Scent Work

Oh Rats Dog Training, LLC

What a Good Dog! Canine Good Citizen Prep Class 6 weeks, $125

This class is the next class following Puppy Kindergarten

Canine Good Citizen Test Items - these are the areas that we focus on in class. One the final night, you and your dog will take the test at no extra charge.

1. Accepting a friendly stranger Evaluator approaches and pretends to shake hands with handler
(hands 6- 12” apart). Evaluator does not touch dog.

2. Sitting politely for petting Evaluator pets dog; dog must show no shyness or resentment.
3. Appearance and grooming Evaluator inspects dog, combs or brushes lightly, examines ears and each front foot.
4. Out for a walk Handler takes dog for a short walk including right turn, left turn, about turn and stop.
5. Walking through a crowd Dog and handler walk close to several people; dog may show causal interestbut not jump up.
6. Sit and down on cue/Staying in place Handler shows that dog can do both sit and down, then chooses a position, leaves dog and goes to the end of a 20 ft. line, and returns immediately.
7. Coming when called With dog still on 20 ft. line from Test 6, handler walks out 10 ft. and calls the dog.
8. Reaction to another dog Two handlers and dogs approach, pretend to shake hands (hands 6-12” apart), exchange pleasantries, then move on.
9. Reaction to distractions Distractions are presented; dog may not panic or show aggression.
10. Supervised separation Handler goes out of sight for 3-min. Dog is held on a 6-ft. leash by an evaluator.

Advanced/Ring Ready Obedience 6 weeks, $125 taught by Chris Gremo

Improve your focus and heeling skills and get ready to enter your first show! AKC rules and exercises will be discussed and practiced. Depending on the level of dogs, Open and Utility exercises may also be used.

Canine Good Citizen Advanced 4 weeks, $100

Testing included at the end of the class.

be registered or listed with AKC (AKC number, PAL, or AKC Canine Partners number) and,
already have a Canine Good Citizen award/title on record.
Dogs must pass all 10 items of the test to receive the CGCA title.

Dog stands, sits or lies down and waits under control while the owner:sits at the registration table and fills out paperwork, or,
if the test is done in the community, dog waits while the owner sits and has a snack or visits with another person (e.g., at a park)
Walks on a loose leash in a natural situation (not in a ring) — does not pull.left turn
right turn
stop
fast and slow pace
Walks on loose leash through a crowd:at a show or in class, this item is tested in a real crowd, not in a ring
in the community, dog walks on sidewalk, through a crowd at a community fair, park, on a trail, through a busy hallway, etc.
Dog walks past distraction dogs present; does not pull.
This item may be tested along with #3 if there are dogs in the crowd, etc.at a show or class, dog walks by dogs waiting in the crowd–dogs 2 ft. apart
in the community, dog walks by other dogs on a trail, sidewalk, in a hallway, etc.
Sit-stay in small group (two other people with dogs, total of 3 people, 3 dogs in group).
Dog allows person who is carrying something (backpack, computer bag, etc.) to approach and pet it.
“May I pet your dog?” (Item is placed on floor/ground before the person pets the dog)
“Leave it.” Dog walks by food and follows owner instructions, “Leave it.”
This can be food placed by the evaluator on the floor or ground in a food dish with a wire cover as in Rally.
Down or sit stay — distance (owner’s choice).
Dog is on 20–ft line, owner walks away with back to dog, picks up an item (e.g., backpack, training bag, clipboard, folder etc.) placed on the floor/chair/ground by the evaluator and returns to the dog.
Recall with distractions present (coming when called). Handler goes out 20–ft. **(off center) and calls dog.
Dog is on the 20–ft. line from #8 above.

Dog will sit or stand stay (owner’s choice) while owner enters/exits a doorway or narrow passageway. Owner calls dog through door when ready.
Owner may also choose to:send the dog through first and have the dog wait for the owner, or
the owner may choose to have the dog go through the doorway at the owner’s side.
Whichever method is used, the dog must not pull the owner and must be under good control. Think of the handler having the leash in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.
Doorway or gate can be real or simulated with ring gates, two chairs, or a natural passageway (e.g., entrance to trail) in the community.

BARN HUNT CLASSES

TRIAL VIDEOS

All scent work classes are 6 weeks for a fee of $125 Classes are taught by Bernadette Stahlkopf

Introduction to Scent Work

This class is the base class for all upper levels - Handlers will learn about both AKC and NACSW scent work organizations as well as trialing and the search areas of containers, interiors, exteriors, buried, vehicles, and handler discrimination.Additionally, dog and handler teams will be introduced to the "searching" process as well as the scents themselves: Birch, Anis, Clove, and Cypress. BIRCH will be the primary scent used at this level.All levels of scent work - AKC: Novice, Advanced, Excellent, Master, and Detective will be discussed and include the secondary Elite levels. NACSW trials will be also be discussed - NW1, NW2, and NW3. The focus and intent of this class is to prepare dog/handler teams for trialing at the novice level.

Novice & Advanced Scent Work

This class is a continuation of the introductory class and will include both novice and advanced search areas - novice with one "hide" and advanced having two "hides." Special attention is paid to each dog's signals so handlers will increase their ability to read their dog's alerts.Handlers will begin using the "ALERT" call and a continuation of rules will be discussed and/or used to further each handler's knowledge. Scent levels change in advanced and class searches will reflect this skill. It is at this level that non-food distractors will be used: Toys, collar, or leash. Additionally, handlers will begin using the "finish" call at the end of their search. Searches will be timed appropriate to the number of hides.

Advanced & Excellent Scent Work

Continuing, advanced searches will branch into excellent levels with excellent searches having three "hides" and increased search time. Distractors will include food AND non-food items. Special attention is given to room structures, walls, and appropriate height levels for hides. **Please note that handlers should have a solid understanding of trial rules by this time and/or level**

Master & Detective Scent Work

These are the two highest competitive levels for AKC scent work and therefore, the most difficult. Multiple room searches and an unknown number of hides are practiced. Food, non-food, human, toys, mimic, and noise distractions are practiced at this level. Inaccessible hides are used at these levels.