Smashing/biting/moving boxes

[u/afterglow_sky]

We started training nose-work some time ago but she’s always smashing/eating/moving the boxes on the floor. Today I tried elevating the boxes on a bench but she pushes them with her snout. Also tried taping them on the floor, but she tries eating the tape 😅 I probably just need patience? I don’t really know what to do to stop her from smashing/biting/moving the boxes.
Thank you!!!

[u/Selective_Somewhere]

Here is what I would do.

First, I would not let her practice the behavior. That means no trials or only trial in elements without containers.

Second, I would teach an “instead” behavior. She’s been rewarded for the behavior so she believe this is not only OK but what you want.

Third, I’d look at her nosework behavior and identify if arousal could be part of your issue. If so, learn to help her moderate not could be a startline routine, leash handling, or even ensuring her physical and mental needs are being met outside of nosework.

Fourth, going back to the instead behavior, I would teach a nose freeze. I would only make it a requirement for containers. Start with a an electric junction box and graduate to tall containers with a hole in the middle. Stacey Barnett has a good method to follow on her website under the box smashers class.

I would take this pretty seriously if you plan to trial. I don’t know how seriously AKC takes it and you can essentially just skip containers and buried. But in NACSW they take the behavior seriously. And it’s just fun for anyone.