SCENT DETECTION INTENSIVE CLINIC March 24 – 26

23 Jan SCENT DETECTION INTENSIVE CLINIC March 24 – 26

• All students should complete the pre-homework and attend the online orientation on Friday, March 24, 2023.
• Saturday, March 25 & Sunday, March 26, 2023, practical/hands-on – beginners in the mornings, advanced teams in the afternoon.
• Working spot for $150 + GST per dog per day, audit for $50 per person per day (no dog) + GST.

Morning Beginners 8:00 am – noon

Introduce your dog to a new scent or cocktail of scents.

• This seminar is designed to introduce a green dog to a new target odor or a cocktail of target odors (like learning the whole library at once). By default, the odor is a nosework cocktail containing the most common six odors for nosework beginners in Alberta (Birch + Anise + Clove + Wintergreen + Pine + Cypress). Ask us if you’d like to work on another target odor, such as a handler-scented glove. The information is similar to what we present in classes, but a weekend crash course allows you to travel less, search more, and complete scent detection training faster.
• No previous experience is required. All ages of dogs are welcome as long as puppies have their first set of vaccinations. There is no dog-dog interaction allowed since reactive dogs might be present at the facility. All working dogs should be comfortable in a busy, public group setting which may include children and barking dogs.
• Registration is limited to 6 working teams.
• If you pay for a beginner spot, you are welcome to audit the advanced spot at no additional charge, but your dog will need to wait in your vehicle.

Afternoon Advanced 1 pm – 5 pm

You’ll learn how to handle challenges in practical advanced searches: elevated hides, distractions, indications, interior, exterior, vehicle, distance, speed, clearing, patterns, minimizing errors, fading the food without sacrificing motivation, how to read your dog, etc.

• Special requests are welcome. Let’s work on troubleshooting your challenges and turning them into advantages.
• Please email Carla in advance to let her know what level and organization the dog is working under. Please bring one hide in case Carla doesn’t get the message on time, to be sure that there is a hide present. Leave your hide outside the building so Carla can ensure odor hygiene. Carla will hide and transport appropriately inside the building.)

• Registration is limited to 6 working teams.
• We allow unlimited auditors (please do not bring your dog to the facility or keep them comfortable in your vehicle.)
• If you pay for an advanced spot, you are welcome to audit the beginner session, but your dog will need to wait in your vehicle.

Class and Facility Rules

• We’ll run all lessons, rain, or shine.
• Registration must be prepaid and is non-refundable.
• Dogs must wait in vehicles until it’s their turn to search, like real scent detection competitions and deployments. (You can leave class to turn on your vehicle’s heat or air conditioning if the weather requires.) Please come prepared for changing weather conditions, with plenty of high-value food rewards and water for your dog.
• Every participant must sign the Hunter’s Heart Waiver to participate, including volunteers and spectators.