I just wanted to let everyone know that Pieka and I completed the NWI (NoseWork 1) title this weekend in Dighton, MA. I was thrilled – we have worked very hard in this sport, which is challenging but lots of fun. Pieka did EXCELLENT work this weekend. To complete the title, we had to pass four elements on the same day:
Vehicles: One hide, hidden on three cars that were set side by side. We had three minutes to find the hide. We completed it successfully in about 47 seconds.
Interior: One hide, located in a classroom full of desks and chairs. We had three minutes to find the hide, we found it in 1 minute, 11 seconds.
Exterior: One hide in a large outdoor space with trees, landscaping and Halloween decorations. We had three minutes and found it in 1 minute and 38 second (I think). This was a very challenging hide – there were sporadic wind gusts and Pieka got blown off the hide at least once. I was proud of her dedication.
Containers: One hide in 30 boxes. We had 2.5 minutes to find the correct box, we did it in 16 seconds.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures. They do not allow personal photography at the trials. But they did have an official photographer and I am hoping that the pictures turn out well.
Nice job!!!!
Great job you guys!!
Congratulations, sounds like a lot of fun.
Congrats! nosework is a lot of work and it doesn’t appear to be very easy to pass, although it is fun. Well done! Will you go on to level 2?
Yes, we will TRY to go onto Level 2. We do not have our ORTs (Odor Recognition Tests) for Anise and Clove yet, so that is step one.
NoseWork is really very challenging. There is about a 50% pass rate at Level 1 and it drops from there. There were two trials last fall where no dogs passed Level 2 at all. Some dogs seem to sail through and some dogs are amazingly fast – alas, we aren’t in either of those groups. 🙂 This was our second “real” try at it. We entered a third trial for kicks way back in May, but I knew we wouldn’t pass, it was really more of a training opportunity.
I had no idea how much work it would be when I started doing NoseWork, but I caught the bug. As I told Julie a long time ago, I really value versatility in dogs and this is certainly a good indication of that! It has taught me so much about Pieka’s temperament – aspects that I do not see in the other sports I do.
Wow!! Congrats! Are you in Michigan? I would love to try Roman in NoseWork.
Nope, I’m in New Hampshire now. 🙂 NoseWork hasn’t caught on as quickly in the MidWest yet. The coasts are always quicker with the dog stuff – but I suspect you’ll see NoseWork trials soon there! The UKC is also starting a NoseWork program.
Congratulations!!! That is so impressive! We love nosework.
Way to Go Jaime and Pieka! Congratulations on your new title.
Terrific news, Jaime! I enjoy getting Pieka updates—you two are a great team.
Congratulations Jaime and Pieka! Jaime from the results it sounds to me like she is fast to me?
I am proud of you both!
As far as speed goes, I was very happy with her times. That being said, we aren’t super fast. Some dogs found the interior hide in 30 seconds or less. The quickest time for the containers was 5 seconds. I am not kidding. Pieka and I don’t even make it off the start line that fast!
I made some mistakes (okay, was guided into some mistakes) with her earlier training that have impacted her overall speed. She doesn’t have the “obedience to odor” that some dogs do. We need to work on that before we progress. But Pieka is very methodical. The super fast dogs are flashy, but they often miss things too. Or they’re so eager they offer false alerts. It’s pretty rare for Pieka to false alert, thankfully.
That is really neat Congrats!!
Great job, Pieka and Jaime! Jaime–I would love to see updated pictures of your beautiful Pieka when you have time.
Congratulations-nice to see the kid out there using her nose.