K9 Nose Work®
What is Nose Work?
K9 Nose Work® is a dog sport modeled after detection dog training. Instead of searching for drugs and explosives, the dogs are taught to search for specific essential oils. Nose Work is an enrichment activity that you and your dog can practice anywhere, regardless of age or physical limitations. It is a great confidence builder for dogs, is terrific brain work, and helps build connection, teamwork, and communication. Plus it is a lot of fun!
Beginning K9 Nose Work
Next Classes:
Fridays, 12:30 pm -2:00 pm, beginning January 10, 2025 , 6 weeks, $260 (mixed level class) Instructor: Heather Rush —Just 1 spot left!
*Class length varies depending on enrollment
This class is for dogs who are just starting their nose work journey. Dogs and handlers who have never done nose work before, or teams who are still in the beginning stages of nose work will get the instruction they need to get started. We will work on introducing the hunt, building confidence, handler skills, independent searching, and foundational concepts. This class is for dogs that are working primary (food or toy rewards) and have not yet started on odor.
Mixed Level Nose Work
Next Class:
Mondays, 4:00 pm-5:30 pm, beginning December 2, 2024, 6 weeks, $260. Instructor: Teresa Fay and Terri Gately —Full. Email for waitlist *no class 12/23 or 12/30
Mondays, 6:00 pm-7:30 pm, beginning December 2, 2024, 6 weeks, , $260. Instructor: Teresa Fay and Terri Gately —Full. Email for waitlist *no class 12/23 or 12/30
Wednesdays, 1:30 pm-3:00 pm, beginning December 4, 2024, 6 weeks, $260 (mixed level class) Instructor: Teresa Fay and Terri Gately —Full. Email for waitlist *no class 12/25 or 1/1
*Class length varies depending on enrollment
This class covers foundational skills for dogs of all levels. From beginning/Intro level teams that are brand new to nose work, to dogs beginning odor introduction, all the way through teams that are solid on all three odors, this class welcomes them all. Exercises are tailored to each dog/handler team’s needs, and students are able to learn from each other as they watch other dogs performing at different levels.
Continuing Nose Work
Next Class:
Mondays, 11:00 am -12:30pm, beginning January 6, 2025, 6 weeks, $260. Instructor: Heather Rush —Full. Email for waitlist
Wednesdays, 5:00 pm -6:30 pm, beginning January 8, 2024, 6 weeks, $260. Instructor: Heather Rush —2 spots available
Thursdays, 12:30 pm -2:00 pm, beginning January 9, 2025 , 6 weeks, Bear Creek Plaza, $260 (mixed level class) Instructor: Heather Rush —Full. Email for waitlist
*Class length varies depending on enrollment
In this class we continue to build foundational skills for both the dog and the handler, including leash handling, problem solving, hide placement for practice, exterior searches, and vehicle searches. This is a great class for dogs who are working primary (food searches) or dogs working one, two, or all three odors.
Comprehensive Nose Work
Next Class:
Mondays, 1:00 -2:30pm, beginning January 6, 2025, 6 weeks, $260. Instructor: Heather Rush —Full. Email for waitlist
*Class length varies depending on enrollment
For teams that are solid on all three odors, and are looking to build their skills, this class practices more advanced skills such as elevated and suspended hides, inaccessible hides, varied locations, pooling odor, blank searches, unknown hide numbers, and distractions. Suitable for teams that are working their competition skills as well as teams that are working advanced enrichment skills.
Advanced Nose Work
Next Class:
Wednesdays 7:00pm to 8:30pm beginning October 30, 2024, 7 weeks, Bear Creek Plaza, $300. Instructor: Heather Rush —Full. Email for waitlist
*Class length varies depending on enrollment
For dogs working and/or trialing at the NW3 level or higher, this class will work larger search areas, time limits, unknown hide numbers, and advanced concepts like close hides, high hides, blank areas, and complex environments, as well as reinforcing foundational skills. Stamina, focus, teamwork, and keeping the joy in your search will be our goals for working these higher level searches.
Nose Work Hikes
Next Class:
None Scheduled
*Class length varies depending on enrollment
Grab your hiking boots and your nose work gear! So many of our local area parks and trails have great areas for nose work searches, but they are too far from the car for a typical class. In this class, we will take a 1.5 to 2.5 mile walk or hike (round trip) with several stops for nose work searches along the way.
Perfect for working search stamina, focus, environment, and working around distractions (especially dog and critter smells!), this class will also help you work on recovery between searches. Plus hiking is a great opportunity to work on leash handling skills!
This class is suitable for dogs who are working primary (food searches) or dogs working one, two, or all three odors.
NACSW Skills Challenge Day
Next Class:
None Scheduled
Work the four setups of the NACSW 2023 Skills Achievement Challenge #1. Choose level one, two, or three for each individual search. We will set up the search according to the Skills Challenge requirements, and will film you on your own device. We will provide all the supporting pictures for the setups (showing hide locations, heights, distractors, etc) for you to submit with your videos to NACSW. You will be responsible for submitting your videos and costs associated with the title.