Friday, November 18, 2011

Kira In The News!

A couple of weeks ago, when Kira and I were working through a local indoor shopping mall, we crossed paths with a reporter/photographer from an area newspaper. She was interested in what we were doing, Kira had just gone through a childrens' ride where she found articles I had placed in there. We arranged to get together in a few days for a story for the paper, North Bay Nipissing News.
Kira is "identified" as most places we are permitted to work in for training do not allow dogs. We do some searches, and she meets lots of people. As she is training, I allow her contact with people, she's a great ambassador for the breed, "shakes hands" and kisses for kids. Some other locations, she is able to climb, jump on, dig through obstacles so it is all great work (play) for her.
Shayla Brunet took all these photos, the ones below are from our second meeting at a local resort. Thanks to Shayla, for her interest and time spent with us.Shayla worked to get a sampling of Kira's personality and took a ton of pictures. We spent time outside discussing the value of service dogs, the importance of these dogs socializing, and to be confident working in any venue. What to look for in a puppy to prepare for this work, the extreme ball drive and search work ethics you want in these dogs is so important. Not 'just' a sound body, but a sound mind is critical. Kira has just turned one year old at this time, and is confident and alert with everything she is being exposed to. What we would refer to as "work" for these dogs is just fun and rewarding for them. Hmmm, who's been walking through here? Kira has been entrusted to me to prepare her for service work, and is owned by her breeder, Carmen Duggan, Carmspack. Carmen has produced many, many German Shepherds that are in police services in Canada and the U.S. Many are general purpose dogs while others specialize in explosives, drugs, etc. My Trust and Blast are from Carmen. These dogs have amazing scenting ability and love to work. Blast finds articles in the dead of winter under deep snow, frozen solid, that were left out weeks previously. Trust just earned her Canadian (CKC) Tracking Champion title this year, the 18th dog in Canada to do so.Here we were coming out of the resort and there was a small group of teenagers standing at the bottom of the stairs. Kira is instantly alert to them and they were certainly 'alert' to her. We joked a bit about what they might have hidden on them...and then went down to see them. People have become knowledgeable about not touching dogs wearing vests, but because she is training, I encourage some contact and they always have questions.While in the resort, we did a couple of quick searches. I also have to be aware of some people worrying about what we may be looking for, and often explain this is a "set up" for training. Kira has not been put on any specific scent, that will done when she is placed. But dying to search, is what it's about. The instant I tell her our search word, her whole attitude changes and she is raring to go. I had hidden a couple of small cotton gauze pads in the building. After we walked through, we did a 'search'.
In the picture above there is an article squished between the wall and the door. The door was propped open and heavy and she was reaching in the little space trying to dig it out with her paw. I was looking in, hadn't realized it was too far back and the door wouldn't budge, so in this case, I eventually helped to pull it out. She wasn't going to quit, but I also didn't want her scratching the carpet or door in here.Out in the lobby, she's found 'something' inside the phone book, another piece of cotton I placed there. Her reward is normally her favorite ball, or we pull on a knotted sock. Often depends where we are, sometimes I have a special pc. of food if playing might be a problem. She's not that interested in a food reward, much better to play, but not always possible (like in a hotel lobby!) She will often just spit the food.I only included this picture, that Shayla captured, to show how Kira loves her special ball. And she did catch it! It bounced up from an odd direction. She is very athletic and quick, and that ball is not going to get away from her!!!
These pups are hand-picked from very selective breedings. As sound as they are, they need to work, having boundless drive and energy, making them unsuitable for most pet homes. These dogs live to work, providing valuable service.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Blasts' Short but Interesting Track

