Hide and go Sniff

20/08/2025

Not exactly the hardest search but...

This exercise was all about revisiting the foundations. Specifically: bridging the gap between a clear freeze behaviour on a visible target and transferring that same indication into a search context.

By placing a large and fairly obvious piece of Kong, the focus wasn’t on Paris’ ability to find the target but on her understanding that the criteria hadn’t changed. She still needed to offer the same precise indication, even after locating the source herself.

It’s a subtle step, but it’s crucial. Without this kind of foundation work, dogs can lose confidence or start second-guessing when the environment changes. With it, they stay consistent, accurate, and motivated as the searches become more challenging.

18/08/2025

Good luck everyone! And remember, fun first, rosettes second!

01/08/2025

We spent yesterday afternoon at the Thursford Collection, combining some big odour with barriers to prevent over handling and encourage some independent searching.

24/07/2025

👇👇👇

NOW REHOMED 🥳

We currently have a Chocolate Cocker Spaniel that is looking for a new home. If you are interested in offering him a home and would like further information, then please WhatsApp Steve on 07795 466007

23/07/2025

Last minute chance to search at Thursford next Thursday (31st) 12-3pm. Any level, any odour

This will be the last time we use this venue in 2025.

Book here 👇

https://bookwhen.com/hideandgosniffevents/e/ev-sxtl-20250731120000

22/07/2025

Congratulations to everyone who qualified 👏

Huge Congratulation to all the below teams who have qualified for the Summer Prelim Detection Dog Trial Championships which will be held on 18th August.
All teams that have either won an element or gained High Trial in a Prelim Trial in 2025 have qualified. Invites have been emailed out to each team. Don’t forget to check junk mail!

Sarah and Teddyetna
Helen and Noodle
Sooz and Goose
Sooz and Shadow
Amelia and Mia
Sarah and Bodger
Suzanne and Spud
Hannah and Kali
Annie and Trinket
Dee and Squid
Carol and Saffron
Sue and Halle
Julia and Sienna
Bronwen and Luna
Caroline and Charlie
Vee and Daisy
Meg and Tess

Well done teams 🎉🎉

25/06/2025

Sometimes the hide isn’t just about where the odour is — it’s about how the dog gets to it.

In her 1:1 session, I set a number of “get to source” challenges for Zinny. The odour was accessible, but not easy — tucked behind, above, or beyond a few carefully placed obstacles. This was a dog-focused exercise, designed to let Zinny work independently and solve the problem in her own way.

Exercises like this help develop grit, focus, and confidence — the kind that transfers into real-world searching. When dogs learn they can reach the tricky hide, they are more likely to follow through and less likely to seek an easier reward.

13/02/2025

Probably the biggest difference between the "find it" games that you are already playing with your dogs at home and the scent detection we teach at Hide and go Sniff, is the introduction of an "indication", but what is that?

Simply put, an indication is just a behaviour a dog performs to show us that they have found the odour we've trained them to find. It could be a sit, a down, a stare, a bark, or even a combination. Most commonly, for sport purposes, we choose a freeze/stare making it clear not only that the odour source is found, but also it's location.

I'm not fussy about whether that happens in a stand, sit or down, preferring to allow the dog to choose a postion which they find comfortable depending on their mood or the location and/or height of the hide.

Here's Trev finishing this mornings 121 with some simple indication training. 👇