Trial Prep Program

The resources offered in this program are designed to ensure you, your dog and your team are prepared to tackle the challenges posed at trial.

These training resources will be helpful across a variety of competition organizations, but there are several that are organization-specific.

Are you looking for one-on-one coaching or support for your team? Contact us and we will provide you with some customized suggestions!

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Trial Prep Program

Trial Prep Tips

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Recommended Podcasts RE: Trial Prep
Trialing Tips
Recommended Podcasts RE: Trial Prep
Trialing Tips
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What You Need on Trial Day
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What You Need on Trial Day
Trialing Tips
Remember: Odor Moves
Understanding Odor
Remember: Odor Moves
Understanding Odor
Training v. Trialing
Trialing Tips
Training v. Trialing
Trialing Tips
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Live Virtual Event
Scent Work Toolbox: Choosing the Best Tool Virtual Event
Date: March 13th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Anita Ambani, Holly Bushard, Judith Guthrie, Jill Kovacevich, Michael McManus, Khara Schuetzner

There are countless tools when it comes to training and trialing in Scent Work. In this virtual event, our panelists will discuss which tool would be used in when, what their thought process is, how to tell if a given tool or approach is working, what adjustments may need to be made and when to change tact.
Live Virtual Event
How Would You Train It: Vol 2 Virtual Event
Date: February 13th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Anita Ambani, Holly Bushard, Kayla Dever, Judith Guthrie, Jill Kovacevich, Michael McManus

Hear from our experienced panel of speakers on how they would tackle three distinct scenarios. The discussion will include potential training solutions, ways to determine if progress was being made, whether modifications were warranted, which ones and why and so much more.
Live Virtual Event
Secret Sauce: Competitive Effectiveness Virtual Event
Date: January 9th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Ana Cilursu, Holly Bushard, Kayla Dever, Judith Guthrie, Jill Kovacevich, Michael McManus

What does it take to be effective and competitive in all levels of Scent Work competitions? How do those who compete regularly choose what to focus on? What strategic choices do they make to ensure their success? Learn this and much more from our talented panelist of speakers!
Live Webinar
The Good Call: Calling the Hide in Training and in Trial Webinar
Date: December 9th at 4:00PM PT/5:00PM MT/6:00PM CT/7:00PM ET
Instructor: Jill Kovacevich

The "Alert" call is the crux of the handler's responsibilities in competition Nose Work. If you have ever felt like, "My dog said trash can", but the Judge said, "No", this webinar may be just what you need. A discussion focused on shaping your training for improved trial success.
Live Webinar
Boundaries: From Start Lines to Flags and Cones Webinar
Date: December 8th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Dana Zinn

Boundaries are a big part of a Nose Work search, but they are often undervalued and/or ignored. Learn how to more meaningfully tackle your start lines, cope with search area boundaries and more in this informative webinar.
Live Webinar
Know Your Role: When Trialing Webinar
Date: December 30th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Tony Gravley

We can quite literally derail an otherwise fantastic search at trial when we step out of our lane and, well, forget to remember our role! Learn what your role is at Scent Work trials and how to best support your canine partner in this informative webinar.
Live Webinar
Know Your Role: In Training Webinar
Date: December 2nd at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Tony Gravley

Do we have a role when training Scent Work with our dogs? YES! If we step out of our lane, this can cause our dogs to become confused, frustrated or demotivated by the search. Learn how to better understand your role in this webinar.
Live Webinar
Training on an Island: The Art of Working Solo in Canine Nose Work Webinar
Date: November 25th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Tony Gravley

Do you typically find yourself training on your own? This webinar is for you! Enjoy a deep dive into both sides of the leash, exploring not only the handler’s responsibilities when working without a coach or group but also the dog’s role in developing independence, confidence, and problem-solving skills.
Live Webinar
On or Off Leash: Deciding Which Option is Right for the Moment Webinar
Date: December 4th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow

Picture it: you're at the start line, ready to cue your dog to search, and a decision lies before you - should you go on or off leash? Learn how to make the best decision based upon the scenario in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Climbing Mountains: Handler Skills for Success at Elite/Elite Premier and Summit Webinar
Instructor: Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow

Are you currently competing, or planning to compete, in the Elite or Summit levels of NACSW? In this webinar, learn how to help your mental game, develop trial day action plans, and how to find JOY in the highest pressure levels of our sport!
Live Webinar
Sniff. Plan. Crush It: Goal Setting the Nosework Way Webinar
Date: January 21st at 10:00AM PT/11:00AM MT/12:00PM CT/1:00PM ET
Instructor: Michele Ellertson

