Megan Leavey and Marine K9 Rex

Megan Leavey was a Marine K9 handler whose life and battle to have her working dog, Rex, retire with her were the topic of a movie, Megan Leavey, released in 2017.

Megan and Rex

Leavey made a special and powerful connection with the military working dog who saved her own and thousands of other lives in Iraq. While respecting that the K9 is a warrior in his own right, Leavey knew her dog, Rex, wouldn’t understand why she left without him.

She grew up with dogs, a total animal lover. “I had no idea there even was a K9 program until I was in military police school,” Leavey said. “I had to finish at the top of my class and be selected to go to K9 school.”

“I was new marine when I got handed this dog. Rex had an attitude. When we are first assigned a dog, we spend two weeks just rapport training. You are the only one feeding the dog, brushing him. You go for walks and play. You work up to getting to know mannerisms. When they see you, they associate that with a positive. The basic training is already done, becoming a team is what’s important.”

Leavey and Rex Survive an IED

Leavey and Rex were shipped to Iraq twice. On the last deployment, they survived an IED explosion on the dusty roads of Ramadi and spent their recuperation and physical therapy recovery together.

Megan Leavey @ Eukanuba

“Rex was a one person dog,” Leavey said. “Nobody else could have done that (physical therapy) work.”

A dual purpose dog in military parlance, Rex was both a patrol and explosives detection dog. “Rex was super aggressive,” Leavey said. “Right in his vet record it said in giant letters not adoptable… There’s a process to adopt military working dogs and I understood that.”

Parting Ways with Rex

While Leavey’s military contract was up after her recovery, Rex’s wasn’t. He continued working stateside after she returned home to New York state.

“He went through 12 different handlers after me,” Leavey said. “I had such guilt leaving him behind. You can’t explain to a dog that these are the rules. It haunted me every day.”

Leavey kept in touch with her friends in the K9 unit for years. “They weren’t his biggest fans,” she noted wryly. “Nobody bonded with him like I did. I kept hoping every day they’d change his classification.”

The Battle to Save Rex

“I finally got a call from a marine at the K9 section. Rex, now 11 years old, was going to be retired. My friend told me, ‘If you’re going to try and adopt him, get on it.’ Any day Rex could be put down. He was old and sick.”

Leavey went straight to her Veteran’s representative, who took her story to New York Senator Chuck Schumer. The Senator released her plea to the press. The publicity greased the wheels of government and helped Leavey cut through the red tape to have Rex retired with her.

“When he arrived, I just wanted to spend time with him,” Leavey said. “Getting him back really helped me close wounds, work on myself, be at peace with a lot of things.”

For a tough, working K9, Rex settled right in to civilian life with Leavey.

“From the moment I brought him home, he jumped right on the couch. He left the cats alone after getting swatted on the nose. He got along with my other working dog. He got to swim in a pool. See snow. Sleep on a bed and have all the toys and treats he wanted. I had a great eight months with him. I was so grateful that the process was expedited. If I waited any longer, we wouldn’t have had that time.

 

Pat Laurans: On Judging NOHS Best in Show

Pat Laurans, AKC delegate from the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America, was selected to judge Best in Show for the AKC National Championship National Owner-Handled Series in Orlando, Fla. Dec. 15, 2017.

For Pat Laurans, the dogs always come first. “Love of the dogs comes first,” Laurans said. “The people in the sport become our family due to our shared love of dogs.”

“It’s important to understand that 80 percent of dogs exhibited in AKC shows are shown by the owner,” Laurans noted. “AKC started (NOHS) to celebrate the dedication of Owner-Handled exhibits throughout the country. The top 10 in each breed is invited the national championship show.”

705 NOHS Competitors

Laurans made a point of defining the eligibility of the NOHS and noted that the year’s final competition in Orlando started with 705 competitors from 191 breeds/varieties.

“This shows the enthusiasm of owner handled competitors,” Laurans said. “The bond between dog and handler is something you can see. You realize the devotion, love and caring and the work they’ve done to reach this level.”

