We’ve been careful and fortunate that we’ve gone 3 years without a hot spot; that lucky streak ended this week. This post shares what I’ve learned during this process.

Continue reading “Hot Spots!” →

I’m excited to share some of Dixie Rose’s latest nose work lessons at school. I’ve decided to create a training diary and capture it on YouTube. She practices at home, but she especially loves attending school and learning from our teacher Julie Gaunt.

This search was a first for us!! She did 2 paired hides but then a BLANK ROOM.

I’ll be uploading more videos on a regular basis. You can subscribe to the video training diary on Dixie Rose’s new YouTube Channel.

I’m excited to share some of Dixie Rose’s latest nose work lessons at school. I’ve decided to create a training diary and capture it on YouTube. She practices at home, but she especially loves attending school and learning from our teacher Julie Gaunt.

Each week she generally does 3-4 searches with 1-2 hides each search.

Subscribe to our Video Diary on Dixie Rose’s new YouTube Channel.

Golden Retrievers are classified as a sporting breed. They are one of the most popular dog breeds worldwide, known for their friendly disposition, intelligence, and versatility. They are not only excellent family pets but also excel in various roles such as service dogs, therapy dogs, and hunting companions. To keep a Golden Retriever healthy and happy, regular exercise is crucial. This blog post explores the exercise needs of Golden Retrievers and offers tips on how to meet those needs.

The Importance of Exercise for Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are active, energetic dogs that require ample exercise to maintain their physical and mental health. Regular exercise helps prevent obesity, a common issue in this breed, and reduces the risk of related health problems like joint issues and heart disease. Additionally, exercise is essential for their mental well-being, as it helps to prevent boredom and the development of destructive behaviors.

Daily Exercise Requirements

A healthy adult Golden Retriever typically needs at least one to two hours of exercise each day. This can be broken down into multiple sessions to suit your schedule and your dog’s energy levels. Puppies and young dogs may need more frequent, shorter bursts of activity to accommodate their developing bodies and boundless energy.

Our “goal” for Dixie Rose each day is a casual morning walk lasting about 30 minutes and a vigorous evening 45-60 minutes of fetch at our local soccer field with her obsession: the lacrosse ball. When it’s raining or especially uncomfortable heat/cold, we might skip the field and have a second walk indoors at Lowes or Home Depot. We aren’t perfect, but we work hard to reach this goal.

Types of Exercise

1. Walks: Daily walks are a staple for any dog, and Golden Retrievers are no exception. Aim for at least one long walk (30-60 minutes) and a couple of shorter walks throughout the day. This provides physical activity and an opportunity for mental stimulation through exploring new scents and sights.
2. Running and Jogging: Golden Retrievers make excellent running companions. Gradually build up your dog’s stamina, and ensure they are mature enough to handle the stress on their joints. Running can be an excellent way to burn off excess energy.
3. Swimming: As natural water lovers, Golden Retrievers often enjoy swimming. It’s a low-impact exercise that is easy on their joints and provides a full-body workout. If you have access to a safe, clean body of water, this can be a fantastic way to keep your Golden Retriever fit.
4. Fetch and Retrieving Games: Their natural retrieving instinct makes games of fetch particularly enjoyable for Golden Retrievers. This activity can be done in your backyard, at a local park, or even indoors with soft toys. It’s an excellent way to provide both physical exercise and mental engagement.
5. Hiking: If you enjoy hiking, your Golden Retriever will likely be thrilled to join you. Hiking provides a different kind of workout compared to regular walks, as it involves varied terrain and often longer distances. Just be sure to start with shorter, easier trails and gradually work up to more challenging hikes.

Golden Retrievers thrive on regular exercise, which helps keep them physically fit and mentally sharp. By incorporating various activities into your dog’s routine, you can ensure they stay healthy, happy, and well-behaved. Whether it’s a daily walk, a game of fetch, or a swim in the lake, your Golden Retriever will appreciate the effort you put into meeting their exercise needs.

I learned today that vets have some of the highest rates of suicide in the healthcare profession. Our vets are literally dying from compassion and empathy for our pets.

