Where's That Smell?

"Find It"

Nose work is fascinating.  I have been working with Chance and Blaze since discovering the game "Find It."  Putting a treat in a plastic jar or container and having them "find" by successfully getting it out of the jar.

Recently, I upped the stakes by placing the the treat in a toy and then hiding the toy in a room while they stayed in another.  I then rub the treat on my hand, ask them to smell my hand and tell them to "Find It."  Chance's nose is strong, especially when it comes to food.  Blaze takes a while to warm up, but she is also a slick and will go back and forth between looking for the treat and staying close to Chance in order to snatch it out from under him when he finds it.

I have done this in the house a couple of times, the results were something like this:

The first hide, easy out in open:  They each find toy with treat

The second time, this time out of plain sight:  Chance realizes he not going to just 'find it' and his nose turns on so loud you can hear him sniffing hard.  Blaze is also aware she can't just see and find it and keeps close tabs on Chance for any indication he is close to treat.  Even so much so that she will slide up by his side and grab the treat at first sign he has found it.

The third time, toy is place inside something or up high:  Chance is wearing down and Blaze takes advantage of this as her nose begins to warm up.  They each find a treat.

After the third time, Chance looks like someone bonked him on the head with a silly stick.  Blaze seems no worse for wear.  She is proud of herself for her slick moves and outmaneuvering Chance and is ready to go again now that Chance is wearing down and feels she has the upper hand. 

ZONK!!

The whole event was hilarious and fascinating.  I was intrigued the most when Chance realized he had to use his nose and 'work' to find the treat.  When he begins to comprehend this, his entire demeanor immediately changes to that of sheer concentration and focus.  I'm sure that using both dogs together helps to spur on the competitive nature of the game.  Chance is about following the rules and pleasing me.  If I ask him to find it, he is going to do everything in his power to do that.  For Blaze it is about beating and outsmarting your opponent.  She isn't doing this for me, she is out to prove how her wit and clever intelligence will win the game.  And it is all about winning the game. 

Each style is unique and compliment the other. I have praised both of them for the strength and skills.    Although if I was ever lost in the woods, I think I'd rather have someone send Chance to find me!

Are you sure about that?? 

He couldn't last more than three rounds!

 

The Brut Puzzle

Brut actually goes into a panic when food falls on the floor or under the furniture.  Like he has found the last morsel and he's been starving for days.  If you try to help him get the food, he almost screams like he's in physical pain and makes attempts for your hand.  I do my best not to spill kibble or treats, and pick up every morsel I can find before Brut is in the room.

 Brut and I were playing with what I call the puzzle cube today, just him and I, and while he pawed and rolled this little cube spilling treats all over the floor, I was following behind him making sure none were missed.  A light bulb went off, why not work on his food issues with this game?  So I got on the ground, close to him and began picking up the remnants of chewed plastic while keeping a lookout for any wayward treats while still playing with him.  I began inching closer to him on all fours, until I was eventually in his space.  I'd even brushed up against him to get the cube when it was stuck against the wall.  He was doing great and having fun.

Then I began playing with the cube, by crawling back and forth after it and hitting it around.  As the tempo increased, so did Brut's excitement.  His eyes, widened, his heart was pacing and all his fur began stand.  There was no doubt his adrenaline was rising.  As we took turns with the food toy, I was conscious of his body language, he was excited, but he also had a look that said, he didn't know what to think.  This was fun, but these were his treats and he didn't know what to make of me messing with them.  He was caught between wanting to play and wanting to guard.  I began to slow my actions, while I wasn't scared, in his semi-heightened state any quick movements would be interrupted as hostile.  My goal was not to aggravate him, but to keep this level of play safe for both of us.   I let him guide me.

