We believe that all dogs should have opportunities to use their noses! Dogs are born with an incredible olfactory system, and they experience their world through scent. By allowing them to use their noses, we see dogs gain confidence, increase their focus, and build resilience. 

K9 Nose Work is a scent detection sport which is accessible to all dogs and people who want to step into this olfactory world with their dogs. 

Is Nose Work for you and your dog? 

• Dogs of all ages and abilities can participate

• You will get a chance to learn how your dog experiences the world, and improve your teamwork with your dog

• Reactive and environmentally sensitive dogs thrive because dogs work individually

• Your dog will be using their brain and their body, and will come home from class satisfied and tired

• You can participate at any level. Many of our students enjoy classes and training events, but aren’t interested in competing, while others compete at all levels of trials

Why we do drop-ins instead of classes: 

• You can get started right away instead of waiting for a new round of classes to start 

• You can fit it into your busy schedule because it doesn’t require you to be available at the same time every week

• We can move at you and your dog’s pace instead of following a strict curriculum 

• We can focus on you and your dog’s specific needs to develop as a great Nose Work team

How to get started: 

1. Join an Intro to Nose Work Drop-in - You can pay for a single class, a package of 4 or 10 classes, or use your Community Unleashed membership credits. 

*With the purchase of a package you will gain access to our Online Intro to Nose Work course which includes exercises you can practice at home, as well as a wealth of information about Nose Work! 

1. You will bring high-value treats that your dog loves, and we will start off by teaching them to hunt for their treats in a variety of set-ups. 

2. We will evaluate when we believe your dog is ready to move to the next stage of training, which is introducing the target odors, Birch, Anise, and Clove essential oils. On average our students attend 6-8 Intro classes before moving on to odor. 

3. Once your dog has had an Intro to Odor session, they are eligible to join our Masters of Scent drop-in classes. These classes focus on teaching both you and the dog new skills and exposing them to all kinds of scenarios that are fun and challenging. 

4. We also hold regular training events such as workshops and Sniff-and-Go events that allow you and your dog to further hone your skills and prepare for competition. 

If your dog is already on odor we would love to have you continue your Nose Work training with us! If you have been taking classes with a Certified Nose Work Instructor through the NACSW, you are welcome to join our Masters of Scent classes without an evaluation. If you have worked with an instructor who is not a CNWI, or you have trained your dog on odor at home, we ask that you take a Private Nose Work lesson with Megan so that she can evaluate where you and your dog are at in their training journey, and chat with you about your foundational training so she can best coach you as a team.