Continue reading “Suicide in Veterinary Medicine” →

Golden retrievers are known for their intelligence and trainability, which makes teaching them a variety of words possible. Obviously, we expect our dogs to learn the words we use every day (walk, sit, ball, etc.), but when a dog knows the language, it means they interact with our language! This sometimes catches us unprepared- like when I say that I’m going for a “walk with my neighbor” but of course Dixie Rose only hears “walk” and thinks I’m taking her with me. I love that she knows so many words, and she’s not yet 3, but she is well on her way to a rich vocabulary. I think the key to good training (behavior) is sharing language. The desire to communicate and convey meaning allows a dog to understand what is expected of him or her. This eliminates the frustration of disobedience. Now I spell w-a-l-k, when I’m walking with my neighbor, but she’s on to me.

Tips to Teach Your Dog Key Words

1. Start with Basic Commands: Before teaching specific words, establish a foundation with basic commands like sit, stay, come, and fetch. This helps build communication and trust between you and the dog.
2. Consistent Training Sessions: Regular, short training sessions are key. Consistency is crucial in reinforcing what the dog has learned. These sessions should be fun and engaging for the dog.
3. Use Visual and Verbal Cues: Pairing words with visual or physical cues helps dogs understand what each word means. For example, saying “ball” while showing the dog a ball teaches them to associate the word with the object.
4. Positive Reinforcement: Rewarding the dog with treats, praise, or toys when they respond correctly reinforces their learning. Positive reinforcement encourages them to continue learning and obeying commands.
5. Expand Vocabulary Gradually: Introduce new words gradually, building on what the dog already knows. Start with simple nouns like “ball,” “bone,” or “treat,” then progress to verbs like “sit,” “stay,” and “roll over.”
6. Associate Words with Actions or Objects: Dogs learn best when words are associated with specific actions or objects. For instance, saying “go for a walk” while getting the leash signals to the dog that it’s time for a walk.
7. Repeat and Practice: Repetition is key to solidifying learning. Practice words regularly in different contexts to reinforce understanding.
8. Incorporate Training into Daily Life: Use words in everyday situations to reinforce learning. For example, saying “dinner” when it’s time to eat or “bed” when it’s time to sleep helps the dog understand the meaning of those words.
9. Patience and Understanding: Each dog learns at its own pace, so patience and understanding are essential. Some dogs may pick up new words quickly, while others may take more time.
10. Consolidate Learning: Once the dog has learned a new word, continue to reinforce it regularly to ensure they don’t forget.

Tracing a dog’s lineage is fun as long as your dog’s ancestors are registered. Unregistered dogs pose challenges, mainly because they create a break in the chain. Imagine trying to trace your family tree without knowing your grandparents. It’s so valuable when owners register their dogs.

The first place to start is the AKC website. If your dog or your dog’s parents are registered, they will have the first 5-6 generations online for you to view. You can take that info over to K9Data.com database and go back as far as possible, until you hit a dead end.

With Dixie Rose, I hit gold and traced her lineage back to the inaugural golden retriever, Cowslip, born in 1864 to Belle and Nous. Linking to that litter, in my opinion, obligates us to keep reistering our offspring! It’s a privilege to possess such a thorough lineage, and I earnestly hope that future owners of her descendants will uphold the tradition of registration for generations to come.

AKC Pedigree Start Here: first 6 generations

K9Data.com Build Here: back to the origin

Original Golden Retriever Nous’s Pedigree

45-Generations Dixie Rose

Our golden retriever is a beautiful dog. She is technically AKC registered as a “light golden” (one of the only 3 recognized colors of golden retrievers) but in layman’s terms, I sometimes describe my Dixie Rose as a “strawberry blond.” For Dixie Rose, it’s all about the sunlight. In bright sun she is more red, but indoors and at dusk, she’s more blond. She has patches of very light fur and beautiful waves.

Continue reading “Golden Retriever Coloring” →

Socialization is the process of introducing your puppy to the world in a way that will help him be confident and unafraid of people, places and things that he will encounter throughout his life. The most critical socialization window occurs before the age of 12 weeks, and that window is considered to be closing by 5 months.

