Madison and I went on a sniffing field trip last Sunday to the John Deere dealer in Cannon Falls. Bailie and I have been there several times before, but Madison has never been around, or sniffed huge machinery. It is time she gives it a try as we don’t want her to have any fear searching jumbo vehicles. Bailie got her first nose work title sniffing farm machinery!
Mom started by arriving early so she could walk Madison around the big tractors and machines. She let her play on and around them so she would know they are harmless.
For some reason, loader buckets can be a bit scary, but Madison was fine climbing in, and taking a seat. Most of them were full of water, but finally they found one with a big enough dry spot.
Mom always tries to keep things fair, which means I got to get out, walk around, and sniff a bit too.
The smaller tractors are pretty cute. Madison thought maybe she would like to take this little beauty home, but Mom said “no” to that idea.
We are not afraid to jump right in and start big at my house. These two tall babies were Madison’s first search. There were three hides on each one. She found four pretty easily, but Mom forgot where the other two were at. All of the sudden Madison was jumping on her back paws, hitting her nose on a thing that came out off the back of the one vehicle. Guess what? It was the fifth hide. Mom said that behavior by Madison to make sure Mom knew about the hide made the entire day worthwhile. Until recently, Madison rarely told Mom about hides which was a major problem.
I got to search some tricky stuff. I knew one of the hides was near, but those rake like things kept hanging me up!
Finally, I got out of the rake things and back far enough to figure out it was in that green post thing over my head. I was able to put my paws on the black rake bar to get my nose up and into that green arm to find the hide.
Madison had no trouble locating one of the hides on the back of the bucket loader.
She also had no issues going into, and under the machines. We both had a fun time, and a lot of success.
Where was Bailie? Mom says class with three of us together is stressful enough, so for sniffing practice she only takes one or two of us. We rotate, so everyone gets plenty of turns, and when we practice at home, all three of us work. I have a trial this weekend, which is why I got to go, and Madison needed some machinery experience. Bailie was fine staying home, and relaxing for a change. She has been traveling a lot lately.
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WOW, that’s some darn big machinery things and you all did really good!
We like big machines, but some dogs are scared of them.
it’s amazing how big they really are… but I would like to have a small tractor too… I have no clue what I could do with it, but I’m sure an idea will come as soon as I have one ;O)
Lots of our neighbors have a small one to mow the lawn, but Mom likes the exercise of the walk behind mower.
Looks like fun. It’s amazing to me you guys can smell what you are looking for through the grease, and farm smells those things must have. Great job!!
Our noses always amaze Mom too. You humans have no idea how we can smell everything.
Good job wif da sniffin!
Mom calls her our turbo sniffer.
Those are some big machines, but you guys did great with the smells anyway. Good luck this weekend:)
They are fun to search, it makes the odor puzzle more challenging.
John Deere is now making small riding lawn mowers. That’s what we got this year for Mom to cut the lawn. She loves it:)
My mom wants the exercise of pushing the mower, and she has a new one that lets her walk as fast as she wants. Lots of our neighbors have the small ride on ones.
Wow, some of those tractors are huge! What a fun place to go to practice. We have a bunch of our own (much smaller) farm machines, and one day I’m going to let Luke do some nose works with them (I still haven’t decided if we’re going to take the Fenzi nose works Class 2 or the tracking class this fall).
We love tracking, but for the human it is so much work, setting tracks, aging tracks, finding places to track. It is tough but fun.
You gals are very brave!
xoxo,
Rosy, Arty & Jakey
We don’t know why some dogs are afraid of the big stuff.
Such big equipment, sweet photos and job!