[David Winners]

Having a focused stare at the source of odor helps the handler determine where the source is. This is handy when telling EOD (Explosives Ordinance Disposal... the bomb squad) where the dog responded. She knows that the only way to get the reward is to stare at the source. You can see that she checks on where I am a couple of times to try and see when the reward is coming. I move out of her field of vision to remove any visual cues to the reward so she doesn't learn to anticipate the ball and break from the indication. Imagine if you were going to take notes on the location of a suspected IED and you reached into your pocket for a pen and the dog broke from the stay.

It's not important now, because she's finding q-tips with birch oil on them, but I'm keeping up good practices because it's habit, and the focused stare looks cool

 

[Colie CVT]

All the pictures and stories and videos just make me smile. She is a really special girl and I'm so glad that she got to go home with you in the end. I have a lot of respect for handlers in the military and police force. Not all mind you, but very many of them.

I spent three days taking care of a K9 who unfortunately turned out to be much sicker than we originally realized. He actually was in a magazine as a hero dog if I am remembering right. I would have to google to see if his story is still up there. He was a good eleven years old if I remember right and had cancer in between times when he was deployed. He was always so relaxed with me, even if I had to rotate him and do other things. The women who had been taking care of him while he was on base came up to be with him when we euthanized him, and I was right there with him, certain to take care of him in the end. <3 Such brave and loyal creatures deserve a great deal of respect.

 

[blackshep]

It does look cool! I like that you jiggle the line a bit, it's funny when they are on it, they won't leave.

I have trouble directing my dog. At the trial last weekend, the judge (retired police k9 guy) said it's better to use a collar over a harness for that reason. I see you use a harness? Which do you find is better? I started using one so my dog knew it was ok to pull a bit with it on, vs being walked on a collar.

Sorry to hijack

 

[David Winners]

It does look cool! I like that you jiggle the line a bit, it's funny when they are on it, they won't leave.

I have trouble directing my dog. At the trial last weekend, the judge (retired police k9 guy) said it's better to use a collar over a harness for that reason. I see you use a harness? Which do you find is better? I started using one so my dog knew it was ok to pull a bit with it on, vs being walked on a collar.

Sorry to hijack

The jiggle the line (actually I pull pretty hard) is to get the dog to stay at source no matter what. It's not so important when you can really pay attention to the dog, but if you are distracted, you don't want the dog leaving source because you tugged on the leash. It's referred to as obedience to odor.

I use a harness so the dog knows it's okay to pull. I use a flat collar for vehicles sometimes, as in the truck video. For 6' leash work, especially with new handlers, I use a collar. Preferably a wide collar that is snug enough to stay in place with the D ring on top of the dog's neck. It makes leash handling easier for newbies.

I use a harness more because I teach some positions with leash pressure, and I don't want the dog to become insensitive to pressure on its neck. It is also much easier to work a dog on a long line in harness. The leash doesn't tangle in the dog's legs as often.

No worry about the hijack. I should probably make a new Nosework thread. I have been getting a lot of questions about it.

When you say "trouble directing your dog," can you give an example or show some video?

David Winners

 

[David Winners]

All the pictures and stories and videos just make me smile. She is a really special girl and I'm so glad that she got to go home with you in the end. I have a lot of respect for handlers in the military and police force. Not all mind you, but very many of them.

I spent three days taking care of a K9 who unfortunately turned out to be much sicker than we originally realized. He actually was in a magazine as a hero dog if I am remembering right. I would have to google to see if his story is still up there. He was a good eleven years old if I remember right and had cancer in between times when he was deployed. He was always so relaxed with me, even if I had to rotate him and do other things. The women who had been taking care of him while he was on base came up to be with him when we euthanized him, and I was right there with him, certain to take care of him in the end. <3 Such brave and loyal creatures deserve a great deal of respect.

Thanks for what you do. I read the thread about your boy. It's great that you were there for him.

David Winners

 

[blackshep]

Let me know if you want to move the conversation over to a new thread.

Basically, my dog is young and pretty high drive. She waits for the command to start her search almost coiled to spring into action, so when I tell her to search, she plows ahead and I always have to circle her back to the starting point because she leaps past the first few feet.

