Posts by Dog Talk with Julie
Foster Dogs Love Nose Work
I’ve had several rescue/foster dogs in my nose work classes and every once in a while I see one that really “gets” it and shows great potential for competition. Meet Birdie! Birdie’s completed Intro to Nose Work (1) and (2). She’s about a year old, 35 lbs., and friendly with people, dogs and cats. She…
Read MoreLucy – a Nose Work Love Story
We called her the world’s biggest beagle, back in 2018 when Lucy first came to Encore Enrichment Center for Shelter Dogs. Although clearly there was some yellow Lab mixed in for good measure. Lucy had been adopted twice and returned twice. Her ability to scale chain link fences and desire not to be alone in…
Read MoreNose Work Trials – Competition for You and Your Dog
Some folks love the thrill of competition while for others, it’s just not their thing. A great way to find out before you commit is to volunteer at a trial. There’s several opportunities coming up this spring. I love love love nose work. It builds confidence, grows a bond between owner and dog, and burns…
Read MoreNosework Helps Rescue Dogs
Nose work is a great activity for all dogs, and it can really help shelter/rescue dogs while they are waiting for adoption. For a little while, they can forget the noise and the smells of being surrounded by other dogs who want nothing more than what most pet dogs take for granted. A home. A…
Read MoreGraduating Class
The weather is hot and so are these newest Introduction to Nose Work (1) graduates! Let’s give a round of applause to these great searcher teams, who finished their six-week session in flying colors. Included in the group is Elvis, who is currently in rescue and available for adoption. He’s a sweetheart hound in Jacksonville…
Read MoreCongratulations!
Happy graduation! We’re so proud of Sarah D. with Zukun, Sarah F. and Nova, and Elizabeth with Chip – who all passed Introduction to Nose Work 1 this week. What great searcher teams! These great pups learned how to search in and out of boxes both inside and outside. They also got introduced to vehicle…
Read MoreOur Newest Nose Work Grads
Congratulations to our newest Introduction to Nose Work (1) graduates! On March 8, these great pups and their handlers completed the six-week course. They learned how to search for food in boxes, out of boxes, and on objects in the room. We even did one class on how to search a vehicle. The main goal…
Read MoreSuspended Hide Drill
As your dog becomes more experienced in nose work, he or she will start working on elevated hides (those that are too high for a dog to reach, at least initially) and suspended hides (those hanging from a ceiling or overhead structure). My advanced class students and their dogs have been already been introduced to…
Read MoreBefore She Goes
Her time is drawing nearer, but I want to write this now. While I can still hug her neck and bury my fingers in her thick fur. While she can still walk, even though her back legs tremble. While she can see, and hear, and eat, and carry the Frisbee in her mouth like a…
Read MoreClass Graduation!
We had a reason to celebrate on Saturday, Dec. 10 – it was graduation day for the first Introduction to Odor class at the new facility! During this session the dogs learned that the novel odors of birch and anise were valuable and worth searching for. We did searches in boxes, out of boxes, outdoors,…
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