BARN HUNT SCENT WORK

NEW AT THE SHOW: SNIFF FEST

This year's show is offering a fun opportunity for the public to let their pup show their scenting skills. Open to the public, registration for “Sniff Fest” will be available at the Show. Head over to the Scent Work rings in Hall A to play a game of “Find the Scent” – Introduce your dog to the odor birch and progress up to finding the odor placed in one of three boxes. The estimated time is 10:00am-3:00pm on Saturday & Sunday. There is a fee of $10 per run (subject to change).

Scent Work Trials

Did you know that dogs have a sense of smell that’s between 10,000 and 100,000 times more acute than ours?

That amazing sniffer does them a great service and often helps humans too. The the dog is introduced to a rat safely enclosed in an aerated tube, and placed alongside a tube with just rat litter for scent, and an empty tube. The dog must indicate the correct tube to the handler. In Novice, those tubes are now hidden in a straw bale maze, and the handler and dog have 2 minutes to find and indicate the correct tube. They must also complete a tunnel, proving the dog can go into small dark places, and a climb, putting all four feet on a bale. The next step is to increase difficulty. Find more information at barnhunt.com, or locally: Texas Rat Masters at TxRatMasters.com. sport of Scent Work celebrates the joy of sniffing, and asks a dog to sniff to their heart’s content. The fun game is enjoyed by most dogs, and is a wonderful way to build confidence in a shy dog.

In AKC Scent Work, dogs search for cotton swabs saturated with the essential oils of Birch, Anise, Clove, and Cypress. The cotton swabs are hidden out of sight in a pre-determined search area, and the dog has to find them. Teamwork is necessary: when the dog finds the scent, he has to communicate the find to the handler, who calls it out to the judge.

To enter, a dog should already have either an AKC or FSS registration number, a Canine Partners (CP) Listing number or a Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) Number. For more information, visit AKC. org/sports/akc-scent-work. The event is Saturday and Sunday, start time 8AM.

Farm Dog Certification

Open to all breeds of dogs, this test involves the dog performing a series of 12 exercises that are typical for a farm environment such as being in close proximity to livestock (who are always penned to avoid any altercations); jumping and staying on hay/straw bales; walking on unusual terrain; and jumping over logs. There is no herding involved. Instead, the goal is to assess his/her aptitude.

To participate, all dogs must be registered with the AKC, listed in the Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) program, or enrolled with Canine Partners (CP). For information, visit AKC.org/sports/herding/farm-dog-certified-test. The event is Saturday & Sunday; On site, day of trial entries are accepted; Start time 8:00am. both days.

By Zuzana Leckova