All About Scent Work Podcast

Watching baby puppies tackle a Scent Work search is endearing to say the very least. We can easily get swept away by how amazing these tiny little babies are at solving their searches. Before we know it, we are offering more and more challenging searches for them to tackle. However, we must remember that they are indeed babies, not simply small adult dogs.  In this episode, we discuss how it is fantastic to play Scent Work with our puppies. However, doing so requires that we set appropriate challenges for them. Thus, we must take our time and avoid the allure the rush. We also discus how crucial it is to take into account their age and stage of development. The key message with this episode is to relish the time with our puppies and ensure whatever we are doing with them is FUN! Are you looking to get your puppy started in Scent Work? Check out our Puppy Sniffing Program today! Speaker: Dianna L. Santos ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our

In this episode, we speak with Lori Timberlake of Do Over Dog Training regarding one of her favorite topics: training dirty in Scent Work. This discussion highlights the power of this training approach, how and when teams should incorporate these concepts and clearing up any misconceptions regarding how this may differ from the proper handling of our odor training aids. This is an excellent discussion which will benefit all dog and handlers teams, especially those who are competing and are perhaps concerned of how they will deal with both the planned and unplanned distractors they may encounter at a trial. You can also work directly with Lori, incorporating the training dirty concept into your routine by enrolling in her All-Level NACSW™ Trial Prep Course. Additionally, you may schedule a private Zoom consultation with Lori or submit either a training or trialing video for her to review. Clients have raved about the personalized feedback they receive from Lori. ----more---- Scent Work University is an online

A common approach teams take when they are prepping for a Scent Work trial is to focus on the requirements for a given level. However, that oftentimes means teams are solely obsessing about tackling super difficult searches in the upper levels whereas newer teams are holding off on introducing key concepts until much later in their training journey. This can be problematic. Enter all-level trial prep as an alternative approach!   In this episode, we speak with Lori Timberlake of Do Over Dog Training about the more holistic approach she takes in her in-person training classes and how she is translating this into a new webinar and online course she is offering through Scent Work University.   The beauty of this approach is that it can help EVERYONE! Obviously, teams of all levels of expertise can benefit, but even those teams who are NOT interested in competing can find value in this webinar and course, learning how to design more thoughtful practice sessions. Furthermore, instructors may glean some id

The AKC Scent Work Buried Class can be a BEAR for dogs and handlers alike! In this episode, AKC Scent Work Judge, professional instructor and accomplished competitor, Natalie McManus, will outline some of the reasons for this and ways handlers can better approach the Buried class. Doing so will help this class make more sense to the dogs and thus allow teams to more successful. Want to learn more from Natalie specifically on how to succeed in the AKC Buried Class? Check out her AKC: Working Water Hides Course! Have a more specific need to something you or your dog are struggling with? Natalie offers her Handler's Choice Course, where you may partner with her to address what YOUR team needs. Additionally, her Scent Study Buddy Program will offer monthly themes for your team to tackle, such a field trip searches, focusing on containers and more. You may also submit training or trialing videos for Natalie to review and provide her feedback on or schedule a virtual Zoom consultation with her. ----more---- Scent W

We are incredibly fortunate in that there is a slew of dog sport activities that all focus on our dogs tapping into their wonderful sense of smell. In this episode, Dianna discusses how we should be leveraging all of these sniffy possibilities, since doing so can actually improve our dog's Scent Work game as well.  ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Are you interested in competing in Scent Work? Give virtual trialing a try! Check out Cyber Scent Work, Inc. where not only may you earn qualifying scores, titles and ribbons, you may also receive training feedback from our incredibly talented and experienced Review Officials. Submit your video entry today. Interested in another dog sport? Dog Spo

When it comes to handler discrimination, it common for handlers to become frustrated and for dogs to be confused of what game they are supposed to be playing. Why does this happen? We discuss some of the common reasons in this podcast episode. Interested in getting started in Handler Discrimination? Check out the online Handler Discrimination course we offer through Scent Work University. ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Are you interested in competing in Scent Work? Give virtual trialing a try! Check out Cyber Scent Work, Inc. where not only may you earn qualifying scores, titles and ribbons, you may also receive training feedback from our incredibly talented and experienced Review Officia

It is common for Scent Work handlers to want to get off training primary as quickly as possible. "We want to hunt for the real stuff!" However, there are ways to fully leverage hunting for primary to help solidify crucial skills that will serve you and your dog well into your sniffing careers. In this podcast episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Judith Guthrie about how she uses primary and the general process one may use to transition from primary, or pairing, to hunting for a novel target odor alone, considerations to keep in mind and more. Judith brings a breadth of knowledge to this topic, especially considering the fact she wears so hats in the Scent Work realm, both as a professional detection dog trainer and handler, an approved Scent Work trial official, professional instructor and mentor as well as an accomplished competitor in her own right!  With that in mind, we are thrilled to have Judith share her expertise with our clients. Be certain to check out her upcoming offerings: More Than Od

