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For my observations, I observed dogs and handlers at a training facility. I observed a nosework class as well as the change over of students and dogs between classes.

• Did you observe good handling practices when dogs were being leashed and/or walked? Describe your personal observations.

Yes, I observed good handling practices. The training facility has an entrance door and an exit door to avoid unwanted interactions. Handlers could easily see through the glass doors if there was an oncoming dog. I saw one handler step off into an empty ring to let another dog pass. I also saw one handler put their dog into a right side heel to put themselves between their dog and a dog walking with another handler. During the class, only the dog that was searching was allowed to be out of their crate. Dogs not searching waited crated with their handlers sitting nearby. As this was a beginning class, all dogs were on leash with their handlers during a search. Dogs wore collars or harnesses with long leash of approximately 8-10 feet.

• Describe two examples of how awareness was utilized by a handler.

One handler had a young GSD that had a missing eye that seemed very anxious. The handler selected a crate far from the other dogs.The handler also handled this dog on the dog’s blind side always placing herself between the dog and other dogs.

• Describe two examples of how positioning was utilized by a handler.

During the class, the instructor offered hints on positioning for the search. I watched the instructor tell a student to step back to the right to give the dog more space as the student was crowding the dog. When the student stepped back the dog stepped toward the hide. I watched another student doing a search and they went to the end of a longline while giving the dog control. The handler carefully followed keeping a loose leash and moving their body to the right or left staying out of the way of the odor drift.

• Give two examples of how contact with the dog was used in the handling.

Each handler had a different style to release the dog during the start of search. One handler held the dog tight by the collar and said find it!. The dog knew that was the cue to get to work. The instructor had “loaded” multiple buckets with treats. As the dog found and ate the treat in a bucket, the handler with swiftly throw more treats in while the dogs head was in the bucket. The dog was a quick learner and understood keeping her head in a bucket would generate more treats.

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What did you learn that was new to you….

Not giving a treat until the end of the session. At my pet store, we offer treats but I usually offer the owner a choice of treats to give to their pet.

How did dog respond.

I sat next to my 7 month old Whippet puppy Very and asked for a sit. She knows sit but I am usually standing so she seemed confused, she head tilted and continued to stand. I held her close and asked again, she did sit. I held her close and stroked her. She mouthed me multiple times and wagged her tail. She thought we were playing. I continued to stroke her until I felt her relax and then asked for a down. She laid on her side and mouthed my arm but was very gentle. After a few minutes, she laid on her side totally relaxed. While working with Very, Wanda a 2 year old Whippet had come close and laid down. I moved over to Wanda who stood up when I moved and asked for a sit. Wanda didn’t sit so I gently put her in a sit by scooping her from behind her hocks. I held her close and she was showing sign of discomfort by licking her lips. I talked to her and stroked her and she relaxed a bit. I decided to stop at this point as she relaxed and I wanted to stop on a positive.

Aspects of material most essential

Watching and interpreting body language. Managing your position in relation to the animal.

Do you have a story?

One item that I didn’t see mentioned was the location of the owner during contact. At my store we now have a policy in place, we do not load vehicles with loose dogs as an employee was bit as dog was guarding owner. Owner had told employee dog was friendly but one should not rely on someone else to interrupt the dog’s behavior toward you.