All About Scent Work Podcast

Scent Work is a unique dog sport as handlers are encouraged and expected to reward their dogs upon finding a hide or finishing a search. However, does it matter HOW we reward the dog, especially when using treats? "I gave my dog is a cookie, isn't that enough?" NO! In this episode, we speak with Emma Parsons, the author of The New Click to Calm; Solutions for All Dogs in a Challenging World and Teaching the Reactive Dog Class; Leading the Journey from Reactivity to Reliability about the power of effective treat delivery. Pulling from her vast experience working with sensitive and reactive dogs, as well as training and competing in agility and competition obedience, Emma delves into how being more mindful in our treat delivery can make an enormous difference for our dogs. The principles covered in this podcast episode apply to all interactions we have with our dogs, in daily life, when training or even when playing the sniffing game. Do you have a reactive or sensitive dog and looking for more resources to hel

In this Spotlight Series episode, we have the opportunity to speak with Dr. John Strassner, an Expert AKC Scent Work Judge and former AKC Field Representative. We delve into John's admirable enthusiasm for the sport of Scent Work, his desire to give back, grow and continually learn all while having a fantastic time with his own personal dogs. John's love for Scent Work is contagious and we are thankful for all that he has done, and continues to do, for the sniffing community and promoting the sniffing game overall. Be certain to join us on for the livestream discussion with Dr. John Strassner that will be featured on the Scent Work University Facebook Page and YouTube channel. Facebook Page YouTube Channel Speakers: Dianna L. Santos Dr. John Strassner TRANSCRIPT Click here to read the full transcript. 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

You are taking a Scent Work class, attending a working or webinar, reading a blog or listening to a podcast and you hear the phrase, "break it down". What does this even mean?! How can go about "breaking it down" when training or practicing Scent Work with your dog? We delve into the meaning behind this phrase, discuss the various factors we can play with when training Scent Work and highlight why identifying the smallest pieces of any given exercise is not only important, but can be both exciting and inspiring as well. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Elevated Hides Webinar with Tony Gravley Inaccessible Hides Webinar with Tony Gravley Let's Make Thresholds Work Webinar with Tony Gravley Zone Training in Nosework Webinar with Michele Ellertson Let's Chat: Demystify NW3 Livestream with Lori Timberlake Let's Chat: AKC Scent Work with Dr. John Strassner Upcoming live virtual events Upcoming live webinars Online Courses eBooks Do you have a topic request? Please contact Dianna directly at dianna@scentworku.com. SPEAKER Dia

Have you ever felt as though you were being smothered by a blanket of doubt when it comes to Scent Work? Are you second guessing every little thing you do, paralyzed with fear of making a mistake? Perhaps you are making excuses not to trial, go to class or even practice or train. As an instructor, do you feel your confidence absolutely shattered, concerned you will be found out to not know anything at all? If this sounds familiar, there is a good likelihood you are suffering from imposter syndrome and you are not alone! In this episode we are privileged to speak with Teah Anders and Silke Wittig, Certified Mental Management Coaches, about this crucial topic, how imposter syndrome manifests within the Scent Work community, tips for handlers, competitors and instructors and so much more. Looking to learn more? Check out these resources: Silke Wittig is offering a live webinar through Scent Work University you definitely want to check out, Nerves Poisoning the Fun Webinar. Additionally, Silke offers virtual cons

There exists a world of opportunities in the days immediately before and after a given trial. What we choose to do with our dogs during these days can have an immense impact on our performance on trial day or how we rebound afterwards. In this episode, we discuss some of the things to consider when deciding what to do before and after trial. This is an enormous topic, so this discussion is more geared toward getting everyone thinking. We have some exciting resources coming up that we think will really help in this regard including these two upcoming live webinars: What to Do: Days Before a Trial Webinar What to Do: Days After a Trial Webinar Additionally, we strongly recommend everyone check out Holly Bushard's Strategic Trialing - Choosing Which Venue and When Webinar, it is superb. TRANSCRIPT Click here to read the full transcript. 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 inte

Consequences are all bad things, right? Not necessarily. When training, consequences are merely results, not inherently good or bad. By embracing the concept of consequences, we can make more informed decisions of what we will train, when and how. We discuss ways we can do just that in this podcast episode. Additionally, Dianna mentions Judith Guthrie and Michele Ellertson, both of whom are excellent instructors and trainers. Be certain to check out their extensive library of offerings through Scent Work University, your dog will thank you: Judith Guthrie's Library Michele Ellertson's Library Looking to catch up on our free livestreams? Find the playlist here. TRANSCRIPT Click here to read the full transcript. 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

