chewytakesscent

Originally uploaded by Laura & the pack.

We are supposed to be preparing a short lecture for the Maryland pet expo. The lecture is at Noon on Sunday January 29, 2006 at the Timmonium fair grounds. I’m thinking a lot of the information we are going to chat about is available right here on the web site. What to do if your pet is missing. How the dogs may be able to help, what to expect and what not to expect from a canine resource.
In the spring I am going to take students that are interested in training their own dogs for pet detection. It is a lot of work! The program I developed should provide the knowledge skills and opportunity to train your dog to track missing pets.
We took some photos at the last training session here is one of Chewy smelling the scent article from River - the cat we hid in the woods for her to find. (River actually loves to hide since he gets as many treats when found as the dogs do.) When I make Chewy lay down and show her the article in the baggie and tell her to “mark” that scent she knows that is what she is looking for.
If you miss the lecture come say hello at the Pet Rescue of Maryland’s booth (they are an all breed dog and cat rescue organization.) – who knows perhaps you will find your own pet partner there.

fifiwalksinwoods

Originally uploaded by Laura & the pack.

Fifi is fostering at our house she is a delightful puppy. Fifi loves attention and everybody she has met. She had some “issues” with dogs in a previous foster home. So she is separate from the rest of the pack but goes with them to SAR training on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Mostly Fifi just walks in the woods gets out and about with other dogs and people. She is smart as the dickens and a fun happy puppy. I think she is listed on pet finder as a pitt beagle X. I suspect she might be American bulldog boxer cross instead. Of course, the advantage of rescuing a mutt is that you can let her be whatever you want her to be! She loves to play with her feet and does this wild throw herself the ground and run like a wild lady thing that is really lots of fun.

Emailing: 79167708_20126ee3e2_s

Originally uploaded by Laura & the pack.

Introducing pups to a variety of surfaces when young can pay off in a working dog later in life. Although Aron has never had a formal agility class she was surprisingly comfortable working in, on, and under the rubble at New Orleans when she assisted with recovery efforts. If you are starting with a young pup take them to as many different places as possible, keep them safe (getting hurt will not encourage the pup to explore.) Don’t put pressure on the pup just let them have fun at their own speed. I find introducing my puppies by bringing them to parks, playgrounds, woods hikes with kids that they like is an easy way to let the pup explore at his own speed. The kids play on ladders, tunnels, slides and the pups are usually right there in the middle of the fun.