You & Your Dog Training

Unlock your dog’s natural abilities with K9 Nose Work®, a fun and engaging scent detection activity based on professional detection-dog training. Nose Work taps into your dog’s instinct to hunt, offering mental stimulation, physical exercise, and a confidence boost for dogs of all ages and abilities. Whether you're interested in competing or just looking for an enriching way to bond with your dog, this activity is perfect for building teamwork and independence in a positive, force-free environment. Our small class sizes ensure personalized guidance and support as you and your dog navigate the exciting world of scent detection.

Each class level builds on foundational skills, starting with simple scent puzzles and progressing to more advanced challenges using essential oils: birch, anise, and clove (we start with birch). You’ll learn to read your dog’s body language, improve communication, and work together to solve increasingly complex scent problems in various environments, including outdoors and vehicles.

K9 Nose Work® classes are structured to ensure a positive, stress-free experience for both dogs and handlers. Here’s what you can expect. Each level of classes runs for six weeks, meeting for one hour each week on the same day/time from when they start.

During class, your dog will spend time waiting in your vehicle between search runs. It’s essential that they are able to do so calmly and without persistent barking or distress.

This downtime isn’t just a break—it allows your dog to regroup, process what they’ve learned (latent learning), and reset for their next turn. Just as importantly, it gives you the opportunity to observe other teams working, which can significantly enhance your ability to read dog behavior and refine your handling—something that’s much easier when you’re not actively managing your own dog. To prevent barrier frustration, we recommend crating or tethering your dog in the car. If your dog struggles with this setup, we highly encourage bringing a second handler for support or contacting us ahead of time to discuss if this class structure will be a good fit.

• One Dog at a Time: Each dog runs individually in the search area, while the others remain crated or tethered safely in their cars. This setup allows for less distraction and helps reactive or easily excitable dogs enjoy the activity in a controlled environment.

• Observation Time: While one dog is running, the other handlers are encouraged to observe the search, honing their skills in reading dog behavior and body language. Each dog typically gets two runs per session.

• Keeping Dogs Comfortable: To prevent barrier frustration, we recommend crating or tethering your dog while they are in your vehicle between runs. If your dog struggles with being alone in the car, we highly encourage bringing a second handler for added support.

• Keeping Cars Cool: Even with available shade, it’s important to keep your car comfortable for your dog. While we do allow cars to be running, we highly encourage various products to consider:
  • Aluminum shade cloths or Aluminet covers
  • Ryobi fan
  • Cooling mats
  • Cooling coats
    

Our goal is to provide a fun and enriching experience while ensuring your dog’s safety and comfort during class.

Class Requirements: Dogs attending must be comfortable around unknown dogs and people, for dogs 6 months and older with proof of up to date vaccinations, proof of current rabies vaccination (email all vaccinations before your first class), sign/send waivers of liability.

Class spots are limited to 3 dogs and 2 people per dog.

Please read our client commitment and refund policy.

In this foundational class, your dog will learn “The Nose Work Game,” where they hunt for primary—hidden food or toy. We will develop your dog’s independent searching ability while teaching you how to observe and understand their unique hunting behaviors. As the course progresses, dogs will work through various search challenges in a familiar environment with a goal to develop your dog's develop problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios.

We will focus on building drive and independence, allowing your dog to engage in this mentally stimulating activity all while having fun!

No prior experience required. This is the foundational course for all other levels and can be taken more than once (with just more challenges created for the individual team!)

 Here is a link to see class start dates and enrollment options.

Take the next step in K9 Nose Work® by introducing your dog to the essential oil target odor, birch. Building on the skills from Intro to K9 Nose Work®, this class focuses on teaching your dog to identify and search for this specific odor in various settings, sharpening their scent-detection abilities. While we only introduce birch during this class, handlers will gain the foundation needed to introduce the other target odors used in competition, anise and clove, at their own pace at home.

Handlers will continue to improve their ability to read their dog’s subtle signals as the search challenges become progressively more complex.

Prerequisite: Intro to K9 Nose Work®.

 Here is a link to see class start dates and enrollment options.

This course is for dog-handler teams ready to take their scent detection skills to the next level, exteriors and more!

We’ll increase the complexity of the different search elements, incorporating more advanced hide placements, explore vehicle and outdoor searches, all the while encouraging teamwork and handler focus. Handlers will continue to refine their techniques and knowledge in how to support their dogs in more challenging searches.

Prerequisite: Intro to Odor.

 Here is a link to see class start dates and enrollment options.

Ready for the ultimate scent work challenge? This class pushes both dog and handler by presenting complex scent puzzles in new, dynamic environments. From inaccessible hides to multi-target odor searches, your dog will develop advanced problem-solving skills, and you’ll sharpen your ability to support their success.

Handlers will continue to develop advanced handling techniques, learning to manage more complex scenarios that prepare teams for trial-level searches. Classes can take place on and off site from You and Your Dog.

Prerequisite: Continuing K9 Nose Work®

This specialty class is offered seasonally, from early summer through fall, and runs only twice a year. Join our waitlist to be notified when enrollment opens (here is the link).