K9 NOSE WORK Class Descriptions
Overview: Introduction to Nose Work
Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and a natural desire to hunt. This class focuses on teaching you how to encourage and develop your dog’s natural scenting abilities by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise. It’s a great class for your dog to have fun, build confidence, and burn lots of mental and physical energy and to find out just how good is your dog’s nose. High food or toy motivation is beneficial for this class.
Term: approximately 4 weeks-space limit 6 dogs.
Dogs in this class must be capable of handling confinement, either crated away from their handlers or in a properly equipped vehicle.
Overview: Introduction to Odor
This class advances the dog’s scent discrimination skills taught in the Introduction to Nose Work class. All dogs are taught to identify the first target odor, a natural essential oil. Additionally, we introduce techniques and tactics for building better dog/handler teamwork.
Term: approximately 6 weeks -Space limit: 6 dogs. Class duration: 1½ hours
Prerequisite: Introduction to Nose Work, or with instructor approval.
Dogs in this class must be capable of handling confinement, either crated away from their handlers or in a properly equipped vehicle.
Overview: Continuing Nose Work
This class may include handlers who just completed Intro to Odor, as well as people who are already on two odors with a dog. This class will advance handling skills and technique as well as introduce the competition elements: box drills, vehicle searches, exterior searches and building searches. All dogs eventually will add the other two target odors. This is a continuing skill class where groups of students advance together. It is repeated several times before it becomes an advanced class.
Term: 6 weeks per session. Space limit:6 dogs. Class duration: 1½ hours
Prerequisite: Introduction to Nose Work, Introduction to Odor, or with instructor approval.
Dogs in this class must be capable of handling confinement, either crated away from their handlers.
Overview: Advanced Nose Work
Odor Recognition & Handling (multiple odors/handling skills) and Advanced Nose Work (invitation only; master handlers)
This class is for advanced handlers and dogs. Dogs should be on three target odors. This class is geared towards tactics, advanced handling and off-leash work. Handlers will learn various search scenarios, vehicle searches, review odor recognition tests, conducting blind searches, and certification and competition readiness.
Term: ongoing. Space limit: 6-8 dogs. Class duration: 1½ hours
Prerequisite: Intro to Nose Work, Odor, Continuing Nose Work, or instructor approval. Required odors: Birch, Anise, and Clove
Overview: Introduction to Nose Work
Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and a natural desire to hunt. This class focuses on teaching you how to encourage and develop your dog’s natural scenting abilities by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise. It’s a great class for your dog to have fun, build confidence, and burn lots of mental and physical energy and to find out just how good is your dog’s nose. High food or toy motivation is beneficial for this class.
Term: approximately 4 weeks-space limit 6 dogs.
Dogs in this class must be capable of handling confinement, either crated away from their handlers or in a properly equipped vehicle.
Overview: Introduction to Odor
This class advances the dog’s scent discrimination skills taught in the Introduction to Nose Work class. All dogs are taught to identify the first target odor, a natural essential oil. Additionally, we introduce techniques and tactics for building better dog/handler teamwork.
Term: approximately 6 weeks -Space limit: 6 dogs. Class duration: 1½ hours
Prerequisite: Introduction to Nose Work, or with instructor approval.
Dogs in this class must be capable of handling confinement, either crated away from their handlers or in a properly equipped vehicle.
Overview: Continuing Nose Work
This class may include handlers who just completed Intro to Odor, as well as people who are already on two odors with a dog. This class will advance handling skills and technique as well as introduce the competition elements: box drills, vehicle searches, exterior searches and building searches. All dogs eventually will add the other two target odors. This is a continuing skill class where groups of students advance together. It is repeated several times before it becomes an advanced class.
Term: 6 weeks per session. Space limit:6 dogs. Class duration: 1½ hours
Prerequisite: Introduction to Nose Work, Introduction to Odor, or with instructor approval.
Dogs in this class must be capable of handling confinement, either crated away from their handlers.
Overview: Advanced Nose Work
Odor Recognition & Handling (multiple odors/handling skills) and Advanced Nose Work (invitation only; master handlers)
This class is for advanced handlers and dogs. Dogs should be on three target odors. This class is geared towards tactics, advanced handling and off-leash work. Handlers will learn various search scenarios, vehicle searches, review odor recognition tests, conducting blind searches, and certification and competition readiness.
Term: ongoing. Space limit: 6-8 dogs. Class duration: 1½ hours
Prerequisite: Intro to Nose Work, Odor, Continuing Nose Work, or instructor approval. Required odors: Birch, Anise, and Clove