The Seven Group Winners Critiqued

Laurans graciously shared her articulate, detailed critique of all seven group winners in her Best in Show lineup with us at Pure Dog Talk.

The Winner – Bearded Collie

“The winner (Bearded Collie) was an example, to me, of a dog that could do the work the breed was meant to do,” Laurans said. “That would be able to work all day because of the correct outline, angulation and balance. And that moved around the ring effortlessly. … We aren’t judging handlers. We’re judging the dogs. This Beardie was, to me, of such outstanding quality that she was very deserving of NOHS BIS.”

Take a minute to listen to Pat and Laura talk about the Bred By Exhibitor competition at the AKCNC and the importance of a mentorship that spans more than 20 years.

And if you missed it, go back and pick up Pat’s interview about the critical role of the AKC Delegate body and what, exactly, these important members of the fancy do for you.

Huge thanks to Pure Dog Talk supporter Karen Evasuik for sharing her gorgeous photos of this important event. Check out all of her beautiful candids from the entire week in Orlando here.

Meanwhile, remember to tune in to Animal Planet tonight for all of the great coverage from the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin.

Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week – International Shows

Allison and Laura talk about International Shows, qualifying for competitions, and differences between AKC and CKC.

LEADING EDGE DOG SHOW ACADEMY

Jason Taylor and Jerry O'Connell - Stars in Orlando

Jason Taylor is the face you rarely see behind the scenes of the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin. Taylor, an Afghan Hound breeder who worked for Eukanuba before the show even existed, is a constant through the year’s 18 year history.

“I think the thing we got right early on,” Taylor said, “was the focus on celebrating breeds and breeders. It’s why we have the Bred By Exhibitor competition that continues to today. The other thing is, there are no tiny rings at the AKC National Championship. We believe you need to be able to see dogs move. At least for this show, this is the way it’s gonna be.”

Assistant Show Chairman - Jason Taylor

Taylor’s official title is Assistant Show Chairman and National PRO Sales Director for Royal Canin. He also is the force behind this year’s hugely successful roll out of the puppy/junior sweepstakes event on the Friday of the National Championship events weekend.

“We liked the idea of introducing a moment celebrating the future stars,” Taylor said. “When I sat down and drafted the event, working with Gina DiNardo, we thought if we could get 500 puppies it would be a success. It was beyond any dream that we got 1200 entries!”

Taylor admits the team had concerns, with a focus on dogs first, that the “big, busy week” would overwhelm the young dogs. But he notes that exhibitors were mindful of the puppies’ needs and careful with them.

The wild schedule of that Friday in the weekend is one Taylor also went into aware of the potential issues. “But we think of these as good problems to have,” Taylor said, observing the record-breaking entry for the event. Friday features the National Owner-Handled Series, 30 specialties, including several nationals and two group shows. Adding the Puppy/Junior event was additional pressure on the schedule.

“On paper it looked like conflicts,” Taylor said. He even joked about the building-wide “brown out” that effectively juggled the schedule enough to squeak through with fewer head to head conflicts than expected. “We learned a lot,” Taylor said. “There are some tweaks we can make to relieve the schedule.”

Taylor's Wisdom for Show-Giving Clubs

And, just for Pure Dog Talk listeners, Taylor offered the benefit of his wisdom as applicable to all show-giving clubs.

“The AKC National Championship is unique,” Taylor observed. “But the principles are the same. You have to concentrate on revenue, but it can’t solely be from entries. Clubs have to get creative and think outside the box.

“And they need to be absolutely maniacal about expenses. Make sure the money you spend is in the right places. That it’s going to show up.

“Clubs need to generate awareness. Too many clubs don’t know how. There are newspapers, blogs, podcasts. There are individuals in every market who are into dog things. Facebook pages are critical. Clubs need to reach out to the community. Even if folks are not dog show people, they’ll come out for dog stuff. The more people who attend a show, the happier the vendors are and so on.