In this podcast episode, Dianna has the privilege of speaking with Barbara Deg of Front N'Scenter Animal Behavior & Consulting regarding her new Scentsitive Soul Program designed to help dogs with big feelings by leveraging the power of Scent Work. Learn more about Barbara and her program: Online platform for Scentsitive Soul Program and related services Front N'Scenter Animal Behavior & Consulting website Facebook Page: Front N'Scenter Animal Behavior & Consulting ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Are you interested in competing in Scent Work? Give virtual trialing a try! Check out Cyber Scent Work, Inc. where not only may you earn qualifying scores, titles and ribbons, you may

In this podcast episode, Dianna discusses the final traditional search element of Interior searches and how they are oftentimes tackled as a "stuff" search instead of an interior search. Are you leveraging these interesting and exciting search elements to their full potential? Find out in this episode! Does your dog struggle with slippery floors? You are in luck! Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow will be presenting a webinar outlining solutions you can try. Be sure check out their The Floor is Lava Webinar. Does your dog have a tendency to blow through threshold hides? Michele Ellertson has put together an outstanding training plan that addresses this very problem. Order the replay for her Threshold Hides: From Terrible to Terrific Webinar and marvel at the step-by-step training plan that will allow you and your dog to ace threshold hides going forward. ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are n

As we embark on our Scent Work training journey, the prospect of tackling exterior searches with our dogs can be incredibly exciting! However, as we progress along our sniffing journey, we may find the challenges thrown at us by the environment become too much to deal with! Suddenly, exterior searches morph from this exciting venture to something that is excruciatingly painful and fraught with countless pitfalls! In this podcast episode, Dianna discusses why this happens and how we, as handlers and trainers, may adjust our outlook to reinvigorate our love and appreciation for this challenging search element. You may be interested in checking out these resources focused solely on tackling exterior searches: Conquering the Environment in Scent Work Webinar Exteriors and Field Trips with Primary Course Exteriors and Field Trips with Birch Course We have also been incredibly fortunate to host a slew of highly talented instructors as of late, be certain to check them all out: All About the Box: A Detailed Look at

Have you ever questioned why people even bother doing vehicle searches? Are they a search element you simply do not practice or train? In this podcast episode, Dianna will discuss how fun vehicle searches can be, how they can be an excellent learning opportunity for dog and handler alike and why everyone should give them a try! Intrigued? Be certain to check out Michael McManus' Perfect Patterns: Vehicles Course. You may also be inspired by some of the challenges posed in these eBooks: 50 Sniffy Fun Challenges eBook Winter Sniffy Fun Challenges eBook Winter Sniffy Fun Challenge 2.0 eBook Winter Sniffy Fun Challenge 3.0 eBook (to be released on March 31, 2023) Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Are you in

Speaker: Dianna L. Santos Do you DESPISE containers? Are they dumb, boring and your least favorite search element ever? You are not alone apparently! There is rather large contingency within the Scent Work community who are not fans of Container searches. In this episode, Dianna will do her very best to try to make the case FOR Containers, describing how valuable of a learning tool they can be and attempt to inspire listeners to give this search element another chance. ----more---- Intrigued? Be certain to check out these resources to take an even deeper dive into all things Container-related: All About the Box; A Detailed Look at Container Searches Webinar with Dana Zinn All About the Box: Part 2 Webinar with Dana Zinn Leveraging Containers for Life Course with Dianna L. Santos You may also be inspired by some of the challenges posed in these eBooks: 50 Sniffy Fun Challenges eBook Winter Sniffy Fun Challenges eBook Winter Sniffy Fun Challenge 2.0 eBook Winter Sniffy Fun Challenge 3.0 eBook (to be released o

When we are training, trialing or making decisions about our sniffing journey, we oftentimes solely focus on the "how". In this podcast episode, discover the importance of understanding the "why". ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. SWU courses, seminars, webinars and eBook are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Interested in another dog sport? Dog Sport University is sister online dog training platform, give it a peek and see what it has to offer you and your dog. Want to help your dog in the manner department? Maybe you have a new puppy? Check out our newest online dog training platform, Pet Dog U, where we offer online dog training courses, webinars, seminars as well as a regularly updated blog and podcast for all of your dog training needs! #allaboutscentworkpodcast #whythewhy

