"Learn how to read your dog" is a common phrase in Scent Work. This relates to learning what your dog looks like when they are working odor. However, it is also essential that we have a general understanding of canine body language! In asking our dogs to hunt, we must understand what the dog is saying throughout the entirety of the search.

This is especially important if you are a Scent Work trial official. We must remember Scent Work is open to reactive dogs. Dogs who fall into this category may be reactive to other dogs or may be environmentally sensitive. It is also possible dogs who have "stranger danger" toward people are attending Scent Work trials.

As a trial official, you are the eyes and ears of the trial. Thus, it is crucial that you be able to identify when a dog may pose a risk to yourself or the other volunteers and staff within the search area. Likewise, we must understand what we do as trial officials may prompt an otherwise stable and normal dog to act out if we are not careful. Understanding canine body language, and how we can deescalate a situation, is something all trial officials should understand. We cover this, and more, in this webinar.

CEUS

This webinar has been approved for 2 NACSW CEUs and 1.5 CPDT and KPA CEUs.