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Gimme 5 Dog Training with Serendipity Sighthounds, Chehalis, WA (2026)

03/20/2026

Trust your dog!

Today Kong did his first NASDA Trailing and Locating trials. We are sitting here waiting for Lost Item, I am reviewing our performance in my head.

For the first trial, he put his nose right down and went right to tracking to where that rat is found it in 23.5 seconds.

In the second trial, he decided not to put his nose down and was air scenting only. It’s not unusual for him to combine both air scenting and nose down tracking, however, this time he was just air scenting and looking around. Not gonna lie, started to be a little concerned that he wasn’t really paying attention or trying, but I took a deep breath and just encouraged him to find the rat and he nailed it again, his way. I think a bit of a breeze helped. He was very happy with finding the rat 🐀- he has figured out that means treats like any other scent. 🥳

03/16/2026

🦴 From Puppy Play to Shed Hunting: Training Kong!

Can you teach a giant to hunt for deer antlers & retrieve them? 🦌

Wolfhounds aren’t exactly known for being "fetch machines"—usually, they’ll grab a ball once or twice before giving you that look that says, “You threw it, you go get it.” But with my boy Kong, we’ve been playing the long game since he was a pup!

🛠 The Foundation
The secret? Building the habit early. We broke the fetch down into two non-negotiable cues:

* "Get it" – The hunt and the grab.
* "Bring it" – Delivering it directly to my hand. (No hand, no treat! ❌🧀)

🦌 The Antler Challenge
Real deer antlers are hard and intimidating, and at first, Kong wasn't a fan. To build his confidence, we pivoted:

* The "Dummy" Phase: We started with a soft rubber antler toy. Since it felt like a regular toy, he was happy to chase it and retrieve it like any other item.

* The Transition: Once he loved the rubber version and was retrieving it, we started placing it on the ground a few feet away and using his shed finding cue "Oh deer!" And when he went to get it, I added his retrieving cue “Bring It!”

The Result: He successfully started to chain those behaviors together—searching, finding, and bringing it back.

🚀 What’s Next?
The goal is to turn Kong into a full-blown Shed Retriever. We want him to do this with the same joy he does most things. We’re going to keep practicing until he can accomplish his NASDA Shed Dog 2 and above titles. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll find the real deal out in the woods. 🌲🐾

Training Tip: If your dog is struggling with a specific object, go back to a "cheat" version (like our rubber antler) to build their confidence first!

Dog training is always a step-by-step process. With some breeds and behaviors, we take tiny steps and others big steps. We are and always have been, taking teeny tiny steps for this behavior but I am confident it will pay off in the end.

03/14/2026

Did you know that each organization has strict rules around types of cardboard boxes used?

Here’s the fascinating details:

In scent work, the cardboard box is the fundamental tool for the "Container" element.

While both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW) use them to test a dog's ability to find a hidden scent, the physical requirements and tactical use of these boxes differ significantly between the two organizations.

🐾The NACSW "Literature Mailer" Standard
NACSW has a very specific "gold standard" for the boxes used in their trials, especially at the introductory levels.
* Primary Box Type: NACSW almost exclusively uses white cardboard "literature mailers." These are flat, rectangular boxes that fold together without needing tape.
* Dimensions: At the NW1 (Novice) level, boxes must be approximately 10" x 8" x 3".
* Uniformity: In an Odor Recognition Test (ORT) or an NW1 trial, all boxes in the search area (usually 12 to 20) are identical. This ensures the dog is hunting for the scent rather than being attracted to a "novel" or different-looking object.
* Progression: As teams move into NW2 and NW3, NACSW introduces "novel" containers. While cardboard boxes are still used, they may be mixed with plastic bins, metal tins, and luggage.

