Nosework Games

Max Pup 2 Shaping Skills
Have you heard about the new sport of Nosework? It’s all the rage these days! If you’d like to get involved and try your hand at this fabulous new sport, then this class is for you!

Instructor(s): Denise Fenzi and Margaret Simek
Category: Motivation, Nosework
Level: Open to All
Class Length: 6 weeks
Start Date: January 7, 2013
Registration Opens: Monday November 19, 2012 at 11am EST
Registration Closes: Monday January 21, 2013

Tuition:
Number of Working Spots: 12 ($240)
Number of Auditing Spots: 15 ($130)
Number of Observing Members: unlimited ($75)
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Course Description

Nosework Games :: Denise Fenzi and Margaret Simek

Have you heard about the new sport of Nosework? It's all the rage these days! If you'd like to get involved and try your hand at this fabulous new sport, then this class is for you!

Are you interested in...

Learning more about how to train for K9Nosework or UKC nosework trials? Have fun with a completely different activity? Provide mental exercise for an old, retired, reactive or injured canine athlete? Increase your dog's working drive and focus? Build confidence and sureness in a soft, nervous, or less driven dog? Keep your dogs from going stir crazy this winter?

Develop your dog's use of his hunt drive (nosework) to:

* Develop the skills necessary to compete successfully at on ORT (Odor Recognition Test); the first step towards earning titles through the National Scent Association of Canine Nosework (NASCW) or the new UKC nosework program. These include understanding the basic concepts in searching for odor, proper use of equipment, how to handle odor, how to make and place hides, and how to teach you dog the importance of odor obedience.
* bring joy and energy back to your relationship
* build confidence in a reactive or nervous dog
* increase focus and persistence, especially at a distance from the handler
* learn to better "read" your dog and use that information to be a more effective partner
* Keep your dog's brain engaged and busy with an indoor sport during the winter season

This fun interactive course features faculty feedback and discussion of video material. There will be video "demos" as well as discussion, chat and office hours, all designed to help you develop your nosework skills! With two instructors, you'll get lots of attention and ideas to build your dog's nosework skills.


Course Structure, Requirements & Equipment

Categories: (choose from the following or one of your own): Motivation, Nosework

Level : Open to All


Course Length:

6 weeks (information/classroom available in read-only mode for working/auditing students for 6 months after completion of course)

Course Structure:

  • Brief written lectures and progressive work to be videotaped for feedback.
  • Questions answered and feedback on each assignment from instructor in the class forum.
  • Discussion with other students (working and auditing) in the Class Forum as well as access to the general AU forums.
  • Access to Class Chat
  • Access to Faculty Office Hours

Equipment needed:

  • toys or treats, video camera/access to youtube upload (working participants only), birch odor, glass jar, metal tins with holes, tweezers, disposable gloves and fun tack. The easiest way to purchase your supplies as a kit is through: http://www.allgooddogs.biz/products . We recommend the student kit and also get a few large tins (altoid size) that have holes in them. Order early, sometimes they are backordered and it can take several weeks. 
  • The specific scent for the ORT or the Nosework 1 title for both NASCW and UKC is:  BIRCH: (aka "Sweet Birch" or Betula Lenta).  Make sure you buy this specific one!  Wyndmere  brand is Available at Whole Foods, but is not always in stock.  You can also order online at:  http://www.wyndmerenaturals.com

Space required (working participants only): 

  • A room in your home is adequate

Office Hours:

  • Yes (days/times TBA)


Course Participation & Tuition Levels

Type of participation:

  • Working (posts responses to written assignments, posts videos of sequences, gets instructor feedback to all of these as well as answers to any questions posted, can actively participate in forum, chat and office hours) Limit: 10
  • Auditing (can view and read all videos/assignments/posts from instructor and working students, will get instructor answers to course-specific questions posted, can actively participate in class forum, chat and office hours) Limit: 15
  • Observing (has read-only and view-only access to the class forum, chat and office hours, cannot post or ask questions). Limit: Unlimited

Tuition:

  • Working: $240 USD
  • Auditing: $130 USD
  • Observing: $75 USD