The smell of glory
Houston-area amateur pups show off their sniffers in challenge trials
A dog’s nose knows the way to a treat.
Canine enthusiasts hauled in pups ranging from lumbering Newfoundlands to petite Yorkshire terriers to northwest Houston over the weekend to test the range of those snoots. Obedient, bouncy and whiny dogs alike tried their paws at the sport of scent work — training a dog to sniff out a specific smell, typically their handler’s odor or a potent essential oil.
The challenges took place Saturday and Sunday through the Houston Area K9 Scent Work Club — one of 15 in the state that the American Kennel Club recognizes — at the Northwest Indoor Soccer building at 14647 Walters Road.
The trials expose which dogs excel at focusing — and which could use some practice.
An excitable doggo named Paris had one job: Find the box out of a dozen or so that contained a glove laced with her handler’s scent. She fell short of that goal in the handler discrimination test.
“She’s having too much fun doing other stuff,” her handler, Phyllis, said.
Successful dogs move on to distinguishing their owner’s scent on a cotton ball and then cotton swab, organizers said.
The challenges are fit for amateur canines of all types — including purebreeds and rescues. Some dogs, however, such as those employed to sniff out
bombs and drugs, would view the activities as puppy’s play.
“There will rarely be former police dogs,” club president Cyndy Davis said.
The toughest of challenges — dubbed the detective — took Davis’ golden retriever named Cele through an outdoor course along the warehouse to find a series of scented objects in the grass. The 4-year-old pooch proudly sat after finding what she believed to be the right scent. The simple trick was her way of communicating her success.
“What a good girl,” Davis cooed to her four-legged friend.
Davis let loose a victorious whoop of her own after finishing the challenge.
Gigi Goesling, of Fort Worth, turned to scent work after retiring her Old English sheepdog named Einstein from shows. A natural herder like him needed a job, she said.
He was a quick study. After the detective course, Einstein was ready for a mid-morning snooze. Sniffing, after all, is hard work.
Board member Sherry Hull said the outdoor test is not for novice sniffers. It requires the dog’s undivided attention.
“Just being outside is more distracting,” Hull said. “Heaven forbid there’s birds or squirrels out there.”
Retired racer Dolce Gambino, a 12-year-old greyhound, greeted the detective course with apprehension. His owner, Christine Beisert, encouraged him to get to work, but a tree caught his attention instead.
He raised a leg and was promptly disqualified. The judges prohibit dogs from taking care of business in the competition area.
In Dolce’s defense, it was his first time on the detective course, Beisert said.
“I’m happy he’s still doing sports with us,” she continued.
The group’s next scent games will take March 13 at the Northwest Indoor Soccer building and again in October at the Westbury Christian School Athletic Complex. Up to 250 dogs — with a $22 entry fee — can participate.