🐾 The AKC "Identical Box" Rule

AKC Scent Work has slightly more flexibility in the style of the box but stricter rules regarding the size and uniformity of the set.
* Primary Box Type: AKC simply requires "cardboard boxes." While many clubs use the same white mailers found in NACSW, they are not strictly mandated as long as the boxes meet size requirements.
* Dimensions: For the Novice level, AKC requires boxes to be at least 10 inches long by 8 inches wide, and between 3 and 8 inches tall.
* Uniformity: Like NACSW, the AKC Novice level requires all 10 boxes to be identical. However, AKC specifies a minimum distance of 12 inches between boxes and 36 inches between rows, which is a more rigid layout than NACSW’s "any arrangement" approach.
* Progression: In AKC Advanced, the organization moves away from identical boxes much faster. You will see 15 containers of "various size and type" (metal, plastic, etc.) mixed in together.

The practical difference is the visual "cleanliness" of the NACSW search. Because NACSW grew out of professional detection dog philosophies, they emphasize a highly uniform environment (the white mailer) to ensure the dog is working purely on scent.

AKC, while following similar principles, allows for slightly larger and bulkier boxes (up to 8 inches tall) in Novice, which can change the airflow patterns around the container. If you are training for both, it is best to practice with the 10" x 8" x 3" white mailers, as they meet the requirements for both organizations and are the most common box you will encounter in the trial ring.

03/11/2026

Finding people - For SAR or competition.

Which method do you prefer for starting a new dog?

Incremental Reinforcement or Terminal Reinforcement? Or a combination of each?

I have used both. Incremental with an IGP trainer and our Mastiff/BRT mix. Currently I am using Terminal Reinforcement with my Sighthounds and it is working really well so far.

Let’s discuss & learn - what has worked best for you and your dog?

03/11/2026

Who else has what is considered a “nontraditional” breed for the sport they enjoy?

Sighthounds are not considered a traditional breed for things other than coursing, especially Wolfhounds. I do enjoy proving those biases incorrect but I do realize I would have more success with a breed that is more suited for obedience, rally and scent work.

Nonetheless, if I can teach a Sighthound to do it, I imagine I can do amazing things with a more suited breed.

03/10/2026

Sniffy Sports - Getting Started

The Box Game is a great way to introduce the concept of using their nose to earn treats.

By itself, this is a great game just using boxes and treats. Most dogs love this game.

I use this game to introduce scent work oils. For my Sighthounds, I start with birch in a scent work tin placed in a shallow box and 2 similar empty boxes.

Before I release the dog to search, I place a high value treat in the box with the scent tin. I release the dog and give my verbal cue, then wait for them to find the treats, because that is what they are interested in at this point.

Every time the dog put his nose in the box near the scent tin, I reward. It is this repetition that starts to build the association between the scent and the treats. They pick this concept up pretty quickly and it takes very little to build their scent work skills from there.

A few extra tips:

- Start in a smaller area for searching.

- A quiet spot at home where there are no distractions is best.

- Let your dog search off leash.

- Let your dog lead the search. It is your responsibility to learn to read their “tell” that lets you know they found it.

- Video your searches so you can learn to better read your dog.

- Try to use unused boxes to start with. Small rectangular shipping boxes are great for this but this is just needed when teaching oils. It helps solidify that they are searching for that oil and not a residual odor that they may smell but you cannot.

- ALWAYS reward at source!!

Happy Sniffing!!

03/08/2026

Sniffy Sports Breed Spotlight

What breed(s) do you have and which Sniffy Sport(s) do they enjoy?

Personally, I have breeds that are considered “nontraditional” for scent work of all types and that just makes success a little bit sweeter!

Scent work sports capitalize on a dog’s natural olfactory abilities, but different disciplines favor different physical and temperamental traits. Success in these sports usually comes down to a combination of olfactory capacity, hunt drive, and biddability (willingness to work with a human).

1. Scent Work (Nose Work)
In these trials (modeled after professional detection work), dogs search for specific essential oils (Birch, Anise, Clove) in various environments like interiors, exteriors, and vehicles.
• Top Breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Shorthaired Pointers, and Golden Retrievers.
• Why: These breeds possess a high "hunt drive"—a burning desire to find the "prey" (in this case, the scent). They are also highly biddable, meaning they stay focused on the task even when the handler is nearby, and they have the stamina to search for long periods.
• Surprise Successes: Beagles and Cocker Spaniels excel here due to their incredible scenting hardware and lower center of gravity, which helps in "low" searches.

