Photo by Karen Ogden, Sirius digital photography
*Classes below are on hold*
Nose Work Foundations Classes meet for one hour for 6 weeks - maximum 3 dogs per class
Dogs have scenting superpowers! No doubt you’ve heard of dogs locating lost people and tracking suspects, finding explosives and other dangerous substances, and so much more just by using their keen sense of smell. Nose Work is an activity and a sport based on scent detection work much like the dogs you see used in law enforcement except they aren’t looking for illegal substances, these pet dogs are taught to seek out target odors such as birch, anise, or clove. It’s an activity that is enriching for all dogs; young or old. For a shy or timid dog, it can be used as a vehicle to build confidence. For an over-exuberant dog it can teach them to focus on a task and tires them mentally; an equivalent to a good aerobic work out. In this class, unless specified otherwise, we will have the dogs hunting for “primary” (food), then will transition to “pairing” the food to a target odor. For any prospective students wanting to start their dog on odor only, using a backchaining “odor imprinting” method, please contact us. We understand that each dog, each team may have different needs, and we can talk to you about how we can help you and your options. Unique to this class is an ongoing Facebook group where you can post your questions and homework videos during the week for help and critique between classes.
Nose Work private sessions and Advanced group classes available in New Lebanon and Pittsfield, MA in collaboration with Step in Time LLC / Berkshire Sniffers on select weekday/weeknights. Contact Us for more details.
About - Hanna has been teaching in-person nosework classes since 2018 and has served as a Teaching Assistant for online nosework classes taught by instructor Melissa Chandler at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy also since 2018. She is versed in different methods for teaching Foundations; the use of primary/food to teach hunt skills then “pairing” - food and target odor, as well as an operant back-chaining method to imprint dogs to target odor, then teaching hunting skills using odor only. New students will discuss with Hanna, which method might best suit their dog/team for placement into the right class.
Nose Work Achievement Highlights by Hanna and Derek, who passed away in November 2019
Only the 4th American Pit Bull Terrier to achieve NW3-Elite title
High in Trial NW3 Glen Spey NY, 2nd place containers, 2nd place vehicles
3rd Place overall NW3 Ringwood NJ, 3rd place containers, 3rd place vehicles
2nd Place overall & Pronounced NW2 Roosevelt NY, 2nd place containers
Scent Dog Advanced Title – Performance Scent Dogs
High in Trial Novice B, Yorktown Heights NY - AKC
High in Trial Advanced, Yorktown Heights NY - AKC
Feedback from students
"Nose work has provided a form of enrichment for Lulu that has not only helped to greatly reduce her demand barking but is also helping her work through some of her reactivity and behavior issues. Hanna’s feedback and support throughout our journey has been invaluable and I wholeheartedly recommend her and her class!"
"Rory is a pretty independent dog. Through nose work, we are able to work as team. He finds the odor and I have to pay attention to his body language to determine when he has found it. It helps us build trust with each other and through it, Rory has become a much more confident dog!"
"Doing nose work with my dog is like having a superhero decoder ring for invisible things. I can’t know what air currents and molecules are doing, but she does. By learning to collaborate on a skill that comes naturally to her, she makes the invisible, visible. It is the most amazing feeling to have access to the way my dog can perceive the world and even more amazing to develop a nuanced communication about it. It is likely that my dog loves nose work because she gets to hunt for stuff and then eat cheese, which is perfect, because it is a job I couldn’t possibly do without her."
"The great thing about nose work is that it engages Eli's mind and body. It is great fun watching him figure out where the odor is located. After we practice I have a tired and content dog."
What is Nosework?
Nose Work is an activity and a sport based on scent detection work much like the dogs you see used in law enforcement except they aren’t looking for illegal substances, these pet dogs are taught to seek out target odors such as birch, anise, or clove. It’s an activity that is enriching for all dogs; young or old. Take a look at some of our students in our video below.
Nosework isn’t just about containers (boxes)! Dogs learn to search everything, everywhere. As your dog starts to understand the game, part of the fun of it is getting to search in new, different places. Below are some examples of Hanna and her dog Derek searching other elements in competition; Exteriors, Interiors, and Vehicles. Videos by Colleen M Griffith