Nose work can sometimes mean dirty work. Nose work is a sport which can be done just about anywhere, including using super dirty machinery sitting in mud. For dogs, it only adds to the fun for our noses.
The main reason Mom took us to sniff in the dirt and mud is our trial this coming weekend on a farm in Iowa, I’d say we are guaranteed some dirt, distracting smells, and most likely some machinery searches. Bailie is going for her Nose Work 1 Title on Saturday, her Level 1 Vehicle Element Title Sunday, and I’ll try for my Level 2 Vehicle Title Sunday. What a better way to work on sniffing vehicles on a farm than sniffing several dirty, muddy pieces of machinery in practice?
I started out the search on one of the really messy tracks of the bulldozer.
The mud was not an issue for me as I found the hide right away.
Bailie was also right on her game with the bulldozer.
She also is working on her alert signal, which is improving.
Another reason to work on odd vehicles like these is to keep us from being fearful of big pieces of machinery. You may recall we went to a John Deere store to sniff last year for the same reason.
The third reason for practicing our nose work is to work on some of our skills. Many hides are out of our reach unless we get up on our back two paws. I really don’t like to do that and prefer to point at the hide with my nose, but Mom wants us to work on actually jumping up. The hide above the bucket on this machine was a good place to make me jump. In a trial my pointing nose might suffice for a “yes” from the judge, but Mom doesn’t want me to get lazy.
In practice she often demands that we get our noses right up to the hide if it is possible. I did well jumping up to get my nose right on the source.
Bailie is better about jumping up to investigate the source of the odor. I think part of that is her personality, and also she is much younger than I am.
With nose work, I work really hard and do my very best, but Bailie likes to cheat, or be real lax. Forcing her to actually jump up and get her nose to the source is really important to stop her from getting away with too much laziness.
And…up she goes! She did a really good job not being distracted and getting her nose to source. Now all she has to do is apply herself at the trials this weekend! We are pretty excited and sure hope we can bring home some titles!
wow you even can work with the biggest rides! and nothing can fool your nose you will find the source no matter where it is :o)
Let’s hope nothing can fool our noses this upcoming weekend.
Good luck with the trials – I bet you guys do great!
We are hoping. The titles are ours at this point, we can either do it or mess it all up. We are trying to do it right.
You both did great! I will keep my toes and paws crossed for you this weekend. XOXO Sparkle
It was a fun little search practice.
Good luck this weekend. Paws crossed.
Mom is channeling positive thoughts to herself and Bailie as she is the main focus of the weekend, but I hope to do well with my vehicle opportunity too.
That does look like great practice. It’s a dirty job, but you guys did great!
Dirt can be fun and challenging!
Mom had a good idea letting you sniff that good stuff. Did you get to roll in it?
Lily & Edward
Nope, had to concentrate on sniffing only.
We really do think you should have been allowed a bit of wallowing in the mud after all your hard work ;-).
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
We got muddy paws and got to make muddy paw prints on our seat protectors in the car.
We have our paws crossed for you. That looks like so much fun for those of us with great noses.
We can’t wait. Hopefully it will go well.
you did such an awesome job finding those hidden smells girls and so brave not to be scared of those big machines
We aren’t scared of big stuff, but the awesome smells can be distracting.
Nosework looks like so much fun! I hope I can get into it soon!
We hope so too. It is just the absolute best.
Can’t wait to see what happens in Iowa! I’ve already been there and it’s fun! Love Dolly
I’ll be seeing a lot of the interior of our car, that I know. Hopefully we can get some titles.
We think you both look ready, and can’t wait to hear how you do this weekend! Playing in the mud is lots of fun for you dogs but challenging for us humans to keep you clean. 🙂
We had some nice muddy paws after that search.
That looks like a challenging place to practice. I am sure you will do great at your trials this weekend.
We’ve never had any luck traveling to competitions, so we are hoping this time will be the lucky one.
That was amazing and I know y’all will do great! I always get in trouble when I stick my nose where it doesn’t belong!!!
Mom isn’t happy if we stick our noses in the wrong place either!
How exciting!! Good luck in your Nose Work trials this weekend, can’t wait to read about all your success. You are such pros, look at these photos! I’m sure you both needed a good scrubbing afterwards, those are some very dirty machines.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
We are hoping for success, but so far we haven’t ever had any luck when we travel for competitions. Time will tell.
Good luck at da trials!
Thanks, Whitley!
Great job training and great pictures. GOOD Luck!
Thank you. We are excited and hope our luck on the road changes this time.
Exciting weekend. Good luck.
It will be a busy weekend, with lots of fun and hopefully we will do well.
Yay, Bailie! Good luck at your trials (hope there are no lawyers there). 😉
We are going in with positive thinking and hope it works.
Your mom is so smart at coming up with good practice runs for you girls.
Glad to hear that you found jumping up to search hard too. Honey kept her nose to the ground for a long time until we finally realized she might have to jump a little higher to keep the scent.
Good luck on your trials. Can’t wait to read how it goes.
We do get our noses off the ground and into the air, but we don’t like to actually jump up to the source. We are learning.
MOWZERS guys, it’s so impressive seeing you work!
Thank you. My cat bro Bert likes to hang out with us when we search in the house. He says he doesn’t understand what we are doing but he likes to watch.
You’re lucky to have so many places and opportunities to search. I can’t wait to hear how you both titled this weekend.
We have our paws crossed. It’s really Bailie’s weekend to shine as she has all day NW1 on Saturday and Vehicles 1 Sunday am. I only have Vehicles 2 Sunday. Hopefully this time travel will pay off!
Oh my goodness… all that dirt on your beautiful coats!!
We are washable! It did pay off as our trial was on a working farm in Iowa last weekend and we did well searching through mud and manure on vehicles.