2. Tracking
Tracking involves the dog following the scent trail of a person (the "tracklayer") over natural terrain, finding articles dropped along the way.
• Top Breeds: Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, and German Shepherd Dogs.
• Why: * Anatomy: Bloodhounds have roughly 300 million scent receptors (compared to a human's 5 million). Their long ears and wrinkled skin actually help "sweep" scent particles from the ground up toward their nose.
• Endurance: Tracking requires a dog that can keep its nose to the ground for miles without getting distracted by "air scenting" (catching scent in the breeze).

3. Barn Hunt
This sport tests a dog's ability to locate rats (safely enclosed in aerated tubes) hidden in a maze of straw bales.
• Top Breeds: Rat Terriers, Jack Russell Terriers, Dachshunds, and Border Terriers.
• Why: This sport was built for "vermin hunters." These breeds have a biological "on-off" switch for intensity. They are small enough to navigate tight tunnels and possess the "tenacity" to stay on a scent even when it is buried deep under heavy straw.

4. Search and Rescue (SAR)
While often a professional service, SAR is also practiced as a high-level sport. It includes "Air Scenting" (finding human scent in the wind) and "Trailing."
• Top Breeds: Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd Dogs, and Border Collies.
• Why: SAR requires more than just a good nose; it requires high athleticism and intellectual independence. These breeds can navigate rubble or dense forest and make decisions without constant input from a handler.

(Feel free to share)

12/03/2025

Back to Basics - The Key to Success

Santa’s Solid Foundations

Sometimes opposites not only attract, they help you teach!

Here’s how:

1) Pick your cue words. Try to NOT use a word like ok like is seen here. You don’t want to use something you say all the time. We use Free!

2) Ask for a a sit and say stay!

3) Next step will depend on if your dog knows how to sit AND stay. Let’s assume they know sit but the stay needs work. As soon as they sit, say your maker word reward (Yes!)

4) Then either toss a treat or a favorite toy and say Free! Or whatever your release word is. Eventually the release word and being released will be its own reward. Be excited and upbeat with your release word.

5) Repeat and ask for longer stays gradually. Then try it with a down, a stand, etc.

Remember to practice and consistency is key.

🎄 Ho ho ho - A training we will go! 🎄

12/02/2025

Back to Basics - The Key to Success

Santa’s Solid Foundations

It doesn’t matter if you compete at the highest levels of a particular dog sport or if you are brand new - the basics are the foundation of success and you shouldn’t ever hesitate to visit them again to improve your performance.

Join us for Santa's Solid Foundations for the month of December to dust off and learn the basics of dog training.

11/15/2024

TRIGGER STACKING – WHEN BEHAVIOUR HAPPENS “OUT OF THE BLUE”

We’ve all had those days when nothing seems to go right and one frustrating thing after another happens to us, leaving us feeling wound up, stressed and ready to explode at the next unsuspecting person who dares to ask us something.

This “unsuspecting” person may think we have a serious behaviour problem or need anger management therapy, when the truth is that we’ve just had a really bad day or even a few bad days and don’t usually behave like this at all.

Dogs are no different and a behaviour that seems completely out of character or happens “out of the blue” is often caused by “trigger stacking”.

A trigger may be anything that increases a dog’s stress levels and has a negative impact on their emotional, mental or physical state.

These may be small things that we may not even notice or seem insignificant to us, but they are all adding to an increasing “stack” of events that may culminate in out of character behaviour.

When stress levels reach a certain point, the next stressful event, however small, may cause an explosive reaction that is completely unexpected.

Instead of just focusing on a particular behaviour and seeing it as a problem that needs to be prevented, take a step backwards, look at the bigger picture, look at events, circumstances or environmental factors that may have played a role leading up to that behaviour.

Being aware of potential stressors and allowing your dog time to decompress, relax and unwind for a few days will often mean the difference between “normal behaviour” and a behaviour that seems completely out of character.

11/10/2024

Happy puppy

Gimme 5 Dog Training with Serendipity Sighthounds

03/20/2026

03/16/2026

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03/11/2026

03/11/2026

03/10/2026

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12/03/2025

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