Active Sniffer

[robandrobin]

Hello!
Bryce (our pup)seems to have an active sniffer! I heard this is true of most pups. Now here's the question! I don't know yet whether or not we can be involved in SAR due to the fact we live in a small town etc. However, I'd like to keep that avenue open in case it can happen.
The fish are running in the streams, dieing and yes, decaying. Bryce can smell it from quite a ways from the stream. He was so insistant to follow that smell that I let him, when he found the source, praised him and then we left because It's most certainly not a healthy place for a pup. Is this an encouraging thing to do if you are planning on any type of future tracking or SAR work?
Robin and Robert

 

[sarnewfie]

Robin read the post in Working dogs section asking about SAR i wrote some information that would help you out.
also do NOT ever encourage the sniffing and finding of GAME
if your intentions are looking for people or cadaver, than you must only train with toys or treats incorporated with the human scent.
read the books i recommended in the post below your original one.
Also it may be a good idea for you to nose around my website, link is provided in this post.

[ 08-28-2002, 09:58 AM: Message edited by: sarnewfie ]

 

[robandrobin]

Ah! Thank-you ever so much! I'm on it. He was allowed to go as far as five feet from the stream no closer. Thank-you for pointing out the NO sniffing of game for me. We'll take precautions on this. I have Judi Aldler's book "The Audible Nose" I guess it's time to start to get Bryce on the right track (no pun intended). Least ways it will be controlled and positive in our approach until we get more information.
Thank-you so much!
Robin

 

[sarnewfie]

Hi again
if you in fact are interested in sar and cadaver, i would not use judi adler for a reference, i do not and none of the SAR people i know of, know if she is a SAR person, it is best to go to the post on sar in the working dogs section, refer to the books i posted about.
SAR is very serious work and not at all like the AKC tracking or The judi adler series of book.

 

[robandrobin]

Hello SAR
I realize that the Judi Adler series has nothing to do with SAR and she specifies as such.

 

[robandrobin]

I'm still not used to the board and just posted before I was finished! Sorry. It sounded abrubt.
Anyway, I was getting at the fact that at the very least, at least doing the excersizes will give him a simple task involving tracking. Which no matter what, I think will be a healthy way of focusing his want to smell right now.
It's going to take a while to find the right people in this area to be involved, however I'm working on it.
I was just concerned about a task so he would'nt be so hyper to smell the little game things in the forest. It's a little hard to avoid around here!
Robin

 

[robandrobin]

sarnewfie:
Just wanted to let you know I appreciate that you take the time to answer questions and help people understand. I've found the contact for Alaska and emailed him to find out who the contact person is in this area. I also offered to be a victim in the water (brave huh?!) if they have such practices in my area. They'll help me focus and let me know if I am even physically capable of following this through! I'll let you know if I take the plunge or not!
Robin

 

[sarnewfie]

Robin
if you can get involved do so, it is a wonderful experience, one that i miss everyday, i wish there was a group closer to me, i would be there in a heartbeat, i miss the work so much that at times tears well up in my eyes. *sigh*
if you can get in with this group the best thing you can do is volunteer to be a victim, you as a victim can observe different dogs how they work differently, you can learn so much that way, it is not the kind of job you can jump into, you must be trained and than your dog. it takes time, and dont be surprised, many handlers do not get a find under their belt, a lot of things depend on politics,and luck, who gets the hotspot and makes the find.
good luck to you.

 

[robandrobin]

Just wanted to update here!
Thanks to your encouragement, I am volunteering for the SAR dogs and I get lost for them once a week! It has been a blast and I just love it when they find me!!
It's been a fun learning experience for me.

Robin

 

[sarnewfie]

That is fantastic robin!
food for you, you can learn so much just from hiding or being a backup handler for someone! keep us posted on what you are learning, there is a new group formed here by me, i am thinking of stepping in with an associate membership so that if i do get the time i can start up again!