Nose Work, Week 3

Well, last night was my third Nose Work class.  Although I rocked the class last week, I didn't fare quite so well this week.  In fact, I earned two, TWO, timeouts.  This is not something of which to be proud.  Apparently, I am not allowed to relieve myself mark a pole pee during a search.  There happened to be a spot, far, far away from the search area that drew my attention and I couldn't draw myself away from that area, even when my mama rudely pushed gently guided me back toward the search area. So I did what I do when I feel the need to let other dogs know "I was here"...I peed.  Bad Dog!  I was quickly placed back on a leash and removed from the search area to sit all alone in a cold, dark car and give thought to my recent indiscretion.

When it was my turn again, I was ready to work and did a fine job of searching and finding the "hide" very quickly.  I will admit that Miss Pam made it easy for me.  Then it was like Groundhog Day, you know the movie where the same day happens over and over and over.  That smell!  I caught a wiff of That Smell again.  Well, you know what happened next...I ran right over to another pole and.........peed.  Bad Dog!  Once again I was removed to the car.  The point I'm supposed to get is that even though I'm having so much fun, being off leash and running around "like there's a circus in my head" (thank you for the quote Auntie Wendy) I'M NOT ALLOWED TO PEE DURING THE SEARCH OR I GET TO SPEND TIME ALONE IN THE CAR.

I did get to come in once more and Miss Pam made it even easier for me.  All the other dogs were finding the "hide" in buckets, on chairs, in the corner; all my "hides" were placed in two rows right in front of me so I couldn't miss them.  

Here's a little video of me doing what I'm supposed to do...searching, not peeing.

This isn't very exciting to watch but it gives you an idea of what Nose Work is all about.  My job is to find the "hide" (treats) by smelling and my mama's job is to add more treats into the container so I stay with it.  Eventually the treats will be replaced with an odor, like anise or birch, and when I find it, I still get treats.  That's what I call "a good game to play".

Until next time...Sir Titan of Nottingham CGC TT

Time Out

Thanks to Aleks at Love and a Six-Foot Leash, my mama's two new favorite words are...Time Out.  They are not my favorite words.  They mean that I have somehow broken one of the Nottingham Rules and I am about to spend some alone time in my papa's bathroom.  

Today I tried to help my papa with the yard work by helping him use the weed trimmer.  Technically, he was trimming the grass but apparently it doesn't matter that he wasn't using the tool for it's intended purpose.  He did tell me "no" "NO" a couple of times but honestly, I thought I could be very useful so I continued to try to bite the "weed wacker".  My mama came over and politely said "okay, Time Out" and proceeded to take me by the collar and walk me into the house.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind going into the house, but this is different.  (She usually gets the purple leash and attaches it to my collar, then walks me in but I guess she thought this was a VERY SERIOUS transgression because she didn't even take the time to get the leash!)   She said if I caught the wacker tool I could be injured and do some serious damage to my handsome self. That would never, ever do.

Once in the house she walked me into my papa's bathroom and SHUT THE DOOR, with me inside, all alone, for TEN MINUTES!!!  I really hate Time Outs!  Thanks Aleks.  I have even tried using my most saddest cry but found it did me good...no good at all!  I'll try to let papa wack the weeds alone next time.

You can read all about the how's and why's of Time Outs here.

My mama will not allow my handsome self to be injured by the wacker tool!

Until next time...Sir Titan of Nottingham CGC TT