ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Dogs of various breeds tested their scent-detecting skills in Escanaba over the weekend.
Upper Peninsula Dynamic Dogs (UPDD) hosted Nosework Trials at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. Nosework is a sport in which dogs find certain scents, either in boxes or on vehicles, in a limited amount of time. Distractions are also hidden throughout the courses, and dogs must only alert their handlers when they’ve found the correct scent.
“There are different levels, from novice on up to elite,” explained UPDD President Joni Smith, who competed with her dog Rip. “They have Champion and Grand Champion titles, and everyone has fun.”
In addition to earning titles and ribbons, Smith says nosework is also a bonding experience for dogs and their handlers.
“The dog appreciates you more too because you’re doing things with them,” she said. “They’re not just stuck in a crate or somthing like that. They like doing things for you. You find out things about your dog that are pretty special, and we all like to share things in the club about our different dogs and talk about our different titles. It’s a close community.”
Upper Peninsula Dynamic Dogs, based in Gladstone, offers beginner and advanced nosework classes. Click here for more information.
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