When the cube rolled just out of easy reach, he came up to me and nibbled on one side of my lips, licked my face like crazy and then repeated this several times.  I couldn't have been more thrilled!!  I have seen Fiona do this very same action with Silver, a boundary line that says, "Stop.  I don't want to hurt you.  Please don't go any further."  I stayed in this same position, I didn't move forward or backwards and I didn't freeze.  He continued to circle and walk back and forth in front me, every so often licking my face, while I sat in place.  Eventually he laid down next to me, I touched his paw with my finger, and he gave me the signal again, only this time the nibble on the lips was even lighter than the first time.  I continued to let him calm, until he was certain that I wasn't making a move after the cube and continued to acknowledge his boundary line.  After a few minutes I got up and he got up with me.  I thanked him profusely, while having him sit and gave him a treat.  The game was over, I picked up the cube to put in it's safe place and then he went outside because that was his safe place.

As I sat down to absorb what had just happened, I was overwhelmed by what Brut had shown me:  Himself.  Not just "dog behaviors," but his actual true being.  There is no way to explain the amount of trust he had given me and I was humbled beyond words.  The mysteries of this dog went far beyond labels or insights into them.  It was Brut sharing with me how and why he is Brut.  There are no words that will ever justify the moments of being that passed between us, only to know they are forever imprinted on my heart.  A being who took a chance to open to me.  Our communication was beautiful.  It was like walking through Brut's world and experiencing it first hand.

Trust

Monday Memories-Misty

I have always been an avid dog lover.  I don't what it is about dogs, but I just seem to connect with them.  When I was 13 years old we got our first cat, Misty.  It was a whole new learning experience.  She was a short hair with a solid grey coat and golden eyes.  She was calm, gentle and very loving.  Though there was something always mischievous about her.  It was that catty way she had about her and I fell in love with it instantly.  She always slept on my bed at night, where we would have great conversations and play fetch with a crumbled paper ball.  I would throw it from my bed and I taught her how to bring it back to me.  I always thought that was the coolest thing she did.  It was our game.

When no one was home I would throw a paper ball and watch her do flips to catch it.  We would play a sort of hide-n-go seek game/chase game all through the house.  I would stay down at her level and mimic her moves.  Each of us trying to spook the other.  We would become completely entranced with each other as we found a level at which we understood each other.  This was my first experience at bonding with an animal at their level.  It taught me how to relate with them from their viewpoint, not mention the emotional and spiritual level that sparkled between us.  Something I have never forgotten and still use to this day.

I never got to see Misty in her later years, childhood abuse kept me from going back home to visit.  My first question to my sister was always about Misty.  I missed her so.  I never knew when she died and it always broke my heart that I couldn't go back to see her one last time. I know she understood this, probably more than I did, as animals always know when there is pain going on in home.  She was always that sliver of light that broke through the darkness and I will always be grateful for the blessings she gave me.  And while the tears flow for that beautiful hearted creature who shared her gift of love with me, I know a bond like ours doesn't die easy and she will always be in my heart forever.          

Monday Memories-Before Brut

Silver 3 months old

It is easy to forget there was a life before Brut and kids came along.  Where once upon a time Silver was our main girl. She was our first puppy together and it was like having our first kid.  Daddy went crazy buying toys and treats.  We lived on a big hay field at the time, where we took long walks through the fields and Silver was able to run free.  Big brother Alex was her best friend and it was a simple time.

Alex and Silver (3 mos.)

  Silver loved to play and learn games.  We played any sport that involved a ball.  Tennis, basketball, soccer and her all time favorite football.  She still loves playing with a football today.  We used to make up games and change the rules as we went.  One minute we were on opposing teams and the next we were scoring a goal together.  When the weather was bad I would turn up the music and play hide and seek with her.  She loved this game.  I would throw a ball one way then run and hide in the other direction until she would find me, then it was a race to find the ball to do it all over again.  We had such a blast together and the time was magical.

Gotta find Mommy!

  

Silver created many memories that I will always cherish.  I was reminded of our game times when we were Brut-free for a couple of hours and we had the freedom to play without Brut trying to jump on top her.  Yes, things change when you get married and have kids, but deep down she will always be my little Silver.