She searches really fast and she is hard to do detail work with, because she kind of runs all over the place and at trials you can't pull on your dog or you lose points, but she's hard to keep up with! Container searches, for example, she will jump from one line to another without finishing the line so I have to bring her back if I'm not getting an indication. Basically, it's a nightmare for trials because I have to try to remember what we missed.

It sounds worse than it is, she got 196/200 at her last trial, it's just something I want to try to fix.

Anyway the first thing the k9 guy said to me at the trial, was a collar would be better than a harness.

I wish you lived closer, I'd love to take classes from you or something, you are really knowledgable with this stuff! Thanks for taking the time to help people here, it's really appreciated.

 

[Sunflowers]

Let me know if you want to move the conversation over to a new thread.

Basically, my dog is young and pretty high drive. She waits for the command to start her search almost coiled to spring into action, so when I tell her to search, she plows ahead and I always have to circle her back to the starting point because she leaps past the first few feet.

She searches really fast and she is hard to do detail work with, because she kind of runs all over the place and at trials you can't pull on your dog or you lose points, but she's hard to keep up with! Container searches, for example, she will jump from one line to another without finishing the line so I have to bring her back if I'm not getting an indication. Basically, it's a nightmare for trials because I have to try to remember what we missed.

It sounds worse than it is, she got 196/200 at her last trial, it's just something I want to try to fix.

Anyway the first thing the k9 guy said to me at the trial, was a collar would be better than a harness.

I wish you lived closer, I'd love to take classes from you or something, you are really knowledgable with this stuff! Thanks for taking the time to help people here, it's really appreciated.

C'mon now... This is Fama's update thread!

 

[blackshep]

I know, he asked for heavens sake!

 

[David Winners]

Busy at the moment. I'll make a new thread.

David Winners

 

[Colie CVT]

Sorry I derailed it a touch but seeing Fama reminds me of him. I thank you and others like you for what you do. <3 I have a lot of admiration and respect for the sacrifices you all make.

So glad to see Fama having fun! She moves like my roommates older boy with the same condition. She looks like she is a spry and happy retired girl! Spoiled and loved.


Sent from Petguide.com Free App

 

[David Winners]

Nosework stuff moved to new thread here.

 

[TommyB681]

This is an awesome thread

 

[David Winners]

Fama and Lucian wrestling. They are so funny.

David Winners

 

[Courtney]

David- looks like Fama is reminding him she can bring the world down on him. lol

Great pic- they are having fun!

 

[Shade]

Go GSD's, show 'em how it's done

 

[David Winners]

I just got home from a demo with Fama. I took her into a military school I am in for my final exam. We did a class on the capabilities and limitations of MWDs.

She walked in off leash and greeted everyone, jumping up on a couple laps to give ear sniffs. I put her in a down stay in front of the screen where I was presenting my slideshow and she stayed there, falling asleep at one point, for the whole 30 minute presentation. When it was time for the demo, I ran her through some off leash OB and then did some simple detection. I let a few people handle her a little bit doing box drills and she did OK with them, but kept looking back at me LOL

I then had the class plant some hides in the theater and had Fama find them off leash. She really had a great time, and enjoyed getting out to a strange venue to meet so many new people. She rocked the whole thing. I'm so proud of her.

We got a standing ovation at the end of the class, and I fielded questions for about 30 minutes after. I need to teach her to hold a Sharpie and do signatures

It's just so much fun to have a great dog. Ready to do anything at a moments notice. Phazed by nothing. Happy to just do whatever I happen to be doing at that moment, be it hanging out in a park, laying under my desk while I post on the forum, giving a class, or doing detection.

I'm so glad she came home to daddy.

 

[My2shepherds]

Yeah Fama!! So proud of you! :hug:

For you David, your love and devotion to her are inspiring.... I am so happy for you BOTH!!!:wub:

 

[glowingtoadfly]

Hooray Fama! She gives me hope for my Wolfbat. Can't believe she went through some handlers. Little sass lol.

 

[Shade]

Fantastic :happyboogie:

 

[Susan_GSD_mom]

I'm so glad she came home to daddy.

:happyboogie: