the obedience mode, and he put his head down to sniff, I told him, "no sniff", and swung my foot into his nose. It didn't take him long to figure out, when I told him, "no sniff", that he had better get his nose off the ground. A few weeks ago he was at a show and air sniffing. I knew there was a bitch in heat near by and he was finding that out. I told him, "no sniff", and he immediately stopped his air sniffing and looked at me.
When we are heeling, he had better not be sniffing either. The above was done during "casual" time, ie before he was under a heel or stay command.
I haven't found doing collar corrections did much except make my arm tired. The swinging toe just under the nose worked for me.