“Dog shows are hard (for the general public). Most of the activity is at 8 a.m. and slows down through the day. For most families, their day happens in the opposite way. Having things for people to do, to get involved with, is vital.”

Laura Reeves Sings!

The last two weeks of the year are normally a quiet, restorative, hibernating time of year for folks. Even with celebrations, friends, family and feasting, the tempo gradually slows down as we take time to review the year past and contemplate the one ahead.

So Merry Christmas crew! As we each celebrate the holiday season in the fashion we choose, I just wanted to take a few minutes to say THANK YOU.

I mean, wow! The first Pure Dog Talk episode debuted Nov. 21, 2016… thirteen months later, we have created more than 140 episodes released on iTunes and just about every other available podcast delivery system. We built a huge, resource-rich website. And we’ve enabled well over 160,000 FREE downloads of knowledge and insight directly from the best in the sport to anyone who wants to listen and learn.

What an amazing gift you have given Mary and I. All of you…. Our listeners, our fans, and so many legends who generously shared your time, your memories and your wisdom. We literally would not be here without you.

Orlando 2016 to 2017

Last year at the AKC National Championship in Orlando, I walked a couple marathons worth of concrete floors, spreading the word about our brand spanking new venture.

This year we were thrilled to announce we’ve joined forces with Aramedia Group, publishers of ShowSight Magazine, to enable the show to reach an even larger audience. Mary and I are no longer a two-girl band!

With AJ Arapovic and his outstanding team behind the show, we have some really exciting plans on the horizon. Each one of which is designed to continue serving our thriving community of avid knowledge seekers in bigger and better ways.

Sign Up and Join Us

We hope you’ve already signed up to join us. If not, just stop by the PureDogTalk.com or the Facebook page and click the “Don’t Miss an Episode” button. Your name and email address is all we need to keep you in the loop.

Puppies, Puppies, Puppies

Let’s continue Celebrating the History of our sport and Creating a bold vision of our future!

Meanwhile, as we all know, I can’t miss out on a teaching moment so here goes.

Puppies make everything better. Gramma always swore it was a hot bath that cured everything from the common cold to a broken heart

Newsflash gramma, it’s puppies. Sweet puppy breath, fat puppy paws, silly puppy antics, gumby puppies sleeping, noisy puppies eating. Puppies encapsulate all that is good and pure in the world.

Of course, there’s also puppy poopie and peepee; puppy gruel; six loads of laundry a day; sleep deprivation; random and limited opportunities to bathe, eat or socialize; no time for Christmas decorating; and, the attendant brain fog descending due to all of the above.

Puppies embody that spirit of renewal and cleansing that make the New Year such a joyous celebration.

As we bid farewell (and for many, good riddance) to a turbulent and divisive year past, let’s raise a glass to the hope, the joy, the pureness of purpose represented in our puppies.

These little ones, if we choose them as our guides, harbor hate for no one. Their affection is not restricted based on race, gender, sexual orientation, creed or national origin. They are equal opportunity employers of beseeching looks, demanding caterwauls at feeding time and sock destruction.

In an uncertain world, we can find comfort, courage, kindness and focus in the unquestioning trust of a puppy’s steady gaze.

Laura Reeves Sings 12 Puppies of Christmas - OMG!

And, because I believe we all need a laugh, especially at what can be a challenging time of year,

Lorrie Carlton and Bichon Frise: Pure Dog Talk Breeder's Voice

Lorrie Carlton, breeder of Flynn, GCH Belle Creek’s All I Care About Is Love, came to her Bichon Frise breeding program with a background in sporting, hound and working breeds. Her firmly ingrained focus on structure and movement has continued through more than 40 years.

Carlton’s family raised Weimaraners and owned a boarding kennel and grooming shop. She grew up with bird dogs and showed her first dog at 11 years old. The family moved in to handling show dogs and added Old English Sheepdogs to their pack. Carlton worked in the kennel and groom shop after school and learned grooming by watching starting at 14.