Your dog is tackling a search and you just don't think they are going about it the right way. They are coming off the containers or vehicles, or perhaps they are attempting to go outside the barrier cones for an exterior search. Silly dog, you think to yourself, as you step in to direct them, illustrating the "right" way to go about searching this space. In this episode, we discuss how our human expectations can inject unnecessary conflict into our Scent Work searches. Basically, how it is oftentimes best to simply trust the dog, as they can actually interact with and experience the odor we've tasked them to find. However, ceding this control and offering this trust can be exceedingly difficult and challenging for handlers, especially when the dog's choices in the space directly counter the handler's human expectations. ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. SWU courses, seminars, webinars and eBook are not only for those who are interested in c

Owning a senior dog means you must make some tough choices. This includes what activities you choose to do together. How to keep their age-related limitations in mind while still maximizing on the time you have together. In this episode, we discuss Scent Work-specific considerations. This is a sensitive and emotional subject. These decisions must be individualized and customized. There are no right or wrong answers. As long handlers are mindful and thoughtful in their decisions, including an honest assessment of how the dog is faring, then all is good. ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. SWU courses, seminars, webinars and eBook are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Interested in another dog sport? Dog Sport University is sister online dog training platform, give it a peek and se

We've all heard how important it is "rise to the occasion" or to "meet the challenge head-on" or "anything worthwhile requires hard work" and so on. Essentially, if you hope to achieve anything, you must be ready and willing to put in the time and effort required. The same applies to Scent Work. Eyeing the upper levels of competition? Better be ready to toughen up and put that time in! Your dog must toughen up too. Scent Work trials notoriously throw curveballs at teams all the time. Want to succeed? Better train your dog to be ready to deal with whatever life wants to throw at them! These concepts of "toughening up" to face the challenges of life have merit but are incomplete. They assume everyone is at a place right now where they CAN give more. This premise doesn't account for the fact that handlers, and dogs, may simply be incapable of "giving it their all", because they already are. There is simply nothing left in the tank. Even worse, pushing more could spell disaster for them individually and as a team

Have you ever been in the middle of a search with your dog, and it seems as though their brain just...well, exploded? Maybe they started barking at you. Or perhaps they rushed off to grab a toy. Maybe they disengaged all together, seemingly giving up on the search. What you may be witnessing is the dog reaching what Dianna calls their "frustration threshold". In this episode, Dianna explains how she defines this term and what it looked like with her own dog, both inside and outside the context of Scent Work. Dianna is offering a live webinar focusing on this very topic, Dealing with Frustration Threshold Issues in Scent Work Webinar. If you wanted to learn more about the issue of frustration threshold within the context of Scent Work and some exercises and approaches you can try to help you dog overcome it, be sure to check out this webinar. ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. SWU courses, seminars, webinars and eBook are not only for those w

The allure to rush, whether it be while training or trialing, can be so incredibly strong. Yet the fallout is very real. Rushing can cause a huge multitude of issues that will take an immense amount of time and effort to undo and fix. Worst still, the results of rushing can cause frustration, confusion and a slew of other negative emotions to enter into the picture, chipping away at the relationship you have with your dog as you play the sniffing game. In this episode, we discuss why people may rush, the various issues rushing can cause and what your instructor may be going through when you choose to rush against their best of intentions and advice. ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. SWU courses, seminars, webinars and eBook are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Interested in an

You read that right, your dog is guessing. Guessing what the Scent Work game is really all about. What they are supposed to be hunting for. What they are being rewarded for. What we want them to do! In this episode, we discuss this reality and how we, as handlers and trainers, need to be as clear as possible with our dogs to help them truly understand the sniffing game we want them to play. ----more---- We pull upon this concept in more depth in these four webinars, outlining how being clearer in our training and practice sessions may avoid false alerts. Check them out: Cause and Cure of False Alerts: Container Searches Webinar Cause and Cure of False Alerts: Interior Searches Webinar Cause and Cure of False Alerts: Exterior Searches Webinar Cause and Cure of False Alerts: Vehicle Searches Webinar Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. SWU courses, seminars, webinars and eBook are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog o

In the latest installment of our ongoing series, where we speak with participants of Cyber Scent Work, Inc., we have privilege of learning more about Tracy Martin's journey into Scent Work, her wonderful dogs as well as how she is helping her clients learn about and thrive while playing the sniffing game.  You may learn more about Tracy and her training business here: http://www.martintrainingbehavior.com/ A HUGE "Thank You" to Tracy for sharing her passion for Scent Work and dog training with us! It is contagious to say the very least. ----more---- Did you want to learn more about Cyber Scent Work, Inc.? Check out the Cyber Scent Work, Inc. website. Look over the Rules. Check out some of the most Commonly Asked Questions.  Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. SWU courses, seminars, webinars and eBook are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with the