Scent discrimination exercise

[Catsi]

I've decided that I'd like to train Abby to do the obedience scent discrimination exercise. I've got a full set of leather, wood and metal things (the name has escaped me!!).

I thought I'd run through how I am thinking that I'll train the first step and see what you guys think. I'd love to hear how you trained it.

I'm going to start with the leather because I have a feeling she'll not really like the metal in her mouth and I'd like to build up value for the exercise before introducing it.

I'm going to introduce the leather and click and treat for interest in it. She's used to shaping so she should be happy to interact with it and I envisage that she will voluntarily put her mouth around it. I have a feeling that she might not pick it up herself though...

Once Abby is happily interacting with it I will pick it up and hold it out and see what behaviours she'll offer. Eventually I think she'll start holding it, albeit for a small amount of time.

Once she is holding it, I'll add a release word. Always building up the value.

Then I start placing it down close by and hopefully she'll pick it up and bring it too me. I forgot to add that the sit will also form part of the behaviour she offers me (in my mind anyway lol).

And I haven't thought any further ahead than that.

Any thoughts? I'm going to get started today.

 

[SpringerLover]

I would teach the retrieve of the article separately from the discrimination. I've found that a LOT of dogs will naturally choose the one with your scent when presented with one scented, and one unscented object. And then you build on that. I c/t when the dog indicates the correct article (I usually want a nose touch or at the very least a head bob toward it).

I don't put all the piece together (wait, send, retrieve, sit in front, out, finish) until the actual discrimination is solid.

 

[Catsi]

I would teach the retrieve of the article separately from the discrimination. I've found that a LOT of dogs will naturally choose the one with your scent when presented with one scented, and one unscented object. And then you build on that. I c/t when the dog indicates the correct article (I usually want a nose touch or at the very least a head bob toward it).

I don't put all the piece together (wait, send, retrieve, sit in front, out, finish) until the actual discrimination is solid.

Ahh, ok. So you would teach the discrimination first? Or the retrieve? I thought the retrieve first... even though my scent will be all over it anyway and once we have that all, I'd introduce one unscented article and build from there.

Should I teach the discrimination first and then the rest separately before putting it all together?

 

[Emily]

Denis Fenzi has a great video on how she teaches SD exercises. I'm planning on ordering some tins and trying it soon! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj8ownH511o

 

[SpringerLover]

Ahh, ok. So you would teach the discrimination first? Or the retrieve? I thought the retrieve first... even though my scent will be all over it anyway and once we have that all, I'd introduce one unscented article and build from there.

Should I teach the discrimination first and then the rest separately before putting it all together?

You can teach them concurrently, they'd just be different training sessions initially. And I wouldn't use the scent object as the retrieve object.

 

[MrsBoats]

There's a good booklet out there on Dogwise called Click N Sniff - http://www.dogwise.com/ItemDetails.cfm?ID=DTO210

This is more or less how I taught Lars scent articles. It's very structured with distinct guidelines on how and when to move forwards with training articles.

 

[MicksMom]

Denis Fenzi has a great video on how she teaches SD exercises. I'm planning on ordering some tins and trying it soon! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj8ownH511o

I thought you were talking about Nosework when you mentioned tins until I looked at the link. Cool idea. Looks like I'llbe saving Altoid tins for more than Nosework. :lol-sign:

 

[Catsi]

Denis Fenzi has a great video on how she teaches SD exercises. I'm planning on ordering some tins and trying it soon! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj8ownH511o

Loved the video. Reminds me that there is a lot you can do with scent discrimination.

I love watching training videos, but the first time I run through it I'm always mesmerised by the dog in it and barely take anything in. Especially cute, growing, awkward but enthusiastic puppies!! Love it.

Have to watch multiple times anyway to pick up stuff I miss. Life is tough lol.