Lorrie Carlton Belle Creek Bichon Frise

Following in her dad’s footsteps, Carlton became a licensed professional handler. Her favorite win? Group 1 with the Borzoi at Westminster Kennel Club in 1993 under Robert Forsyth. She retired the following year to assist her new husband, Larry Letsche, at his veterinary clinic in Michigan.

In 1976, just three years after the breed was recognized by AKC, Carlton piloted a Bichon named Sam to Best in Show in place of her father, who had been hurt. Sam made her fall in love with the breed. Just five years later, she won the national with her first Bichon of her own.

Correct Structure Before a Pretty Face

“I’ve got to have the structure,” Carlton said. “You can fine tune the little things, but you can’t fine tune the whole dog, especially the front. (My first) dogs didn’t have the classical pretty head. I figured I’d breed to the head at some time, but they have to have the structure first.”

Rebuilding her program after a devastating bout with juvenile cataracts in her line, Carlton continued to focus on structure, temperament and health.

“I breed my dogs for myself,” Carlton said. “I want a dog that is sound, that can come, that can go. Yeah, I want a pretty face, just like everybody else does. But I want proper coat, I want proper attitude and I want the health. I don’t want health issues. I can’t say I haven’t had some, but I don’t know anyone breeding dogs for any length of time that hasn’t had some.”

Flynn the Bichon Frise

Nicks and Flukes in Breeding Program

Carlton shares her stories about dogs that make a good “nick” with her lines and the “flukes” she won’t use in a breeding program. Her horror stories of breeding the “best to the best” and her preference to breed to the sire of a dog she likes.

“Successful breeders are honest with themselves,” Carlton said. “They are honest with what they have. They are not willing to compromise. They have a standard that they have set for themselves.”

Raising Bichon Frise Puppies

Carlton’s puppies are born in her kitchen, go to work at the vet clinic with Lorrie and Larry. She said they watch the puppies grow, making their selections around 10 weeks. She’s looking for that great puppy that has attitude, a certain look, a pretty face, pretty body.

“We put them on the ground and watch them walk,” Carlton said. “The ones we like, we hang on to. I separate the puppies at 7-8 weeks so they are sleeping the night through in their crates when they go home with new owners. We walk them on a leash. Teach yes and no. For sure, put a little extra into the dogs who have the potential.”

Carlton says she wants watch how the puppies react as they go through training, that she wants them to go through the uglies. “I don’t want them to stay beautiful all the way through (growing up),” she added.

Share the Bichon Frise Love through Mentoring

Love Bichon's and want to learn more?

Rise to the Top: Katie Shepherd Bernardin and Giant Schnauzer "Ty"

Katie Shepherd Bernardin is the handler of Ty, the Giant Schnauzer in a ridiculously tight competition for number one dog of all breeds.

Katie Bernardin and Ty

At the tender age of 31, Katie stands as one of the youngest handlers to run this grueling race.

And, in the midst of this hectic, busy, insane year, Katie married Adam Bernardin in September. Just in case she wasn’t crazy enough...

Living and loving on the way to number one…

Katie is the poster child for raised in the sport. She started attending shows with her grandmother (while still in a stroller!). Her gramma bred miniature schnauzers and Katie remembers standing on a stool to help dry and chalk the dogs for the ring. She showed her first dog at age seven and hasn’t looked back.

After years spent working for professional handlers, including Lori Wilson-Paust and Andrew Doyle, Katie says showing a working dog (versus sporting dogs and sighthounds) has been a significant challenge.

But, always learning is her mantra.

“You can’t stop learning,” Katie said. “I learn something every day. From Adam, from Lori, from Angie Lloyd. I can always call and ask a question.”

To Be Number One, Seek Mentorship

Katie's strongest recommendation to young people coming up in the sport is to seek mentorship.

“You have to love your job,” Katie said. “You have to do it with a passion. You sacrifice your own life to make sure the dogs always come first. You take care of the dogs. But you have to *learn* to take care of dogs.”

