We’re Celebrating One Decade of Nose Work This Month!

We’re celebrating one decade of nose work this month! It was ten years ago, in January 2014, Emma and Bailie started their first nose work class. Mom heard about nose work from another blogger and by accident stumbled upon a school that had upcoming nose work classes. She signed the two up and off they went to class. Emma was seven years old and Bailie six months old. My nose, is the main photo since I am the current nose work specialist at our house. Any photos without our logo are professional photos that were purchased for our own personal use.

When Mom started classes, she told everyone she didn’t do dog sports and had no interest in competing, or even searching for odor. She only wanted the dogs to look for food. Things changed rapidly and by week three, Mom took Emma and Bailie out to buy harnesses and long lines. The color scheme was also born that day will Emma being red and Bailie purple. Madison still takes her class from the instructor who started it all, but it is a different school in a different place now.

This is a photo of Emma learning to search boxes for treats. Notice it was the first class, no red harness and line. Both Emma and Bailie loved it from the beginning. Where is everyone now and how did things progress?

Emma’s Nose Work Career

Emma took two tries to pass her NW1, and passed her NW2 on the first try at Buck Hill Ski Area. The photo is from her exterior search out on the deck of the chalet. Even though she is wearing her red gear, Mom hadn’t started dressing to match at that point.

NW2 was the last major nose work title she earned and it was in 2015. She went on to be in ten NW3 trials, but at the time you had to be perfect. Had she been competing when a leg was given (meaning one error) she would have had an NW3 Title. Nevertheless, she was the first dog to earn a nose work title, her L1V, Level One Vehicle Element Title and the first dog sports title ever for Mom, in May 2015.

Bailie’s Nose Work Career

Bailie had been a tricky competitor from the start. She also needed two tries to earn her NW1 Title, and seven to earn her NW2 Title. Handling has changed a lot over the past ten years. Not all of the issues Bailie has with competing are her fault. Many are from the old style of handling.

This photo is Mom and Bailie in 2017 with their NW2 Title. Mom was about ready to give up as seven tries is a lot for that level, LOL! Lately Bailie is more enthusiastic about working, which is why she wants to earn an NW3 Title this year if possible. By 2017, Mom was starting to dress to match her dog as you can see.

Madison’s Nose Work Career

Madison also started nose work the old school way which included not taking a class until she was six months old. She has been difficult to train in any sport as food doesn’t have much value to her. Madison needed three tries to earn her NW1 Title, got her NW2 Title on the first try, and then came NW3, which Mom felt was a life sentence.

Three years and ten NW3 trials later, she earned her first leg. It would be another nine trials and almost two years until she finally got that third NW3 Title and her NW3 Elite Title. Team Pink is working hard to get Madison to be more motivated in nose work. It is a work in progress, but it appears they are making headway in practice at least this winter.

Olivia’s Nose Work Career

One decade of nose work means lots of changes over time. New trials, methods, and training. Thankfully, when I started, Mom home schooled me the first year or so and it has worked out great! She tells me I am her dream nose work dog that she never imagined having. The two of us have so much fun together it is simply, crazy!

I’ve been on the fast track and earned my NW1 Title on the second try, my NW2 on the first try, it took my five trials to get my NW3 Elite Title and I finished up my Elite Title in just twelve trials. I’ve had numerous placements in the upper level trials for both elements and overall. All the traveling we did was mainly for me because Mom trusts me and knows I will do my best and do well. Now I’m after my first Summit Title and I hope it happens this spring. Nose work is my favorite thing in the world!

Nelson’s Nose Work Career

Nelson is hot on my heals and I think he is trying to upstage me! This guy is the only one in our family to earn and NW1 on the first try and also the youngest at just fourteen months old. He needed two tries for NW2, but only because Mom messed up in his first one and forgot to search the second car. At just twenty two months old he earned his first NW3 leg, I was twenty six months old when I earned mine. Like me, Nelson is home schooled and only attends an occasional class or seminar.

Our little brother is a hard worker, very honest, highly driven, and he loves to sniff! Look out world, this guy is out to be the top competitor! Both of us are super confident, so let’s just see who comes out on top when we are at the same level of competition!

Nose Work Changed Life In A Grand Way

We are all so happy for our blogging friend that posted about nose work back in 2013, that Mom stumbled across a nose work class, and especially that she decided to compete. All our lives would be so different without all our dog sports, but especially without nose work. Sports, and sniffing make us all super, duper happy!

My GBGV Life is happy, so we’re joining Comedy Plus for Happy Tuesday!