At the bottom of this post you’ll find a list of 100 exposures to accomplish in 100 days! That should be your goal!

At 8 weeks when most people get their pup, the pup has been “group socialized” within the litter and in the home. It is VERY important to do “solo socialization” between 8-12 weeks. At 12 weeks, the socialization window closes!

Weeks 8-12 (Your first month home)

This is when your puppy learns what things are happy, friendly, normal, and fun.

Everything your puppy hasn’t been exposed to will cause him/her to feel threatened. That means every noise, texture, sight, smell, person, animal, event, and challenge they haven’t seen by week 12 is going to give you trouble down the road.

The way you set the puppy up for success in life, and create a dog who approaches every challenge with bright optimism, assumes every person is wonderful, and communicates well with every dog, is to expose him or her SOLO to everything the dog can reasonably expect to encounter. And it MUST be done before 12 weeks. Doing this correctly as a new puppy owner is practically a full-time job.

Every single day ask yourself “Who can I take this dog to see; where can we go; what smells can we smell; what textures can I put under her feet?”

NOTE OF CAUTION: Your puppy isn’t fully vaccinated yet and you need to beware
of other dogs! Keep your puppies out of pet stores, off the floor of your vet’s office, and ABSOLUTELY not at the dog park. After 14 weeks when your pup is fully vaccinated, those places are safe with supervision. Your pup must be socialized during this critical time, but without being exposed to health risks.

• NO: Dog park (dog-to-dog contact)
• YES: Walk in the woods

• NO: Meeting unfamiliar dogs on walks (dog-to-dog contact)
• YES: Walks with humans to restaurants, stores, buildings, tennis courts, farms, etc.

• YES: Puppy play dates with other fully vaccinated healthy dogs.
• YES: Rides in cars, boats, trains, tractors, wagons, etc.
• YES: Walks in your neighborhood, walks in grandma’s neighborhood.
• YES: Balloons, umbrellas, bikes, motorcycles, backpacks, stuffed animals.
• YES: Horns, music, quacking, fireworks, tools, vacuum, leaf blower, lawn mower

After week 12, push the dog socialization VERY hard once the 14-week shots
have been given.

Printable Puppy Socialization Checklist from the Louisiana SPCA

100 Exposures in 100 Days

Sounds

Alarm clock

Baby crying

Barking dogs

Car honking

Cheering

Doorbell

Female voices

Fire engine/police car

Fireworks

Grooming clippers

Gunshot

Hair dryer

Hammering

Knocking on door

Kids Playing

Male voices

Microwave

Motorcycle

Planes/helicopters

Popcorn popping

Pots and pans clanking

Radio (various stations)

Smoke alarm

Thunder

Traffic/road sounds

TV (various programming)

Vacuum cleaner

Whistles (sporting or other)

Yard tools (mower, leaf blower, etc.)

Tactile

Artificial turf

Bathtub

Blankets

Carpeted floors

Elevators

Grass

Metal objects

Mirrors

Mud

Plastic objects

Rocks

Rubber objects

Rugs

Sand

Sidewalk

Tiled floors

Wood floors

People

A wheelchair

Asian

Bald people

Black

Carrying bags/boxes

Children (children who have been trained properly on dog interaction)

Dancing

Elderly (as long as they aren’t immunocompromised)

Heavy people

Hispanic

Holding umbrellas

In uniform

Infants

Kids in strollers

Laying down

Men

On bicycles, scooters, and skateboards

People in sunglasses/glasses

People with facial hair

Running

Short

Shuffling feet/limping

Sweeping/mopping

Taking their toy or food away (invading space)

Tall

Teens

Thin people

Throwing or bouncing balls

Using a walker

Walking with canes

Wearing baseball hats

White

Women

Animals

Birds

Cats

Other (depending on likelihood of interaction)

Other dogs

Touches

Being dried off with towel

Being picked up

Being restrained by collar

Brushing fur

Brushing teeth

Clothes (winter jacket, boots)

Ears

Harness

Mouth

Muzzle

Nail clipping

Near eyes

Paws

Rain

Tummy

Tushy

Water (bath)

I enjoy bringing Dixie Rose to dog-friendly stores and restaurants, but pups aren’t welcome everywhere. I’m always a little skeptical when I see someone with their dog sporting a $17 Amazon special harness and boldly marching past the store greeter with a “dare you to stop me” confidence.

