Agility dog that keeps nose to the ground - 2008-11-27

Question

My medium size cross breed agility dog goes around the course with her nose to the ground (sniffing) which loses us valuable time. I've tried clicker training her, clicking whenever she looks at me, but she has worked out that if she sniffs the ground, I will call her, click her and then reward her. I've tried another suggestion which was to put a spot of vanilla essence on her nose, but that didn't work. Please can you help?

Answer

Interesting problem. I would start with teaching her 'No Sniff' on the leash and use more verbal commands that either a clicker followed by a treat. I do not profess to be a specialist in clicker by any means, but I believe a clicker is great to shape behaviour, but not to 'unlearn' behaviour - which is what you are dealing with. If e.g. there is beagle in the dog than you will always fight the drive for scent with the desire for you to get her to do the agility track. I will also contact one of my specialist tracking colleagues and see if they have something to contribute to this, but this is how I would start, on leash any time head goes down, small tug on leash, command 'No Sniff' and when she starts leaving, 'Good dog, praise - see how you go.