Tips on training my sweet deaf boxer to sniff out mushrooms?
Hi all! I’m a microbiologist but on the side I love foraging for edible mushrooms like chanterelles for example. I have seen a lot of content recently about dogs that are scent trained to find mushrooms and I think that would be a really fun activity for myself and my dog, but I have no training experience besides common sense. Another “hurdle” is that my dog is deaf af lol. I’d love it if anyone could share some tips on how to train her to do so, especially in terms of dealing with her lack of hearing. She knows when to sit and come to me in response to certain hand gestures, but other than that she is kind of a wild one. Another thing I’m worried about is if it is even safe for her to be out there in the wilderness with me when she can’t respond to commands without looking at me, so if you have any similar concerns for her safety or tips on how to mitigate any related risks that would be very much appreciated!
Thank you!