Katie’s best recommendation for anyone in the sport, “Go watch a different breed. Watch how the handlers put their hands on dogs. You need to build a bond with a dog. Go work for a handler. It’s a very hard life. You need to learn that it’s a whole lot more than showing up at the dog show with your dog.”

Know Your Breed and Be Prepared

She adds that she has dealt for years with the potential for bloat. “You need to know the breed you’re carrying. The more you know, the more you prepare yourself, the more confident, the more you won’t panic in a situation. Be confident and know what you’re doing. Knowledge gives you confidence and confidence kills panic.”

Ty the Giant Schnauzer

In a complete switch from most top dogs, Ty goes home between dog shows . Katie said he needs downtime. “He’s a thieving monster,” Katie said. “He steals steaks off the counter. He’s the ultimate “dog is a dog”.”

Katie’s positive suggestions for continuing to move toward the never stop learning motto include:  That we have intelligent conversations. That we be involved. That we work hard. That you never stop trying your best.

Katie Bernardin"s Best Tip

Her best tip? “Think of someone you really admire in the sport, and imagine they’re always looking over your shoulder. Act like they are always watching.”

Show Dog of the Year!

It’s the Awards time of year in the purebred dog fancy. The AKC National Championship show presented by Royal Canin this weekend will feature the announcement of a number of huge awards from the AKC, including their nominees for Breeder of the Year and the ACE award winners for heroic dogs.

But voting is also underway for awards influenced by the purebred dog fancy at large.

Show Dog of the Year Awards

Corey Benedict, Northeast Area Manager for the Breeders Enthusiast Group at Purina ProPlan, oversees the Show Dog of the Year Awards presented by Purina and Dog News Magazine in February during the Westminster Kennel Club weekend in New York City.

Benedict, who worked for Walt Disney World as a show director for nearly 30 years, is also a breeder of Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen and president of the GBGV Club of America.

63rd Year of the Awards

He noted that the Show Dog of the Year awards are now in their 63rd year, having originally been sponsored by Ken-L Ration. He credits ProPlan’s Anne Viklund with continuing the tradition, previously known as the Winkies, after the last co-sponsor, Dogs in Review magazine, went out of business.

Our Favorite Bill McFadden to MC

The black tie, by-invitation-only event held at the elegant Gotham Hall on Saturday, Feb. 10, will be MC’d by Bill McFadden and “BestMinster” with a few surprises thrown in.

The glamorous evening celebrates the winners of the Show Dog of the Year based on Dog News points calculations, the Champions Cup based on the most points earned at Purina-sponsored shows, the AKC Achievement awards for Juniors, Obedience and Agility, the Anne Rogers Clark award for outstanding achievement in the sport and, finally, the Pro Plan Awards.

Don't Forget to Vote

This final category is where you, our listeners, come in. Everyone in the purebred dog fancy is encouraged to vote for their favorites of three nominees, selected by committee, in each of the five categories.

Breeder of the Year

NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR BREEDER OF THE YEAR

Armando Angelbello, Eileen Hackett, and Doug Johnson

The Best Breeder recipient should show a record of consistent quality over time, a high percentage of outstanding dogs, dog-friendly responsible kennel facilities and showing success at national and important specialty shows.

Nominees for Breeder of the Year:

Karen Fitzpatrick — Meadowlake Border Terriers

Lisa & Harry Miller — Kiarry American Foxhounds

Bill Shelton & Steve Leyerly & Becky Williams DVM — Coventry Pembroke Welsh Corgis

 

Professional Handler of the Year

NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR PROFESSIONAL HANDLER OF THE YEAR

Kellie Fitzgerald, Bergit Kabel, and Valerie Nunes- Atkinson

Professional handlers are undoubtedly among the most visible participants in our shows; therefore courtesy, civility and a spirit of true professionalism must be hallmarks of nominees in this category. These qualities should be extended to clients, judges, fellow exhibitors and handlers, and attending public. Criteria should include handling ability, care of animals in their charge, long-standing achievement in the sport of purebred dogs, and consideration for success over the previous 12 months.