Ready to bring focus and purpose to your Nosework training? In this webinar, Michele will break down how to set clear, achievable goals that actually move your Nosework team forward, the Nosework way.
Common Issues
Fringing: Causes and Solutions Webinar
Instructor: Tony Gravley

Are you struggling with your dog fringing at trial? It is as if they say, "Is this close enough?" Learn what fringing is, the causes and how to address it in training with this webinar.
Live Webinar
Building Endurance in Container Searches Webinar
Date: February 25th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Holly Bushard

Reliable container performances are a cornerstone for success in competition. In this webinar, learn specific drills and exercises designed to enhance container endurance and accuracy.
Live Webinar
Best Practices for Trialing an Older Dog Webinar
Date: January 14th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Holly Bushard

Nosework sports are so good for our older partners! While the scent sports are older-dog friendly, there are many things we can do to help keep our partners in their best shape and frame of mind to work at the optimal performance levels. Learn how in this webinar!
Live Webinar
Trialing with Multiple Dogs and Making it Work Webinar
Date: November 26th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Holly Bushard

As addictive as scent sports are, it’s easy to find yourself trialing behind multiple canine partners! Whether this happens in the same weekend, the same day, or even the same hour, there are several things we can do as handlers to set ourselves up to best support our dogs.
Common Issues
Maintaining and Troubleshooting the Nose Poke Alert Webinar
Instructor: Holly Bushard

Have you taken the Noke Poke Alert Webinar? Perhaps you have been practicing building a nose poke alert with your own dog. Are you looking for more tips on how to maintain this behavior and cope with any issues you may running into? This webinar is for you!
Trial Prep Program
Using Walkthrough and Debrief Videos to Analyze Your Team's Problem Solving Webinar
Instructor: Jill Kovacevich

The videos provided for NACSW trials are powerful training tools! Learn how to more effectively utilize both the walkthrough and debrief videos to analyze the problem solving skills of your team with this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Performance Redefined: Agility to Nosework Webinar
Instructor: Vicky Lovejoy

Agility requires handler focus whereas Nosework demands an entirely different dynamic between dog and handler. In this webinar, learn how to help overcome these challenges and make for a smoother transition from agility to Nosework.
Live Webinar
Mastering the Big Picture: Preparing for Elite & Summit Level Nosework Webinar
Date: December 17th at 10:00AM PT/11:00AM MT/12:00PM CT/1:00PM ET
Instructor: Michele Ellertson

You are embarking on your Elite or Summit journey. Learn how to balance efficiency with thoroughness, develop handling plans that adapt in real time, and build the skills needed to succeed at Elite and Summit level trials.
Trial Prep Program
Let's Make Thresholds Work Webinar
Instructor: Tony Gravley

You've worked hard to develop the dog's desire to seek. But this may mean they are rocketing through their search area, rushing through those thresholds. Learn how to make those thresholds more productive with this webinar.
Live Virtual Event
Decoding AKC Handler Discrimination and Buried Classes Virtual Event
Date: December 12th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET
Instructor: Anita Ambani, Holly Bushard, Judith Guthrie, Natalie McManus, Khara Schuetzner, Aleks Woodroffe

Are you struggling with the handler discrimination or buried classes when you enter AKC Scent Work trials? This virtual event is for you! Our panelists will discuss why these classes are challenging, common pitfalls and tips for success.
Trial Prep Program
Displacement Sniffing and Other Stress Behaviors Webinar
Instructor: Sue Sternberg

Better understand displacement sniffing and other stress behaviors as they relate to Scent Work. Learn how to distinguish the various types of sniffing and how to better support your canine teammate throughout the search with this webinar.
Small Dogs
Nose Work for Small Dogs Webinar
Instructor: Michele Ellertson

Small dogs are faced with additional challenges that large dogs aren’t when it comes to Nose Work. Learn about these challenges, how to tackle them and ways to handle small dogs in Nose Work searches in this webinar.
Common Issues
Is That Pooling or Something Else Webinar
Instructor: Michele Ellertson

Do you have a hard time observing the difference between pooling/trapping odor verses source or inaccessible? In this webinar we will talk about clarifying the purpose of the dog, as well as how to avoid some common handling mistakes that can lead to your dog being confused!
Trial Prep Program
What to Do: Days After the Trial Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Opportunities abound in the days immediately after attending a trial. We discuss what these are and how to identify what will work best for you and your dog in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
What to Do: Days Before a Trial Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

The days leading up to the trial can be immensely powerful if we leverage them well. However, poor decisions in the days prior to a trial can set our team back! Learn some of the possibilities and how to assess what will work best for your team in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Nerves Poisoning the Fun Webinar
Instructor: Silke Wittig