Just a short drive from the track that Tank was doing, Blasts' track had a nice mix of grass, gravel/sand, nice grass, chunky gravel. I also saw fresh deer tracks when I laid the track and a couple of fresh deer poop piles almost on the track.
His track started beside a building on grass, headed out to this area where he's made a turn and nearly completed a long leg on gravel. The deer crossed here and there were fresh truck tracks also, probably looking for the deer. He'll hit the grass soon and turn right, over a narrow driveway and back onto nice grass.Blast has just made another corner, and is just passing the deer poop. There is an article just ahead as a reward/lure to pass the poop. Up ahead, we cross the chunky gravel, through a bit of a ditch and climb up the little hill.He's just making a corner here, continues to near the end of the tennis court before turning right again. There was also an article up here.Heading down the hill, I had to carefully go sideways, it was steeper than it looks. Why I turned down here is beyond me! I had to keep telling Blast to 'wait'.We head up this stretch of grass, cross a gravel driveway and his leather article is on the far side. I stopped taking pics. here, as I saw a lady with a small dog walking towards us from the left. I guess she spotted us, as she turned and went around the other way. Blast worked really well, he hardly veered from the track at any point from start to finish. It was aged about an hour.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Tanks' Big Water Reward

Tuesday was one more great day for tracking, and we went out for two in a nearby town. Tanks' track was aged under two hours, a nice setting and he got a huge bonus after his.
He's on his first leg in this picture. I almost nixed this location as there were lots of geese last week, and wasn't sure about the goose poop. Then figured, might as well work "through it" if it was present. Wasn't much, and he had no interest.A person and a dog walked through here after I laid the track, but he worked along easily and out on the grass again. I just noticed...the swings are gone, getting prepared for winter. The red X marks a wood article.We made a turn past the playground equipment and moved up around the other side of it. He is working really well through here. A couple of kids were playing on the equipment and he totally ignored them.This turn takes him down towards the covered pavillion, cement floor. Just before he reaches it, there's a cloth article in the shade, which he pounced on. We go through the pavillion, onto grass, sand/dirt, and turn left taking us into the gravel area of the parking lot. This turn was really close to the water, and he stopped to watch a bunch of gulls on a dock, and ducks swimming...oh, he wanted to go there...But...turned in between the cars and heads out to the next row. Just behind the next row, the parking lot becomes asphalt heading towards the building.With all the comings and goings here, causing scent to swirl around, he did really well, keeping right on the track. It's a medical building we are heading towards and also lots of foot traffic on the asphalt to the back entrance door.Quick change from asphalt to brick here, as I cut across it, to 'hide' the piece of leather so it hopefully wouldn't be picked up. Interesting to see how the dogs work these areas.And here's his reward! I walked him down to the beach and kept the long line on, as I didn't want to see him trying to swim out to the ducks!!!So he just got to paddle around a little, and I threw a few little sticks for him. He was very happy. This is a rare treat, and especially so late in the year. He ended up pretty soaked.The last picture..I was calling him out. The look says "are you kidding"?!!?

Sunday, November 13, 2011

I've not done any article 'searching' for Kira in a while, and decided to take a couple of items out in the barn this morning, let them age a short while, and then take her out to "work". The storage barn is a real jumble right now, and almost impossible to walk through in there. I ended up tossing the items back into difficult places to reach. I took her out for a brief 'walk and relief' first, snapped on her leash and headed to the barn. As soon as I mentioned "work" she was instantly alert.
I expected a little time for her to begin searching, and wasn't ready with the camera. As soon as I unsnapped her, she was rushing in towards the first item. She had it in her mouth coming out, before I could focus. It was a sock, hidden to the left, back behind a bunch of garden items.I sent her back in, and zoom...around to the right this time, she tried to squeeze back in here but was stuck. It is in a small opening, back against the wall. She backed out far enough so that she could turn.Out around the snowblower, and over the mower and then squeezed between the blower and the grey thing over to reach in and get it.No problem, just fun, out she comes with the old glove. Just great fun for her. She is so keen and so fast to scent these hidden articles out, regardless of what she has to go through to get them. You can see there are gas cans in there also, no problem.