Tuesday, January 12, 2016

My new career. Scent detection dog.


Well I did it.  I went to my first scent class…I knew we were going to SOMETHING, because I was groomed earlier in the day.  That’s always a dead giveaway that either WE are going somewhere, or someone is coming over.  I was all fluffed and puffed, and my human put a barrette in my hair so I could see what was going on.  Had I known that I was going to be in a class of macho looking Turverens, a German Shepherd, a Silken Windhound, a Brittany and  Sheltie, I would NEVER have let her put the barrette in.  I mean, it certainly DOESN'T make ME look tough like the other dogs.

When we arrived, my human needed to register us.  I was initially a BIT overwhelmed.  For like 3.4 seconds, and then I was FINE.  My human, who tends to babble in new situations - actually in ANY situation, told one of the instructors that she had high hopes for me – as I DO like to use my nose.   I looked at her as if to caution her about any preconceived notions about my performance – because we all remember the herding debacle.  Actually TWO herding debacles.   As soon as the words came out of her mouth – she realized maybe her bragging about my olfactory skills MIGHT be a bit premature.  Too late.  The instructor was anxious to see me work.

Well.  I am here to tell you – I was awesome.  I mean COME ON – we are talking PONs and FOOD.  How could I NOT be good at this game?!  People actually LAUGHED at my exuberance.  I was a sniffing machine.  Not only did I try to find the food in the boxes, I jumped on the instructor because I KNEW that’s where the stuff came from.  I figured why not go right to the source.

The Sheltie seated next to me, didn't like me.  She snarled at me and basically wanted to kill me.  I initially thought it was the barrette, but when she moved to a different seat, I saw that she wanted to kill everyone.  I think she was just having a bad day.  The Brittany on the other side of me became much less shy as the class went on – she was really enjoying the work and having fun!  I watched the other dogs – and squeaked because I wanted another turn.  THIS is MY kind of sport.  Find food.  Perfect.  I have a FEELING there may be more to this – we’ll see as weeks go on.  I have aspirations to becoming a drug detection dog at the airport – but my human thinks that just taking a few classes and MAYBE taking a test someday will be a big enough goal.  But I like to dream big – I can see it now – Balthazar ( my working name) detects largest drug shipment in history.   Mind you – only if the drugs are hotdog flavored.

Have a good one!

 ©  Linda Wozniak

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