Are you a nervous competitor? Do you find yourself dreading trialing? Is your anxiety starting to chip away at your joy for the sniffing game? This webinar will offer some approaches that are designed just for you!
Trial Prep Program
What the Nose Knows and the Camera Sees Webinar
Instructor: Ana Cilursu

Whether you’re learning about changes of behavior, fine-tuning your observation skills, working on your handling or everything in between, this webinar will show you how to use video to recognize patterns and behaviors, build clearer communication, expand your knowledge and take your Scent Work to the next level.
Trial Prep Program
Judge's View Virtual Event
Instructor: Anita Ambani, Bill Gaskins, Judith Guthrie, Michelle Munson, Caroline Oldham, Aleks Woodroffe

Wouldn't it be nice to know what the Judge sees? What works. What doesn't. Trends they notice over a course of judging several teams over a variety of events. We will discuss this and more in this exciting virtual event!
General Scent Work
Bringing Experience to the Nose Game: Starting Strong in Scent Work Webinar
Instructor: Ana Cilursu

You already have that fascinating combination of instinct, training and trust between you and your dog. Starting Scent Work with prior experience in other dog sport venues can give you a serious edge. Learn how in this webinar!
Trial Prep Program
Nose Poke Alert Webinar
Instructor: Holly Bushard

Explore ways to increase a dog’s excitement about getting to source, staying at source, and communicating about source with this information-packed webinar.
Common Issues
Aggressive Alerts: Causes and Solutions Webinar
Instructor: Tony Gravley

Does your dog love to smash boxes, scratch up vehicles, retrieve hides or practice other types of aggressive alerts? Learn the common causes and practical training solutions in this webinar.
Handler Skills Program
Learn More About The Dog-Driven Search Virtual Event
Instructor: Sue Sternberg and Dana Zinn

You've heard of The Dog-Driven Search book. Take a deeper dive and gain a better understanding of importance of handler orientation, matching pace and speed, tips for tackling a search, covering the search area and much more.
NACSW Program
Instructors: How Best to Prep NACSW Clients Virtual Event
Instructor: Holly Bushard, Kayla Dever, Tony Gravley, Michael McManus, Natalie McManus, Khara Schuetzner

Both instructors and clients will benefit from this exciting roundtable. Our panelists will discuss ways instructors can best help their client prepare to succeed in the various levels of NACSW trials.
AKC Scent Work
Instructors: How Best to Prep AKC Scent Work Clients Virtual Event
Instructor: Anita Ambani, Holly Bushard, Tony Gravley, Judith Guthrie, Natalie McManus, Khara Schuetzner

Both instructors and clients will benefit from this exciting roundtable. Our panelists will discuss ways instructors can best help their client prepare to succeed in the various levels of AKC Scent Work trials.
Trial Prep Program
Failure is a Growth Opportunity Virtual Event
Instructor: Holly Bushard, Tony Gravley, Jill Kovacevich, Michael McManus, Nancy Reyes, Aleks Woodroffe

Failure is a necessary feature of the learning process. Yet, we in the sniffing community seemingly shy away and treat failure as a "bad" or "scary" thing! Our speakers will share how we can more leverage failure to further grow as dog trainers, handlers and dog owners.
General Scent Work
How Would You Train It Virtual Event
Instructor: Holly Bushard, Kayla Dever, Tony Gravley, Michael McManus, Natalie McManus, Nancy Reyes

Our roundtable will be posed with three common issues handlers may encounter when training or trialing in Scent Work. Learn how they would design a training plan, react to subsequent issues and more in this exciting event.
AKC Scent Work
Officiating AKC SW Trials: Novice to Advanced Virtual Event
Instructor: Holly Bushard, Ana Cilursu, Tony Gravley, Judith Guthrie, Laurel Scarioni, Khara Schuetzner

This roundtable will help trial officials and competitors alike. Our speakers will share tips and insights for designing level-appropriate Noice - Advanced seraches, setting "Yes" zones, scoring a run, share tips for success, common pitfalls to avoid and much more.
Trial Prep
Skills Supporting the Sniff Webinar
Instructor: Holly Bushard

Training is all about building skills. Learn about all the various skills which exist outside of searching which allow for our dogs to be successful when they ARE searching!
Trial Prep Program
Strategic Trialing - Choosing Which Venue and When Webinar
Instructor: Holly Bushard

There are several Scent Work competition organizations out there. Learn how to be more strategic in which you choose to compete with, when and how in this webinar.
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