Nemo and I are back from K9 Nose Work Camp. We're dry, we're clean, we're warm, we're ready to start training for our first Nose Work trial!
This was my first event, trip, outing, whatever you want to call it, with Nemo. He's my husband's dog. And I was more than a little worried that Nemo would miss my husband.
Nemo DID miss my husband. He also missed the other three dogs, too. Nose Work camp threw him for a loop. There were so many new and different things:
- a cabin, for one thing
- new and different dogs everywhere
- me leaving him in the crate in a strange place with strange dogs barking within earshot
- training in at least three different locations each day AND
- being left in a crate while I watched my classmates run their dogs
You can read about our highs and lows in this post. Overall, it was a good experience for Neems and me. We learned about each other, worked through some tough problems, and came through it no worse for wear. I had really wanted to bring Tango, my yellow Labrador. He's my main guy, my traveling companion, the dog I do everything with. But I hadn't acclimated Tango to crating in the months leading up to our trip.
It's good to stretch our limits, both canine and human. Nemo and I learned a lot about searching. And each other. About Nemo, I found out that Nemo is more sensitive than I ever knew and he relies much more on the other dogs in our household than I realized. About myself, I found out that I am a whole lot more sensitive to Nemo's reactions than I knew (I need him to rely on me, and when he doesn't my feelings are hurt. Waaaah, poor me.)
I also found out how danged hard it is to schlep all the things a human and a dog need for camp! It's challenging enough to navigate between three sessions at three different camp locations each day with a dog at the end of the leash, and all the supplies (working harness, long lead, treats, blanket, chair) but add in some rain, mud, and a ripped up crate, and you've got yourself a real mess!
Now that Nemo's passed his odor recognition test (ORT) for birch, I've got two new goals lined up: (1) get Tango ready for a December ORT and (2) get Nemo trial ready. I've got my work cut out for me, but I feel more confident after attending a great K9 Nose Work camp!
I definitely joined you in discovering how hard it is to schlep everything needed for a dog and a handler around a giant summer camp! Switching from a nylon crate to a wire one made things pretty unwieldy – though as it turns out, it did cure his aversion to rolling trash cans. (Success!?) I’m hoping that Riker and I will be joining you for the December ORT – it’s a great goal! 🙂
I look VERY forward to ORT’ing with you and Riker! I just hope I can get Tango ready by then! 🙂 We should get together and practice. You did a great job with all the schlepping! I’m so glad you got a bonus, too (curing his aversion to rolling trash cans!).
Congratulations on your learning experience (and on Nemo’s birch test)! After what you’ve reported, despite the lows, you have every right to be confident. Nemo sounds like one smart cookie, and it sounds like you two could be a really good team.
Glad to hear it went well! 🙂
It sounds like you and Nemo got some wonderful bonding time. I’m glad he passed his ORT test and look forward to hearing more about your continuing training.
I can sympathize with the “too much dog stuff, not enough hands” problem. I guess you don’t have time to add “cart training” to your list, huh? If Nemo and Tango could pull their own gear, you’d be in great shape!
I’m a big believer in backpacks myself. The more you can carry on your back the more hands you have for leashes and crates. 😉