New round of classes beginning April 24 and 26! Click for schedule info and to sign up.
Newborn puppies can use their nose from the moment they are born, up to three weeks before they can see or hear. For their entire lifetime the sense of smell is the most important way a dog interacts with the world. Just as most humans rely on our eyes and ears to pick up what’s happening around us, dogs use their scent organs to build a surprisingly detailed understanding of their environment. This not only makes them good at finding smells, it means that the act of seeking out odors is very gratifying to the dog, it fulfills a basic need.
Practicing scent work gives your dog a job to do, with the mental stimulation they need for a satisfied life; and it gives you the skills to help them succeed. K9 Nose Work is a formal method, which is both an organized sport with trial events and awards, and a game you can play casually anywhere and any time. It has low physical impact for both the dog and the person, making it accessible and well suited to different abilities and ages. The supplies we use are small and inexpensive. And it’s an excellent way to keep your dog entertained during cold and wet weather!
Good Work Dog offers individual and group classes for beginners and continuing practice. Our six-week Intro to Nose Work class builds excitement in your dog to search independently among boxes and other containers, in a process where the dog rewards themselves. In the course after that, we introduce specific target odors for them to seek. From there, classes will eventually cover:
- Closed containers
- Exteriors (outside a building or on the ground)
- Interiors (indoors, in rooms and halls)
- Vehicles (on cars and trucks)
- Buried (odor hidden under sand or water, for AKC trials)
Click here to sign up, or text me at 503 / 756 / 4690.
Guidelines:
We will provide the materials needed for class. You should bring high-value treats like cheese cubes or cooked meat, not bland biscuits or kibble. Some searches will be done off-leash; for the times we stay on leash, you will need a regular non-retractable leash around six feet or longer, and a plain collar or a body harness. We do not allow aversive collars in any space we use.
Dogs take turns in the class space one at a time, and they will stay in your car (or crated outside the class space) in between their turns. This means your dog will need to be comfortable waiting without distress in their car or crate. If your dog has separation anxiety or other difficulty being left in the car, you or a partner can wait with them until we call your turn. Otherwise, people are welcome and encouraged to stay in the class space and watch all the other participants do their searches. For each turn you will leave the class space, go get your dog, bring them in to search, and then take them back out to your car. We may be able to provide a crate during class, or other accomodations to help you get in and out of the space–please ask in advance. Dogs may not interact with each other during class.
Nose Work is not intended as a treatment for reactivity, but dogs generally benefit from the enrichment in it, and some reactive dogs are allowed in class. We will do our best to arrange the class to help your dog feel calm and safe. Please discuss your dog’s reactivity with us before class.
Classes run one hour long, on Fridays and Sundays; check the signup page for times. Classes will be held at West Slope, 97225, where Portland borders Beaverton and Raleigh Hlls. Each class is $35 ($25 for each additional dog you bring) and each course is six classes. We require 48 hours notice for cancellation refunds. Classes will often be video recorded by either the instructor or the students. If you do not want yourself or your dog on camera, please let us know. And if you would like the instructor or a classmate to video your search, just ask.
You do not need any supplies besides treats! When we get to the Odor Pairing course we will provide a few basic scented swabs for practice at home, and tips on how to use DIY materials. For the more advanced searchers, you can purchase odor kits, tins, and “pairing pods” from a number of online vendors, such as this one on the NACSW site. Essential oils for odor can typically be found at health food stores.
Click here to sign up, or text me at 503 / 756 / 4690.
