While I dealt with sniffles after the trifecta of viruses that somehow managed to “find” me during the last two months, Buzz and Aidan’s noses were sniffing out scents for “finds” learning a dog sport called scent work.
I’ve been told that many dogs love this sniffing game and that a dog’s sense of smell is between 10,000 to 100,000 times more acute than a human’s. I’m not sure what that means, exactly, but it’s sure a lot of zeroes.
The sport is described as “a positive, challenging activity that allows dogs the opportunity to use their strongest natural sense in a way that is fun, engaging, and that builds and strengthens a foundation of trust between the handler and dog.”
But since it’s a sport I know virtually nothing about, I decided to take lessons to make sure we got off on the right paw, with high hopes that the boys would enjoy an activity that tires them out mentally, but is not as physically taxing as Rally.
This new chapter is for Buzz as he approaches 11 years old, and his eminent retirement from Rally this month. Tollers need to do stuff and I hope that this low impact activity will become his new fun game.
So between illnesses that came in waves, and the mysterious canine respiratory illness that’s been in the news, I chose to have a trainer come to my house to start teaching us all about AKC scent work.
It’s a sport where the boys search for four different scents — birch, anise, cypress and clove – in all kinds of different settings.
I have to “read” their behavior and it’s up to them to train me that they’ve found one of these scents. This role reversal from trainer to trainee has been an interesting turnaround for me. One that I’m doing my best to embrace – while also trying not to get in the way or curb the boys’ enthusiasm.
According to the AKC rules: “AKC scent work is a sport that is based on the task of working detection dogs to locate a scent and communicate to the handler that the scent has been found. Detection is done in a variety of environments and often during challenging conditions.”
We’re about to have lesson number 3 this week, and so far, both boys are enjoying this change of pace. As is to be expected, though, they approach “a search” in two totally different ways.
Steady Eddy Buzz is methodical checking everywhere in an area and so proud of himself when he finds it.
Aidan flits around like a bee pollinating flowers, often passing it several times and then wham, he makes a sharp turn in the direction and “indicates” where it is.
Since there’s no right or wrong way to do it, but there is a time limit, I just try to go with their individual styles. I will admit I appreciate Buzz’s meticulousness, and find Aidan’s chaotic approach a bit over the top. But I remind myself that Aidan’s still a puppy at just 17 months old. They are two very different dogs so it shouldn’t surprise me that his approach to scent work mimics his approach to life. I’ve described Aidan to someone recently as a little kid who just ate three candy bars, pinging off the walls.
I have no idea how long before we’ll be ready to show in scent work, since we’re still at the beginning stages, but I’m hoping I’ll be “searching” for competitions to enter to take our sniffing skills on the road by mid-year.
And there will be updates on these emerging sniffing adventures in the new year.
