Scent discrimination is one of the "advanced" obedience exercises, but it is actually one of the easiest to train. Why? You are working with the dog's single most acute sense: smell. Although the word is politically charged, in behavioral terms "discrimination" simply means a choice made on the basis of established criteria. In the case of scent articles, that criterion is the handler's scent ("find the one that smells like me").
Competition
Fun with Your Dog: Mushing on a Bike
By Robin Shen on 03/01/2007Mushing with your dog is exciting—and a great workout for both of you. Here's everything you need to know in order to get started.
Clicker Training a 2 on / 2 off Contact Behavior on the Dogwalk
By Deborah Jones PhD on 03/01/2007Having a solid, reliable 2 on / 2 off contact behavior on the dogwalk is a great advantage in agility. The 2 on / 2 off is a clear, specific position that most dogs find easy to learn and perform. It also requires the dog to wait until you catch up and release him, which allows for better handling of subsequent sequences. My method for training this behavior involves early foundation skills, clicking for correct position, feeding in position, and back-chaining.
Managing the Treat-Free Competition Ring
By Melissa Alexander on 02/01/2007Q: How do I move from food treats to praise only?
Will This Dog Hunt? Positively. A New Outdoorsman's Guide
By KPCT on 02/01/2007For many outdoor enthusiasts and dog owners, hunting for sport or competing in field trials looks like a fun activity to enjoy with their dogs-but the traditional techniques for training great "gun dogs" involve shock collars, ear pinching, and other force-based methods, which can turn off even the most macho enthusiasts. But what if those methods weren't needed?