Each of us have certain "hats" we wear pertaining to Scent Work. Dog owner. Handler. Competitor. Instructor. Trial official. Trial host. Volunteer. Each "hat" brings with it unique experiences, viewpoints and biases. We can broaden our experiences, push passed blind spots and deficiencies by attempting to experience as many viewpoints as possible. Own a super fast moving dog? Borrowing a classmate's more methodical dog for a class or two to see what that is like, what skills you are missing and further add tools for your toolbox can be an excellent learning opportunity. Have you only competed at a trial but never volunteered? Seeing behind the curtain can give you a whole other appreciation for what it takes to put on a trial! Perhaps you are an instructor who has been teaching in your area for a while. Schedule a road trip to work with some respected colleagues, being a CLIENT for a bit and then offer some pop-up classes and workshops. This way you can experience working with team outside of your region, fle

Training Scent Work offers us a multitude of choices. What training approach, school of thought or tools will we use? Each of us has our own preferences. However, this sometimes leads us to label the options we discarded, or chose to pass by, as "BAD". In this wide-ranging episode, we dive into why this happens and how it can be an issue. Instead, the argument is made that we should learn as much as possible, recognize the effectiveness of all the various options, when best to use them and ask essential questions such as "why, "when", "what" and "how". Essentially, shift away from an emotional response to being more thoughtful and mindful, objectively and honestly evaluating the needs of our dog, ourselves and our team and then making the best possible informed decision, whatever that may be. SPEAKER Dianna L. Santos TRANSCRIPT Click here to read the full transcript. Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are

Choosing to trial with our dogs requires that we ask some questions. Would trialing be the best thing for us, our dogs and our team, right now, at this point in time? The answers will differ from team-to-team, but the act of the purposefully practicing honest advocacy is something everyone participating in Scent Work should do. This approach allows us to better determine which paths or decisions will work best for ourselves as handlers and our team as a whole. This is a necessary process, regardless how we may describe our dog or ourselves. In this episode, we discuss the importance of honest advocacy, how this includes being honest about who our dogs are, what they need and how this may differ greatly from the realities we will encounter at trial. RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Be Brave: Using Scent Work to Build Confidence Webinar Canine Body Behavior and Scent Work for Handlers Webinar Control Unleashed and Scent Work: Crazy Calm Start Lines Webinar Conquering Competition Stress Webinar Influence of Dog's Reactivi

When tackling your searches, are you keeping your dog's perspective in mind? Meaning, how they are perceiving the space or environment? Doing so can be harder than it sounds, since we as people are oftentimes desensitized to the normal happenings of a human world. Yet these may be the very things which make a search exponentially more challenging for our dogs. In this episode, we discuss the importance of viewing our searches from our dog's perspective and ways we can better practice this essential skill. Speaker: Dianna L. Santos TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here. 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! Interested in other dog sports, helping a new dog or puppy learn the ropes to be more successful at

Do you feel as though you are running at top speed on a hamster wheel and unable to get off? There are many of us in the sniffing community that may feel this way! Handlers who are doing all of the things all of the time, running themselves, and their dogs, ragged. Trial hosts, who after spending months working tirelessly to prep for an event, find themselves receiving requests to host even more events before the current one is wrapped up. Trial officials crisscrossing the country, officiating every single weekend on top of speaking at workshops and seminars, spending one or two days at home if they are lucky. Instructors who feel the need to constantly find new ways to add more and more teaching opportunities to their schedule, all in a feeble attempt to meet the neverending need, while simultaneously being unable to spend a single moment with their own personal dogs. In this episode, we discuss how easy it is to find yourself trapped on the hamster wheel, but that it is incredibly beneficial for both you an

When it comes to trialing in Scent Work within the United States, there many competition organizations to choose from. This variety grants us an incredible opportunity: to be strategic. This is true for new and seasoned competitors alike. We can more fully realize the potential of mindfully leveraging our choices, deciding which organization we compete with, when and why and even carefully choosing which classes we sign up for. In this episode, we highlight how being more strategic and more goal-oriented when it comes to trialing can help unlock future success fo our sniffing team. This topic was inspired by a suggestion Holly Bushard offered during the Improving Scent Work Trials for Everyone Virtual Symposium. There are so many kernels of brilliance sprinkled throughout this 3-hour roundtable event, be certain to order the replay if you haven't already. Looking for a listing of Scent Work competition organizations both within the United States, internationally and those which offer virtual options? Check ou

Why are we doing Scent Work in the first place? What drew us to this activity? We are all so incredibly busy, stretched ridiculously thin, constantly rushing from one thing to next. Why then are we still squeezing searching into our already jam-packed calendars? Is it really all about the titles or ribbons? Or is it something else? Could it be the addictive joy that our dogs exude as they rush around working a space? If so, wouldn't it be a good a idea to identify how to build and maintain that level of joy when training or trialing? In this episode, we discuss the importance of taking a step back to determine what our focus is when participating in the activity of Scent Work. How asking the right questions, evaluating what is indeed happening and what our true objectives and goals are, then being flexible in the decisions we make, is key. Additionally, we discuss a variety of offerings recently released through Scent Work University you should check out: Helping Your Dog Find That Last Hide: Friend or Foe?