Service Animals

The truth is that dogs are service animals under titles II and III of the ADA. The Americans with Disabilities Act is not an “option” it’s a Federal law. The law defines a service animal (dog) as “dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.”

Under the ADA, State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go.

Since the public isn’t allowed everywhere, there are places a service dog can’t go, at least without permission. A service dog must be on a leash and under the handler’s control.

Staff are never allowed to

• request any documentation for the dog
• require that the dog demonstrate its task
• inquire about the nature of the person’s disability

You Can Ask 2 Questions

If you’re a business owner, you have permission to ask 2 questions of the patron with their service animal.

1. Is this service dog required because of a disability?
2. What work has the dog been trained to perform?

You may not…

• Deny entrance because you fear dogs.
• Deny entrance because you are allergic.
• Deny entrance because of health codes.
• Place the patron and dog in a separate area of the establishment.
• Charge an extra fee for the service dog, even if you consistently charge an extra fee for a pet (hotel, rental, etc.)

You may, however, ask the owner and animal to leave if they are not housebroken or if the dog is out of control.

For full ADA Requirements, visit the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Service Animals page

Does the ADA require that service animals be certified as service animals?

No. Covered entities may not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal, as a condition for entry.

Some individuals and organizations sell service animal certification or registration documents online. These documents do not convey any rights under the ADA and the Department of Justice does not recognize them as proof that the dog is a service animal.

Therapy Dog

(ADA Government FAQ for Service Dogs)

Are emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals considered service animals under the ADA?

No.  These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person.  Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.  However, some State or local governments have laws that allow people to take emotional support animals into public places.  You may check with your State and local government agencies to learn about these laws.

If someone’s dog calms them when having an anxiety attack, does this qualify it as a service animal?

It depends. The ADA makes a distinction between psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals. If the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact, that would qualify as a service animal. However, if the dog’s mere presence provides comfort, that would not be considered a service animal under the ADA.

Does the ADA require service animals to be professionally trained?

No. People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program.

 Are service-animals-in-training considered service animals under the ADA?

No. Under the ADA, the dog must already be trained before it can be taken into public places. However, some State or local laws cover animals that are still in training.

Do service animals have to wear a vest or patch or special harness identifying them as service animals?

No. The ADA does not require service animals to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness.

You can learn more about service and therapy dogs here.

We are thrilled to announce that we are joining the AKC Breeding with H.E.A.R.T. program. We aren’t eligible until our litter has arrived, so still several months away, but making the decision to participate was an important one! This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate good breeder ethics, and our commitment to placing puppies in good homes with good families.

1. HEALTH

We certify that our breeding stock is health tested in accordance with the recommendations of the Golden Retriever Club of America.

2. EDUCATION

We promise to participate in annual AKC-approved continuing breeder education program.

ACCOUNTABILITY

We agree to comply with the AKC Care and Conditions Policy, including inspections by the AKC, and disclose the results of our AKC health testing and continuing education documentation.

RESPONSIBILITY

We accept responsibility for the health and well-being of the puppies we produce and for complying with all laws regarding the ownership and maintenance of dogs.

TRADITION

We agree to uphold the AKC’s tradition of breeding purebred dogs that are happy and healthy.

You know Dixie Rose is trained to detect birch, clove, and anise essential oils. Her search is for sport, but it’s the same principle used to train scent detection for work. Our scent teacher often reminds us that the dog already detects the odor; it’s the handler who has to be trained to recognize the dog’s detection! With Dixie Rose in her second year of training for sport, I know the tremendous amount of work that goes into building this relationship with your dog. I really admire those who do that hard work!

