Beginning Nosework 1

Description: Nosework is a fairly new dog sport that has been spreading rapidly across the country. It is based on detection dog training. Nosework dogs search out various odors (such as Birch, Anise and Clove) and are rewarded when they find the odor. Searches start out easy at the beginning level and progress in difficulty. This class will teach your dog how to recognize the first odor, Birch, and how to develop the drive to search starting with food and odor paired with food. Cost of class includes starter nosework kit.

This is a six week class with 1 hour lessons.

Prerequisites: Dogs should have basic obedience training like sit, down and come. Dogs should be able to be crated when they are not working.

Cost: $120.00 Inactive members/non-members, $90.00 Active members

Beginning Nosework 2

Description: Continue building on skills introduced in Beginning Nosework. Introduce handling skills that support your dog's drive to search for odor. Additional odors will be introduced.

This is a six week class.

Prerequisites: Beginning Nosework 1. Able to recognize birch. Dogs should have basic obedience training like sit, down and come. Dogs should be able to be crated when they are not working.

Cost: $120.00 Inactive members/non-members, $90.00 Active members.

Beginning Nosework 3

Description: This class is the continuum to Beginning Nosework 2. Focus will be on interiors and containers with an introduction to clove. Exteriors and vehicles will be practiced if daylight allows. This is a six-week class.

Prerequisites: Dogs must be able to find and alert on Birch and Anise.

Cost: $120.00 Inactive members/non-members, $90.00 Active members.

Nosework Trial Preparation

Description: This is an off-site 6-week trial preparation class, designed to provide authentic trial practice. It will include practice with exteriors, interiors, containers, and vehicles. This class is for dogs and handlers to prepare for their first trial or are already trialing but would like more experience. Class location will be sent to registrants prior to the first class.

Dogs will be crated when they are not working.

Prerequisites: Beginning Nosework 3 or equivalent skills.

Cost: $120.00 Inactive members/non-members, $90.00 Active members

Nosework Skills 1

Description: Continued training on skills and odor puzzles commonly seen in the beginning through intermediate nosework trial levels (Novice/Advanced/Superior UKC levels and/or Novice/Advanced/Excellent AKC levels). Instructors will work with the handlers to improve handling skills and recognition of when dog is in odor and working out the odor puzzle. Some examples of odor puzzles that may be used in class are threshold hides, multiple hides, converging odor, low hides, elevated hides, inaccessible hides, blank areas, distractors. Handler teams may take this class as many times as they wish while working at the trial levels listed in this description (or if not trialing but just want to increase their dogs' nosework skills).

This may be either a four-week or six-week class, check Classes page.

Prerequisites: Beginning Nosework 3 or equivalent skills. Dogs will be crated when they are not working. Dogs able to recognize and alert on Birch/Anise/Clove odors. Additional odors may be introduced in this class at the instructor's discretion.

Cost: Six-week class :
$120 for non-members/inactive members; $90 for active members.

Four-week class :
$80.00 for non-members/inactive members; $60.00 for active members.

Nosework Skills 2

Description: Continued training on handling skills needed and odor puzzles commonly seen in the highest nosework trial levels. The complexity and difficulty of the odor puzzles may be increased. This class is designed for teams working at the master/elite nosework levels (Master/Elite UKC and/or Master/Detective AKC). Handler teams working at this level may take the class as many times as they wish to continue improving their team skills.

This may be either a four-week or six-week class, check Classes page.

Prerequisites: Teams should be trialing in either Master/Elite (UKC) or Master/Detective (AKC) or working at an equivalent level. Dogs will be crated when they are not working. Dogs able to recognize and alert on 6 odors -- Birch, Anise, Clove, Cypress, Myrrh and Vetiver.

Cost: Six-week class :
$120 for non-members/inactive members; $90 for active members.

Four-week class :
$80.00 for non-members/inactive members; $60.00 for active members.

Nosework Skills - Games Level 1

Description: This is a 4-week class. We will play a variety of nosework games designed to create time and handler pressure for the competitors. Searches will be timed and will have multiple hides to find within that time limit. The focus is to have fun playing some nosework games while improving your time management skills.

Prerequisites: Beginning Nosework 3 or equivalent skills. Dogs will be crated when they are not working. Dogs able to recognize and alert on Birch/Anise/Clove odors. Dogs will be searching for multiple hides in many of the searches.

Cost: $80.00 for non-members/inactive members; $60.00 for active members.

Nosework Skills - Games Level 2

Description: This is a 4-week class. We will play a variety of nosework games designed to create time and handler pressure for the competitors. Searches will be timed and will have multiple hides to find within that time limit. The focus is to have fun playing some nosework games while improving your time management skills.

Prerequisites: Teams should be trialing in either Master/Elite (UKC) or Master/Detective (AKC) or working at an equivalent level. Dogs will be crated when they are not working. Dogs able to recognize and alert on 6 odors -- Birch, Anise, Clove, Cypress, Myrrh and Vetiver.

Cost: $80.00 for non-members/inactive members; $60.00 for active members.

Nosework Skills - TBD

Description: This class will have an emphasis on a specific skill, with each class in the session offering multiple chances to train and practice that skill. Some examples include a class on Containers with Distractors, a class on Buried Hides, a class on Speed Searching. The specific skill to be trained and emphasized will be determined by the instructor, and the class title listed on the website will reflect the "theme" for the specific class offering.

This may be either a four-week or six-week class, check Classes page.

Prerequisites: Beginning 3 or equivalent skills. Dogs will be crated when they are not working. Dogs able to recognize and alert on Birch/Anise/Clove odors.

Cost: Six-week class :
$120 for non-members/inactive members; $90 for active members.

Four-week class :
$80.00 for non-members/inactive members; $60.00 for active members.

Handler Discrimination

Description: This class will focus on learning skills to compete in the Handler Discrimination Division classes in both AKC and UKC venues. In the novice level, the dog learns to find the handler's scented article inside a closed cardboard box. We will build value for searching for our scent in various scenarios: glove/sock outside of boxes, hidden in a room, inside of vented containers and eventually closed inside of a cardboard box. We will also introduce scented cotton balls and swabs used in the upper AKC levels, and take a sneak peek at what else is required for competing past the Novice level in both venues.

Prerequisites: Must hold UKC or AKC Novice Title

Cost: Six-week class :
$120 for non-members/inactive members; $90 for active members.

Four-week class :
$80.00 for non-members/inactive members; $60.00 for active members.