Sora's Nosework Journey Continues

Red Lake Rosie's Rescue is always so happy to receive updates on our dogs and cats. We have been following Sora's story since she left us as a pup named Crimson in 2011. I think we are almost as proud as her mom about her achievements!

NOTE FROM ADOPTER:
Update on Sora (RLRR class of 2011, Oct. Spay-Neuter Clinic)

Sora and I have been training in K9 Nosework since she was about 6 months old. As a puppy and adolescent, Sora was so skittish in busy places (such as parking lots and pet stores) that I couldn't imagine taking her to an obedience class - actually, we did try one, and she had a bad experience with some puppies that weren't being controlled by their owners or the trainer, so we didn't go back - but not to worry, I've been a trainer for 12 years, so she didn't lack for training, just the socialization experience that offered). One of my other dogs was taking agility classes at a school I really liked, and when the offered nosework classes, and I found out that it could help with her fearfulness, I signed her up.

K9 Nosework is like detection dog training (think sniffer dogs of any kind: drugs, arson, fruit, etc.), except our dogs search for 3 specific essential oils - birch (like wintergreen), anise and clove. Dogs learn to search in 4 'elements', containers (boxes, luggage, cans, etc), interiors (just what it sounds like, indoor rooms), exteriors (outside) and vehicles (only the outside of just about anything with wheels). To attend a trial, a dog must demonstrate that they know what odor they are searching for. Each title level adds an odor, Birch for NW1, Birch and Anise for NW2 and Birch, Anise and Clove for NW3. The test to demonstrate they know what to search for is called an Odor Recognition Test (ORT), and one must be passed for each of the 3 odors.

Sora passed her first ORT for birch in February of 2013, and received her NW1 title in July of 2013. For this title, she had to find one birch hide in each of the 4 elements, within 3 minutes time.

Since then, we've had a lot of training challenges: getting her to many many new and unfamiliar places and not being too anxious to search, getting her comfortable with going under things, and in narrow places, teaching her 'close' isn't 'good enough' most of the time, as well as passing her Anise ORT (October of 2013) and after 3 tries, her Clove ORT this past January.

This year we entered an Element Specialty trial (4 searches, all in the same element; they follow the levels of the other trials, so Level 1 is like NW1, one birch hide), but it was a very hot day in early spring, and she was too warm to compete well (a dog can't sniff and pant easily). Next we entered an NW2 trial in Hudson over Labor Day weekend. For NW2, she has to find birch, anise or a combination of the 2 odors, and there are multiple hides, always in interiors, and possibly in the other elements, as well as an additional challenge of having 'distractors' in the containers (such as toys, food, etc.). At that trial, despite heat and humidity, she did very well - getting 7 of 8 hides, including the container search that foiled most of the dogs there.

This past weekend, at Buck Hill Ski Area in Burnsville, MN, we finally earned an NW2 title. She successfully found 7 hides, 1 in containers, 2 in the exterior area on a deck, 1 on the 4 vehicles, 1 in a small interior space and 2 in a larger interior space. She rose above all her insecurity, was able to focus, relax, was resilient to my needing to be told more than once that she'd found the hide; what an incredible feeling to be really working as a team.


Check out previous posts about Sora:
http://redlakerosie.blogspot.com/2012/05/crimson-is-now-sora.html
http://redlakerosie.blogspot.com/2013/03/sora-is-training-her-nose.html
http://redlakerosie.blogspot.com/2013/09/sora-gets-her-canine-nosework-1-title.html
http://redlakerosie.blogspot.com/2014/12/sora-continues-her-k9-nosework.html

Sora continues her K9 Nosework

UPDATE FROM ADOPTER:

Sora (formerly Crimson) came from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue and through Animal Ark to me.

She and I continue to improve as a K9 Nosework team. For various reasons, we did not trial this year, however we will probably attempt her 3rd clove ORT in January. 

Sora turned 3 in August; she is huge, 105 lbs and as tall as a Newfoundland. Overall she is a sweet and biddable dog, who, with encouragement, is willing to try anything. She's completely bonded to her brother and sister, they're quite the furry family.


Check out previous posts about Sora:
http://redlakerosie.blogspot.com/2012/05/crimson-is-now-sora.html
http://redlakerosie.blogspot.com/2013/03/sora-is-training-her-nose.html
http://redlakerosie.blogspot.com/2013/09/sora-gets-her-canine-nosework-1-title.html

Sora gets her Canine Nosework 1 Title!

UPDATE FROM ADOPTER:
This past weekend, Sora (formerly Crimson from Animal Ark and Red Lake Rosie's Rescue) and I went to Burlington, Wisconsin, to participate in her, and my, first National Association of Canine Scent Work trial.  

Nosework is a fairly new dog sport based on detection dog training, where dogs search in 4 elements: containers, interiors (inside a room for example), exteriors (outdoors), and vehicles (on the outside of cars) for a specific odor (one of 3 essential oils, birch, anise or clove). 

At NW1 level the searches are only for Birch.   In order to participate in an NW1 trial, they must pass an Odor Recognition Test on the specific odor for their level; Sora passed her ORT, in February of this year. 

 I enrolled Sora in Nosework to help build her confidence, and is has been an amazing benefit for her. Through all the new things she had to deal with this weekend, she was able to accommodate them and overcome her worry; Nosework has a profound and positive effect on anxious or reactive dogs.

This was Sora's first big trip, first time away from home alone with mom, and first trial.  We have been training for a year and a half, she started on odor last summer.  As this was her first trial, I did not expect her to do well with all the things that were new to her this weekend. 

 I'm very proud and pleased to report that my not-so-little 'Rez dog', qualified in all 4 elements and got her NW1 title in her first trial!  Not only that, she was 3rd fastest on vehicles!

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for this sweet and special dog.  I couldn't be prouder of her.

G~ and Sora

Sora is training her nose!

Sora (formerly known as Crimson) was one of 3 very fuzzy pups that came down from Red Lake Rosie's Rescue about two years ago and were fostered by Linda R. -- Sora is now up to 85 lbs!

NOTE FROM ADOPTER:

After about a year in nosework classes, and transitioning to her first odor (sweet birch), in the fall, Sora passed her Odor Recognition Test, as sanctioned by the National Association of Canine Scentwork. 

This is her booklet where her ORT test and score is recorded.

This is a video of her mock ORT run on 1/27, which gives you an

idea of how it works. The gist: 12 identical boxes, one box has 3 q-tips,

Sora has to find that box, and tell me that she found it, and I have to tell the judge by saying Alert! when I think she's got it.

Sora is still in training, and hopefully come fall we will try an NW1 (nosework 1) trial.  She really loves this 'game' she gets to play with that over-active nose of hers :).  Though it would be a dream, there is an award for the best performing rescue dog at an NW1 trial, and maybe, just maybe, she'll get a Harry Award someday. :)

Crimson is now Sora

These were my Red Lake fosters (Crimson, Clover and Chester - Crimson is the one in the front of the puppy pile) from last Oct.

I recently received beautiful photos and a video of her along with an e-mail update.

Linda

UPDATE FROM NEW HOME:
This is Sora in her first week of nosework. She's all 'business' now. Loves loves LOVES the find the treat game! If she continues to love it, I may try to compete with her. It does wonders for her self-confidence.