Last week I shared how I surprised even myself by remembering my old nose work training, in “My Nose Still Knows.” Well a few dogs asked about my training and certification. So today I thought I’d share this post from 2016 where I explained my road to becoming a champion! Ok, I admit now that I’m rereading it some of the details here aren’t exactly as I remember them now. Did I really embarrass myself in front of all those judges?
Nose Work Champion (September 2016)
Yesterday Mom once again managed to slip into a post a reference to Lemmy’s triumphant day competing the New Hampshire Working Dogs Foundation’s Iron Dog way back in 2008. Sure we are proud of him. But how about a shout out to my short-lived career in Nose Work competitions? What, you didn’t know I’m certified by the National Association of Canine Scent Work in not one but three scents? Well not to brag…but I am. Sit back and let me tell you all about my exploits in the highly competitive world of canine scent recognition!
It all began way back in 2012 when I was just a puppy. On the final day of Puppy Kindergarten, the teacher mentioned other classes that we could sign up for now that I had mastered the basics. Still reliving the high of coming in second to last with Lemmy at Iron Dog four years earlier, but not wanting the physical exertion of agility, Dad decided to sign me up for their Nose Work classes. And thus began my illustrious career!
Right from the first class the teacher knew I was a natural. With little instruction I sniffed my way through those first classes effortlessly while my classmates struggled to find the hidden scent. How could they not notice it? Ok, so I had my own problems gaining control over my inner puppy and properly alerting Dad when I found it. Laying down seemed so boring. I preferred to do a happy dance! But rules are rules, and I had to play by them. Those were special days. Dad worked long hours away from home, so it was a wonderful treat to attend those classes with him. No wonder I was happy and wanted to dance!
As 2012 rolled into 2013 I became more and more proficient at Nose Work. I was destined to be a champion! I sniffed circles around my classmates, literally! My preferred method of finding the scent was to start sniffing in a big circle and get more concise. Lemmy was in awe of me. Poor guy, despite Dad’s efforts to try to train him too, he was clueless. Anyways, as I advanced my teacher suggested I participate in my first informal competition, just so Dad and I could see how I did under pressure. I nailed it! I was even so confident that I added my own nail biting moment. I only have so many seconds to find the scent or I am disqualified. Well I knew where it was right away, but I made Dad sweat it out as I admired myself in the mirrors that lined the walls. After all I was still a puppy, and I had never seen my reflection before. The audience cooed as I did just the perfect adorable head tilt while admiring myself in the mirror. The judges watched impatiently, and Dad thought our Nose Work career was over before it began. Then with seconds to spare I trotted over to the scent and laid down. Success!
Finally my teacher said I was ready to take the official odor recognition test in three scents: Birch, Anise, and Clove. So off I went to another event, only this time there were high stakes. If I’m not certified I can’t participate in National Association of Canine Scent Work competitions. Dad was nervous. And I was…well, a fifteen month old puppy! I got certified in the first two scents without any problem. In fact I found the Anise in just 15 seconds! The problem was there were a lot of other dogs getting certified, thus leading to long periods of downtime between my turns. The rules state that I couldn’t play with the other dogs, or rile them up for that matter, and just had to quietly wait away from the other teams. I was bursting with energy by my final round. But I did it! I found that elusive Clove. But then it happened. After Dad gave the ok for me to get up, I couldn’t resist grabbing the glove the scent was hidden in and running around with it…with Dad chasing me…much to the shouts of the judges and the laughter of the onlookers. It was my victory lap!
Well long story short, I still got certified in three scents for the ORT and received my official score book, despite the long lecture the judge gave Dad that I should have been disqualified for my antics. Little did I realize though that would be my last time in the spotlight. You see it was around that time that Lemmy got very sick, and Mom and Dad dedicated all their time to taking care of him. By the following spring, Lemmy was gone, and we were all heartbroken. Dad’s heart just wasn’t into competitions after that, and to be honest I thought all the downtime between my turn was boring. So we never competed again. I still practice though. From time to time Mom will hide those scents, and Dad and I will relive my glory days as a Nose Work Champion! Perhaps I’ll even train Asa one of these days too.
