HPIM2644

Originally uploaded by Laura & the pack.

We are still looking for a home for Fifi. She is such a great dog, here she is playing with Ursa. Aron is getting in shape to take her 160-Acre search and rescue dog test so Fifi has been doing some serious hiking with us. Now that little dog has plenty of endurance! If anyone is looking for a hiking or running partner. My friend AJ Gordon, another dog trainer in the Columbia area has been baby-sitting Fifi while I am out of town. He and his rottweiler Oz are making huge progress in her manners skills.

PHOT0063

Originally uploaded by Laura & the pack.

We were in Michigan mid June to teach at a Man trailing seminar. While there we could not pass up the opportunity to do a little water introduction training as well. Zoey & Chewy got a ride on a pontoon boat, in my opinion a great water search dog starts with a great search dog that is comfortable on a boat. After that it is just handler skills learning to read the dog and understand the water environments effect on scent transport.  It is human nature to try to do everything at once.  If we break things down for the dogs it may seem to take a little longer initially however in the long run we will get a stronger finished product a lot more efficiently.

Lost pet detection seminar, It has been in the works for a while, finally I am pinning down a date and working to coordinate the first lost pet detection canine training seminar. It is an opportunity to learn to train your dog for lost pet detection The techniques used are the same ones I teach for training SAR dogs in several disciplines trailing, cadaver, and airscent. All of the techniques are used on pet searches depending on the individual situation. This seminar is geared toward the beginner it introduces many concepts and techniques to start your dog working. You will still need to put an awful lot of hard work into training the dog. Additional support will be provided through individual coaching and feedback as you train, and additional increasingly advanced seminars provided in the future. The seminar is scheduled to run the weekend of September 14, 15, 16, 17 2006. For more information please feel free to email or call Laura vtotis@carr.org (410) 236-2788

Snifferdog Seminar for Trainers and Evaluators September 30/October 1, 2006 Hampstead MarylandPrice $150.00This seminar is for instructors and enthusiasts interested in adding snifferdog training and instinct testing to their curriculum. This seminar introduces students to the sport and a protocol to teach a level I snifferdog class. It is also intended to certify evaluators for the snifferdog instinct test.Snifferdog is article searching for fun. It is a teamwork sport that almost any dog and human of any age and physical ability can participate in. It is a great foundation for training tracking dogs to locate and indicate articles.

Syllabus

1) Introduction to the sport of snifferdog

• The instinct test
• What it is & how it works
• Put students dogs through the snifferdog instinct test

2)  Introducing the instinct test evaluator program

3)  The level one test

• What it is and how it works

4)   Introduction to some training protocols

• The start
• The indication
• The search
• Working together
• Scent transport theory
• Teamwork & search strategy

5)  Snifferdog level I test if any students are ready and want to take it.

To register or FMI

Email vtotis@carr.org