Cancer

Dogs can detect the odor signatures of various types of cancers. Like many diseases, cancer leaves an odor signature dogs can detect, depending on the type of cancer. Dogs are known to be able to detect these types of cancers:

• Melanoma (skin)
• Colorectal
• Ovarian
• Breast
• Bladder
• Lung
• Prostrate

Diabetic Crisis

Dogs are currently working as trained companions for diabetics. They are able to detect both high and low blood sugar events before they become dangerous.

Intriguingly, Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained to smell a chemical change at a precise level. The dogs detect isoprene, a common natural chemical found in human breath that rises significantly during an episode of low blood sugar. Humans can’t detect it, but researchers believe dogs are particularly sensitive to it.

Covid-19

Research conducted in a pilot study at the University of Helsinki found dogs are able to recognize the signature scent of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the virus known as COVID-19. The dogs were able to accurately distinguish urine samples of COVID-19 infected adults from samples of healthy individuals, almost as accurately as a standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

Truffles

Truffles are considered a culinary delicacy. They grow underground near certain types of trees. For centuries, pigs were used to hunt these pungent fungi. Unfortunately, pigs not only can locate truffles, they also like to eat them, making them less-than-ideal truffle hunters. Dogs, on the other hand, show no inclination of wanting to eat their find.

Wine

Wine-growers all over the world depend on dogs to find potentially tainted wine by identifying 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA). The TCA molecule imparts a musty odor and flavor to wine, making it unpalatable.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are a growing problem in many major cities. One way to combat a bed bug infestation is to used trained canines who can sniff out the little creatures with a 98 percent accurate detection rate. Many people have benefitted from dogs who are able to find bed bugs before they become a serious problem.

Gas Leaks

I recently learned that dogs were being trained to detect pinhole leaks in pipelines! I went down the internet rabbit hole and discovered this amazing company that trains dogs in this field. I wonder if this would make a nice winter activity this year?

I follow a popular Golden Retriever blog called The Canine Chasm. Maegan, the writer, is also the founder of the Natural State Golden Retriever Club and owner of champion Golden Retrievers. I encourage you to check out her blog, but today, I want to share a checklist from her 2021 post How to Recognize Ethical Breeders. Maegan’s post is “famous” in Golden Retriever circles, and is frequently cited when helping parents avoid puppy mills.

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Why Ethical?

Before I share Maegan’s checklist, I want to discuss breeding ethics. Breeding ethics would be a topic if it weren’t for the fact that ethical breeders produce pups that command top dollar! ($3,000 – $4,500+) It is that price tag that attracts the unprincipled breeder AND the bargain hunters. As you’ll see in a moment, getting a Golden Retriever to the point of having “health clearances” will result in quality pups that ARE expensive. Let me say that again- it costs a LOT of money to bring forward a litter properly. If you see $500 AKC registered purebred golden retriever pups for sale, there isn’t a chance in heck that they’ve come from a breeder that provided an ounce of proper care to the dam/sire or the litter. What makes it hard to spot an unethical breeder is that they know buyers will be suspicious of $500 dogs, so they up the price to $2,500 and hope you won’t ask questions.

Along with the list of extensive testing, are routine healthcare costs, training, and excellent nutrition. The dog must be at least 2 years old before any ethical breeder considers a mating, so the breeder is spending thousands (sometimes tens of thousands) of dollars before they even know if their dog will make the cut to for breeding. (In terms of health, the bare minimum is to have earned a CHIC number.) Ethical breeders will disqualify any dog from their breeding program if it doesn’t pass EVERY. SINGLE. TEST. necessary to earn a CHIC number. While there aren’t costs associated with other factors like temperament or conformity, there is a lot riding on the ethical breeder’s shoulders. It’s a very nerve-wracking 2 years, and it requires a commitment to the process. It’s entirely possible to invest $10,000 into a dog only to learn they don’t pass their final exam.

