Beginner Scent Work Class:This class will give students an introduction to Scent Work. The focus will be learning the basic elements of AKC Scent Work / CPE Canine Scent Sport using the essential oil Birch. Students will learn the training methods to introduce their dog to the sport, including classical conditioning to the target odor, and operant conditioning of the indication behavior. See this video for more information about the sport of Scent Work. The first class will be handlers only, no dogs.
Intermediate Scent Work Class: This class is for dogs who have taken the Beginner Scent Work class, or behaviorally healthy dogs who have already been introduced to Birch and have the permission of the instructor. In this class we will continue to build the dogs’ confidence in independent searching and obedience to odor. We will set up drills and searches with hide placements that encourage the dogs to detail thresholds and corners, high and low. In addition, we will work each week on duration at source with release. The essential oil Anise will be introduced. Weather permitting, we will set the dogs up for success in their first exterior search.
Advanced Scent Work Class: This class is for graduates of the Intermediate class. The essential oil Clove will be introduced. Students will be practicing searches in interior, exterior, container, and buried. We will also work on elevated hides and corners.
Sniff of the Week!: This workshop is to for students for already competing in Scentwork. Dogs should have been introduced to the essential oils Birch, Anise, Clove. Topics include elevated hides, corner hides, ground hides, food as a distraction, pooled odor as a distraction, stacked and hanging containers, buried, multiple room hides, inaccessible hides, as well as vehicle searches. We will work on inaccessible hides, confounding odor, distractions, as well as airflow challenges.
Prerequisities
Dogs must be Behaviorally Healthy and not have aggression issues with people Due to the training procedures in this class, it is imperative dogs are comfortable approaching people and having people approach them.
Completion of the Canine Good Citizen class, or its equivalent level of manners training, is recommended as a pre-requisite for the introductory class.
Dogs must be at least 4 months of age at the start of class. No upper age limits.
All dogs must have Rabies and DHPP vaccinations or titers. Proof of vaccinations or titers must be brought to first class. Dogs without proof of vaccinations or titers will not be able to participate. Pre-registration and pre-payment required.
No shock collars, e-collars, prong collars or choke chains allowed in class.
Pre-registration with pre-payment is required.
Tuition: $230 / $235 (2027) for 7 week Beginner class; $200 / $205 (2027) for 6 week Intermediate & Advanced level classes or Handler Discrimination Class
Duration: First Beginner class is orientation, without dogs. Dogs attend the next 6 classes. Intermediate and Advanced and HD classes are 6 weeks, and dogs attend all classes.
