Tracking And Scent Detection Classes For Your Dog – Phoenix Scottsdale AZ Dog Training – Dog Trainer – Behaviorist
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Sam Basso
PHOENIX , AZ AREA: (602) 708-4531
OR, if you are out of this area, inquire about a telephone or e-Lesson
Email: [email protected]
THESE ARE NEW CLASSES STARTING IN 2013. I am now offering tracking and scent detection courses for your dog. Not only are these fun, but they teach your dog useful skills that can be applied in the real world. I will be expanding the list of classes listed here as more students sign up. For now, these will be done on an individual private lesson basis, and we’ll do higher level classes over time. These are also good for dogs that can’t do fun things, such as agility, herding or group classes. Some dogs have arthritis or have had hip replacement issues that prevent them from getting involved in those activities, yet they need something fun to do. Other dogs are not good with other dogs, but they still need a fun activity. Scent work is a perfect type of fun activity to give your dog’s mind a new challenge, and you’ll love the personal time you get to spend with your dog. If there is enough interest in these classes, then I will roll out additional, more advanced classes.
Basic Tracking Class: This is a weekly class. We will start with basic footstep tracking, teaching your dog to follow a track laid by a human. We will start with basic desert tracking, including identification of human scented objects along the trail. Good tracking skills require laying a good foundation of skills for the dog and the handler. You can’t make a dog follow a trail, you have to teach and guide them. This is completely different than obedience training, where we command a dog to do something… and we know better than the dog. Instead, the dog knows better. They are the ones with the nose, and we have to learn to trust their judgment. This is a great team building course where you and your dog learn to be sensitive to one another, working as a team. It is important that your dog is food motivated for this class, that your dog is good on a leash, and has some basic obedience skills sufficient for you to control your dog along the track. It is very satisfying to see a dog follow a track that is hundreds of yards long, indicating items along a track that might have been lost or purposely dropped by a lost child, lost person, or even a fugitive. This is the place to start.
Basic Scent Detection: This is a daily class where we teach your dog to locate an object with a human scent. Once the object is located, the dog will either indicate by Sitting or Downing. Or, we can teach the dog to retrieve the object and bring it back to you. Imagine having 3 dumbbells. One of the three have a human scent, the others have no scent. Your dog is taught to find them, doing an area search. Once your dog finds them, your dog inspects them, comparing the scent they were told to find, and then indicating or retrieving the object. This class requires that your dog has first completed Basic Obedience and can obey off leash. Also, not all dogs can do this skill, so you need to understand that there may come a point where it is determined that this isn’t the right class for your dog. Retrieving, pointing, and herding breeds tend to excel, but sometimes other breeds can do well. It is very satisfying to see a dog gain this kind of ability. Every dog I’ve ever worked through this program ends up a much better dog in every way. I prefer to work dogs that are at least 6 months old, and usually you do better if your dog is at least a year old.
Sam Basso is a professional dog trainer and behaviorist, in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale metropolitan area. He’s known for being fun, kind, intelligent, and humane. Sam Basso has a unique personal touch. He has appeared on his own TV show, been a guest radio expert, gives seminars, publishes a dog related blog, does rescue volunteering, and is active in promoting animal welfare and fair dog laws.
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