A CHIC number in dog breeding refers to the Canine Health Information Center number. It’s a program established by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) in collaboration with various breed clubs. The CHIC program aims to promote the health and welfare of purebred dogs by encouraging breeders to perform specific health tests on their breeding stock. Once a dog has completed all required health tests and the results are submitted to the OFA, they receive a CHIC number, indicating that they have met the health testing requirements for their breed. This information helps potential puppy buyers identify breeders who prioritize health screening in their breeding programs.

Once the dog is qualified to breed, searching for a qualified male (his semen) begins. The costs of arranging the mating are also very steep. No ethical breeder will consider mating with a dog that has not followed the same rigorous health standards, so studs that have undergone the same testing (and costs) are also expensive. The expenses for procedures like sperm extraction, sperm vitality testing, shipping, progesterone testing, implantation, x-rays, ultrasounds, and more are all carried out by veterinarians, who understandably charge for these services. In all, going through this process adds thousands of dollars to the cost of a litter.

Once pregnancy is confirmed, careful and diligent screening of potential homes can begin. Ethical breeders meet the family, make sure the family can and will invest in the health and wellness of the pup, and will also make sure the personality of each pup is a good fit for their home. Ethical breeders register the litters, provide medical care, provide 24/7 round-the-clock care for no less than 8 weeks, and handle all of the paperwork to make sure your pup comes to your home with a verifiable pedigree. Some breeders do extra, like microchipping or DNA testing. This intensive diligence, attention to every detail, and enormous financial investment results in a high price for these pups.

The high price tag isn’t because the breeder is seeking a big “profit.” It’s because it costs a lot of money to bring forward a litter the right way. An ethical breeder may invest $7,000 – $9,000 into the dog before the pregnancy, and then the costs associated with the pregnancy and delivery. The ethical breeder will also invest in the physical space for the birth, the care of the pups, register the litter with AKC, and give the pups regular medical care and vaccinations before they ever get to your home. The pups are reaised safely indoors, given stimulation, age-appropriate training, brain stimulation, and an opportunity to get the very best start.

An ethical breeder sometimes earns a profit on a litter when everything goes perfectly- but when taken in balance against the tremendous amount of hours dedicated to the litter and the occasional c-section ($), you won’t get rich breeding pups unless you’re cutting corners.

An unethical breeder skips all the work, care, diligence, and investment. They keep costs and care to the bare minimum. Short of keeping the pups alive, they are far from thriving under such lean conditions. An unethical breeder may have invested less than $1,000 in their dam, and even less in bringing forward a litter. (Yes, there are unethical breeders who bring their fertile female to a dog park and let her play until they get a “free” sperm donor). In that case, with the “cost” of the litter being so low, the motive for profit is extraordinary, and that creates the climate for puppy mills and unethical breeders.

Any dog can still become a loving member of your family, no matter where it’s from, but purchasing a dog from an unethical breeder keeps them in business. The market will extinguish these breeders when the demand stops.

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RED FLAGS (bad)

This is not an all-inclusive list of things that unethical breeders do incorrectly, but most unethical breeders do at least some of these.

• Breeding dogs without OFA health testing
• Unregistered dogs
• Hiding AKC registration names and/or numbers
• Selling dogs on full registration to just anyone (also called breeding rights)
• Selling dogs on full registration for a higher price than limited registration
• Not allowing people to see where the puppies are raised
• Not allowing people to meet the mother of the puppies
• Snazzy websites that hide information or outright lie (all of the above)
• Breeding for color (“English Cream” or other defects intentionally bred into pups)
• Breeding designer mixed breeds on purpose
• Not competing in any type of dog competition
• Having breeding animals in guardian homes

In future posts, I’ll explore those red flags and why they are important, but in this post, let’s move on to the GOOD things an ETHICAL breeder does! These are “Green” for go!

GREEN FLAGS (good)

Hobby breeders are stewards of their breed, preserving and protecting it for the future. Green flags are things that ethical breeders do that set them apart from the others.

• Breed-appropriate health-testing (see Dixie Rose’s Health Record)
• Display AKC registration names and numbers (see Dixie Rose’s AKC registration)
• Competing with the dogs (see Dixie Rose’s Scent Training progress video)
• Temperament testing
• Early neurological stimulation
• Socialization and early training
• Matching each puppy to the right family
• Dogs are structurally sound and meet their breed standard
• The breeder will take your puppy back if you’ve changed your mind. (Read our boomerang buy-back policy)

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In every case, whether you’re considering our pups or not, I hope this post helps you find the best puppy for your family from an ethical breeder.

