Hello yes I need a support group for dogs that are too smart. Signed Tassie up for a scentwork class but even though we've been practicing, we've only used the one odor (birch), so I figured I'd at least introduce her to the new odor (anise) tonight and see how she does searching for it. My swabs are extremely stale (have never refreshed them since I got them and forgot to buy the oil oops), to the point where I could barely smell the oil from the jar and not at all on the swabs. No big deal, I'll put two swabs in to compensate and see how it goes.
First search is container with birch to let her see that we're doing a container search, and warm her up. Takes her a bit to realize what we're doing, finds the box no problem. I then swap the birch box for the anise box, keeping it in the same spot to help her, and send her out (after letting her sniff the swabs and getting treated for it of course).
And she finds it in less than 30 seconds.
Okay, she's cheating with the location but still, HUGE party oh my god you're so smart what a good girl! Let's try the box in a new spot.
10 seconds.
What the hell is this a fluke? Let's record this next run.
Less than 30 seconds again with getting distracted by my sausages.
Okay, let's see about stumping her. We'll throw the birch box back in, and make her look for BOTH. Is it just ODOR or will the familiar scent get her distracted?
Not a problem. Finds the anise first even with stale swabs and I just refreshed her birch swabs a week ago. Quick search. The hell.
Anyways this dog hated scent work six months ago and was the biggest brat about learning it, but I guess we'll try her in some public searches Monday to see how she does because there's no WAY this isn't a fluke. And if it isn't holy shit.