Nominees for Professional Handler of the Year:

Angela Lloyd

Tiffany Skinner

Mike Stone

 

Judge of the Year

NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR JUDGE OF THE YEAR

Barbara Dempsey Alderman, Frank Sabella, and Bill Shelton

Voting criteria for best judge is relatively simple. The recipient should have shown good judgement, courage of conviction, knowledge of and adherence to demands of breed standards, origin and purpose,

Laura Reeves on Dog Show Mentor - Safe Travels

At Pure Dog Talk we are proud to support all of our friends providing educational resources to the purebred dog fancy. Lee Whittier, the Dog Show Mentor, recently invited Laura Reeves to talk with her members about travel and safety tips while attending dog events. Lee was gracious enough to return the favor and share the interview with our listeners!

Tips from Laura Reeves

Whether traveling by car, RV or airplane, long distance or short, we have tips and recommendations to help ease the trip.

* PICK UP after your dog!!

* DO NOT wash dogs in the hotel bath tub!!

* Carry a leash and a gallon of water for every dog in the vehicle.

* Pack for safe ingress/egress.

* Carry shade cloth in summer and chains in winter.

* Always be prepared.

* Install a temperature monitor.

* Nothing is more important than your animal’s safety and well-being.

* The best guarantee of your animal’s safety is direct supervision.

* RV maintenance — tires, generators, etc

* Electricity — know what it can and cannot do.

* Long-distance, cross country driving — get dogs out every 4 hours. Get food, fuel, potty dogs and people all in one stop. Plan ahead for shorter drives to accommodate this schedule.

* Keep a light weight pen on top of the stack to set up for young dogs to contain.

* Avoid feeding before driving to avoid car sickness

* Air travel — Not all airlines are created equal — Alaska is amazing.

* Know airline and their requirements.

* Be prepared to provide a bigger crate if needed.

* Fly your own wheels.

* Freeze water buckets to hang in crate.

* Put a small scissor or sharp object in an easily accessible pocket of checked baggage to cute zip ties on crates.

* Easier to travel with a friend.

Personal Safety

As a final topic, Laura offers the Dog Show Mentor some awareness topics for personal safety while on the road.

Input from retired Law Enforcement Officers

* Stay alert and aware.

* Pay attention to your surroundings.

* Body posture, head up, shoulders back.

* Stay in well-lighted areas.

* Situational awareness.

* Avoiding conflict is vastly better than fighting.

* Keep keys and cell phone with you.

* Bad guys don’t want to be the center of attention. Make a racket.

* If you have to fight, cheat. Your goal is to win, stay alive.

* Stay in touch with a friend or family member as regards expected travel.

* Make use of non-lethal deterrents… Pepper spray etc

* Dogs help deter, but don’t assume it will always work.

 

DOG SHOW MENTOR WITH LEE WHITTIER

Allison Foley’s Tip of the Week: Dogs that Chew

Listen in to Allison’s best suggestion for dogs that chew their hair or beds... today on PureDogTalk.com

LEADING EDGE DOG SHOW ACADEMY WITH ALLISON FOLEY

Jan Koler-Matznick: Daring New Hypothesis Regarding the Origin of the Dog

Dawn of the Dog? What if dogs are really kissing cousins to wolves, not direct descendants?

Jan Koler-Matznick didn’t plan to be a heretic when she grew up. Nonetheless, her 2016 treatise, Dawn of the Dog: the genesis of a natural species, flies in the face of scientific hypotheses established for decades. Jan’s years involved in purebred dogs, working as a biologist and behaviorist, working with wolves and New Guinea Singing Dogs left her convinced that it was not realistic to believe that domestic dogs are direct descendants of canis lupus, the grey wolf.

“The people who are doing the research, writing these things, were never intimately involved with these animals,” Jan said. “I have worked closely with domestic dogs, wolves and New Guinea Singing Dogs (dingos).”