After a brief maternity leave, our K9 Nosework instructor has resumed classes and we are back at it! (We really should have practiced more over our break… maybe she won’t notice?)

Dixie Rose’s class is called “Advanced Odor” and is taught by the famous Julie Gaunt!

Advanced Odor means Dixie Rose will locate 3 target odors

1. Birch (“Sweet Birch” aka Betula Lenta)
2. Anise (“Aniseed” aka Pimpinella Anisum variety – NOT Star Anise, Illicium Verum)
3. Clove (“Clove Bud” aka Eugenia Caryophylatta or Syzgium Aromaticum)

She will receive a treat when she finds each odor. We had the option of training her using her favorite toy in the world (a lacrosse ball) which would be HIGHLY motivating for her, however, she’s not well-behaved with her ball. <smile> If she enters a competition and we reward her with her ball, things might go downhill fast, so we use her less-than-favorite motivator: treats.

Here’s a little bit about our awesome instructor Julie Gaunt from her Nose Work bio.

Julie brings to K9 Nose Work instruction a lifetime of K9 education and training. Growing up in a home shared with many a working police K9, Julie quickly built an understanding of the working dog and their unique requirements. Julie prides herself on developing solid working relationships with her K9 partners through mutual understanding and respect.

At the age of 9 Julie won her first competition with her young German Shepherd Dog. That young dog continued a training career that included Schutzhund, a sport that encompasses obedience, tracking and protection elements. Throughout her life, she has worked with German Shepherds, Springer Spaniels, Labrador Retrievers, Belgian Malinois, a Pitbull and a few all American mixed breeds.

Currently, Julie is a professional detection dog handler and is a certified member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians & Investigators as well as the International Explosive Detection Dog Association. Julie works in the private sector in Southern California as a detection dog trainer/handler. Julie successfully completed schools in both Narcotics and Explosive Detection and attends the California Narcotic Canine Association conference annually. Her passion for dog training goes beyond detection, as a result of this Julie continues to attend many workshops and seminars on dog training and behavior. Julie brings her passion for dogs and for learning to her time instructing K9 Nose Work classes.

Julie has been a Certified Nose Work Instructor since 2008. She has worked with the NACSW judging, certifying and volunteering in many trials in California, Colorado, Massachusetts and Alaska. She has also worked with the founders teaching K9 Nose Work Workshops. Julie enjoys every aspect of being part of the K9 Nose Work and NASCW family and is proud to be part of this great canine activity and sport.

You can learn more about NoseWork Training and the sport of scent detection HERE.

Dixie Rose DeRosa passed her OFA health screenings with flying colors. She’s sleepy from the anesthesia, but wow are we excited!

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) health tests for hips, elbows, patella (knee), and cardiac.

What to expect: we arrived at our vet’s office this afternoon and she was weighted and briefly examined before being taken back for sedation. She had the following tests performed: hips, knees, shoulders, and elbows. She had a dental assessment as well. During her visit she was in heat, so she was in a diaper! But, that doesn’t interfere with the process at all.

After the procedure, our vet does an initial assessment and gave us a report. Everything looks wonderful, and now our paperwork is sent into the “official” OFA for assessment and recording of the results. Results are important, and they won’t perform the tests unless you consent to releasing ALL results – good or bad– so any dog that is tested will have a public record for anyone to obtain. Part of the record required us providing her AKC registration information as well as the AKC registration of both her parents. The science lover in me appreciates the contribution to the body of knowledge that this process makes. Her parents have a long AKC pedigree, but were not OFA tested, so it was really important to me that we stepped up.

These results mean that in 1 year, she’ll be able to have her final hips and elbows exam. It will be a repeat of this one, and if she passes these exams again at the 2 year mark, it’s one more assurance that her health is excellent and fit for reproducation.