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D.O.T. For wintergreen!

QY10

Well-Known Member
Yay! Angus passed his Designated Odour Test for wintergreen.

It was a blind, unpaired test with 12 boxes.

Angus doesn't give formal alerts, so I had to rely on his body language to tell me which box had odour in it. That's the hard part because he is pretty subtle.

We walked along the first row of boxes and he sniffles each one and bumped the last one with his nose. So, we went down the second row and he sniffed each box. So, we went back to the one he bumped and he was sniffing it quite hard. So, I called alert on that box, which was the correct one.

I was given a good reminder though not to mess with our routine. I put a new collar on him and it was making him very itchy. He kept having to stop to scratch his neck. I should have stuck to the old ratty collar that we always wear to nosework.
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QY10

Well-Known Member
Wow, it sounds like you have to work just as hard as he does! That's amazing work. I'm proud of both of you. I bet it was a big confidence boost.
I had so much anxiety that I actually considered backing out. First, I considered calling in and saying that I was sick. Then considered saying 'no' when they asked if I was doing my DOT. I said, 'yes' and then I considered backing out. I watched the other dogs and I watched some of them fail (and I felt a little better LOL). Everyone kept saying, 'oh come on, it's just for fun'. I said, "This really isn't fun for me." So, we did it anyways AND PASSED! IT WAS A HUUUUUUUUGE CONFIDENCE BOOST. Especially because Angus gives very subtle informal alerts, so it felt really good knowing that I was able to read his body language.I feel like I'm on cloud 9 LOL I've been telling everyone that will listen that we passed our DOT for wintergreen. There is a trial coming up in March and I'm actually considering entering it. :)
 
WE gots our D.O.T., WE totally ROCK!!!

I had so much anxiety that I actually considered backing out. First, I considered calling in and saying that I was sick. Then considered saying 'no' when they asked if I was doing my DOT. I said, 'yes' and then I considered backing out. I watched the other dogs and I watched some of them fail (and I felt a little better LOL). Everyone kept saying, 'oh come on, it's just for fun'. I said, "This really isn't fun for me." So, we did it anyways AND PASSED! IT WAS A HUUUUUUUUGE CONFIDENCE BOOST. Especially because Angus gives very subtle informal alerts, so it felt really good knowing that I was able to read his body language.I feel like I'm on cloud 9 LOL I've been telling everyone that will listen that we passed our DOT for wintergreen. There is a trial coming up in March and I'm actually considering entering it. :)
That's great!! Drive down the road with the windows down and be like "Hey you, We got our DOT!" :lolbangtable:

I bet because he is so subtle it's made you very aware of him as he's working. I'm sure that gives you the upper hand. When you start working on formal alerts, you two are going to be rock solid. You work with your pup so much, I think this is just a natural progression. He loves it. It's breaking you out of your shell. Rejoice in your victories and just shrug it off if you ever fail (which I doubt will happen). Only good can come from these experiences!