New Guinea Singing Dogs

It was her desire to study the most primitive dogs, animals largely unimpacted by humans, that led her to the New Guinea Singing Dogs.

New Guinea Singing Dog - Photo Credit Lynn Jackson

“I got my first two (NGSD) puppies home from the airport in Portland,” Jan remembered. “I was standing there in my kitchen with my mouth open, thinking to myself, I don’t know what they are! They’re not dogs. They’re not wolves…”

In reference to the DNA analysis connecting dogs and grey wolves, Jan noted that similarity of DNA does not mean ancestor/descendant relationship. “Two species can have extremely similar DNA because they came from a common ancestor.” In other words, Jan hypothesizes that there was one progenitor to both the wolf and dog.

“I think someday the ancestor of the dog will be found lying in a museum drawer some where,” Jan mused. “Most of the new species described in the last couple decades have come out of museum drawers because they were misidentified or not identified at all.”

She is looking forward to results from a UK group studying the origin of the dog. A researcher has put together an international consortium of specialists conducting a significant study using ancient wolves and dogs, sequencing DNA from their bones. “I’m hoping we’ll get some answers before I die.”

Scent Work - The Nose Knows

Scent Work is an accessible sport for handlers and dogs that builds on the one thing ALL dogs do well — sniffing.  AKC’s brand new Scent Work program, and the events from which it is derived, are amongst  the fastest growing sports in purebred dogs. We visited with some of the judges and participants in this new game to bring our listeners in depth and up to date information.

Jon Sarabia - Scent Work Judge

Our podcast interview today features Jon Sarabia, a retired military dog trainer based in Missouri, who is now active in the sport as a competitor and judge.

Jon Sarabia

Listen to our talk with Jon Sarabia from Amore K9 Training in Sedalia, MO as he describes the way he starts dogs out learning how to find two drops of essential oil on a cotton ball buried under a foot of dirt.

 

We also had a chance to talk with Penny Scott-Fox, the Southern California trainer who was a founding member of the National Association of Canine Scent Work, Hallie McMullen, who has been training dogs for law enforcement detection work for over 20 years, and Karyn Eby, a Washington State based trainer who transitioned to scent work from advanced field work with her English Cocker Spaniels.

 

Penny Scott-Fox: National Association of Canine Scent Work

Penny Scott-Fox, NACSW Faculty and Founding Member, AKC Scent Work Judge, Certified K9 Nose Work ® Instructor

PDT:

I would love to hear some more history of how this sport began and what you think has propelled it to be so overwhelmingly popular.

PSF:

The original sport NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work) was started by Ron Gaunt and two of his students, Amy Herot and Jill Marie O'Brien. They realized that the scent work part of detection training could provide a lot of fun for dog enthusiasts and pet owners alike. It exploded. After selecting seven instructors to help them teach the sport (I am one of the original seven), classes started everywhere. People became certified nose work instructors across the country and soon there was an enormous demand for trials.

To be honest, it has been hard for the NACSW to keep up creating frustration in exhibitors being able to get into trials. Also in order to earn a title with the NASCW the team needs to earn a 100 percent score. Now there are long wait lists for trials and sometimes one has to travel great distances. As the sport continues to grow there seems to be more frustration with NACSW.

PDT:

I’ve gotten differing opinions as to the ease or, I guess, accessibility of the sport for folks new to the concept. Can you give us a typical training routine for a new dog, of any age, to prepare for a novice level trial? How does that time investment change as you go to higher levels of competition?

PSF:

Nose Work (NACSW) or Scent Work (AKC) is fun, there is no doubt about it. Anyone can do it, almost any dog can do it and you don't have to be super fit to run your dog. The training is straight forward.  There are a lot of instructors available plus some good online courses.  You don't need a ton of equipment to practice so it makes it a very accessible game to play with your dogs. Any age dog can do it too. I always start my puppies off at eight weeks and they are able to compete at one year (NACSW) or 6 months...