There are many moving pieces when it comes to the activity of Scent Work. A common misconception is that Scent Work is easy: train dog to find thing, hide thing in area, dog finds thing, give dog cookie. Yet, to accomplish even this watered down version of Scent Work requires concentrated work and focus. Otherwise our searches will be messy, lackluster and ineffective. In this episode, we discuss how Scent Work is rather complicated, yet the benefits of embracing this fact, ways it can help deepen our relationship with our dog, make us better handlers and trainers and much more. Additionally, we discuss a variety of offerings recently released through Scent Work University you should check out: Components of Scent Work: Value of Odor Webinar with Dianna L. Santos Components of Scent Work: Hunting Webinar with Dianna L. Santos Components of Scent Work: Sourcing Webinar with Dianna L. Santos Components of Scent Work: Odor Obedience Webinar with Dianna L. Santos Components of Scent Work: Dog Communication Webin

You're tackling a search with your dog. They have found a few hides and there are one or more hides left. Suddenly, they stop and look back at you. They are not near anything, they are not alerting...no, they are asking a dreaded question! Now what?! Is this the end of the world? What does mean?! What do you do?! In this episode, we discuss the meaning behind our dog's asking questions in Scent Work, what this can look like and how questions are not necessarily "bad", but rather information. Once we catch our breath and calm ourselves down, we can use this information. Perhaps to decide what next steps to take, or ways we can provide more clarity to our dog or maybe identify a weakness we didn't know existed before. Having this information is critical if we wish to continue to progress in our Scent Work training. Speaker: Dianna L. Santos ----more---- TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here. Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminar

It is far too easy to develop blind spots when training or trialing with our dogs, working with clients, designing searches as a trial official, finding or running trials as a host or evaluating rules or regulations as a competition organization staff member. Our perspective may be rather limited, causing us to not see the fullest and most accurate picture possible. This skewed perspective may then color the decisions we make, the training plan we put together, how we evaluate our team's progress and so on. In this episode, we discuss the importance of obtaining outside perspectives. Even having a family member or friend set out a hide for us every now and again may be incredibly enlightening! Our hope is this episode will cause everyone to consider how their perspective may be slanted or incomplete, what their blind spots may be and how they can further illuminate their "map of possibilities". Training on your own? Check out the Considerations: Training Scent Work on Your Own Webinar. Looking for an outside

Instructors are tasked to share their knowledge and expertise with their human clients in such a way that the client can then internalize, understand and interpret that information for their dog. This is no easy task! However, it becomes close to impossible if the way this information is packaged causes the client to not want to receive it.  In this episode, we discuss the art of giving and receiving information. Tone, facial expressions, body behavior are all important factors. Exhaustion, burnout and frustration can further complicate the situation on both sides of this divide. We must openly discuss the need to take a breath, modify and adjust our approaches the very same way we advocate when working directly with our dogs. Instructors and clients should see one another as teammates and partners, not adversaries.  Speaker: Dianna L. Santos ----more---- TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here. Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, sem

It is all too common to find ourselves making statements such as, "At this stage, I should do THIS" or "After this STEP, I follow this STEP and then that STEP." What's the issue you may ask? Well, this line of thinking is rather concrete. Individual needs of the dog, handler or team, unique factors for that given search, environment or training session or trialing search are not taken into account.  In this episode, we discuss the importance of being more flexible both when we are training and trialing in Scent Work and how challenging being flexible can be! Speaker: Dianna L. Santos ----more---- TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here. 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! Interested in other dog sports, h

In this spotlight episode, we have the distinct privilege to speak to Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow of Every Dog Nosework about how they plunged into helping build the Nose Work community in their area. This includes developing their training skills, competition accolades, hosting trials, workshops, seminars and more. An amazing example of doers who are giving back to the sniffing community and sharing their love for all things Nose Work with many dog and handler teams. Speaker: Dianna L. Santos Kayla Dever Samantha Winslow ----more---- TRANSCRIPT Read the full transcript here. 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! Interested in other dog sports, helping a new dog or puppy learn the ropes to be more succe

It is interesting how when it comes to Scent Work, everything is seemingly viewed through the lens of the dog's ability to hunt and source their hides. If something doesn't go well, that means we must do more searches, right? In this episode, we discuss how there are so many skills a dog, handler and team need to be successful in Scent Work, many of which have absolutely nothing to do with hunting or odor! Thus, there are times drilling more searches may be the last thing we want to do. Speaker: Dianna L. Santos There were several resources mentioned in this podcast episode, be certain to check them all out: Conquering Competition Stress Webinar by Michael McManus Car Crate Crazy Webinar with Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow Harnessing Joy Webinar with Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow The Floor is Lava Webinar with Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow Tackling NW3 Head-On: Conquering the Mind Game Webinar with Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow Fitness for the Life of Your Dog Webinar with Donna Morgan Murray Fitne