That Nose Really Works!
Have you ever looked at your dog’s nose? It’s fascinating. Ever wonder what that nose is doing when it’s twitching? It’s sampling air at roughly 5 sniffs per second and analyzing air samples without breathing them out. A dog’s nose can tell which direction a specific odor is coming from, and can sift through hundreds of competing odors to single out that one particular scent. Is it any wonder they can sniff out everything from narcotics to cancer cells, truffles to invasive insects, and everything in between?
Sniff this….
So how does this Nosework thing work? Since dogs can be taught to use their nose to find anything, we teach them to find specific odors, tiny amounts of various essential oils on cotton swabs. Nosework (also known as Scentwork) is a fun game that provides enrichment and mental exercise, and builds confidence. It is also one of the fastest growing competitive canine sports. Whether your dog is a Rottweiler, or a “Nottweiler”, any dog can do this, regardless of age or size. We are tapping into our dog’s incredible inherent skills and learning an activity that we can do together, building that incredible nose-heart relationship with our dogs. You can play just for fun, or get involved in competition. Either way, you will be amazed at your dog’s skill and learn how to set your dog up for success!
Our Team
Zoey - My Inspiration
Chupi - In Memoriam
Chupi was the Ultimate Nottweiler. He joined our family as a senior rescue, and learned Nosework at the age of 16. He was an amazing sniffer dog!! He was so happy when he was searching, and did a happy dance with his feet every time he found a hide. He never competed, he played the game for the sheer thrill of the hunt.
He was Axel’s sidekick…he loved to go training and ran every search with gusto. He traveled with us to trials and loved being a part of the action. He was searching until several weeks before his passing at the age of 19.
What about me?
Vi started Nosework training in 2022 at 9 weeks of age. She took to it immediately, demonstrating a strong work ethic, odor obedience and commitment to finding those hides in order to get that reinforcement party!
By the time she was 8 months old, she had passed her NACSW Odor Recognition Test (Birch, Anise and Clove). Over the past year we have achieved our NACSW NW3 title with Overall Pronounced designation, NW3 Interior, Exterior, Vehicle & Container titles, NW2, NW1 and several Level 1 and Level 2 Element titles, as well as AKC Scent Work Novice and Novice Elite and Advanced titles. We are currently competing in NACSW NW3 and AKC Advanced Elite and Excellent levels.
Teaching Nosework is my passion. I have been studying both dog and handler aspects of Nosework since 2015. The more you learn, the more you want to learn, and practice makes better practice.
I coach students online, providing guidance and video feedback and teach weekly Nosework classes ranging from Beginner through Advanced levels for both competition and just for fun. Interacting with learners through Nosework seminars, workshops, private online and in-person coaching builds success, brings out the best in each team and prepares them for new challenges.
In 2020 I became an AKC Scent Work judge and am certified to judge all levels and elements in both the Odor Division and the Handler Discrimination Division.
Dogs have been an intricate part of my life since 1996. I have been a volunteer for the Humane Society of Atlantic County (HSAC) for many years. My role as Training Director included teaching classes for the community, providing enrichment for shelter dogs and supporting families with their newly adopted dogs. I have been on the HSAC Board of Directors since 2004 and am currently the President of the Board.
I am a former member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. In addition to Nosework, I have also titled several dogs in Obedience, Rally, Barn Hunt, Agility, Parkour and Tricks.
Every once in a while a dog comes along and changes your life forever. Zoey was that dog. We learned about Nosework together in 2015 while she was recovering from TPLO surgery, and we never looked back. What started as a game became a sport, then a passion and now a calling.
She was the inspiration that opened up a whole new world for me. We shared the learning curve that led us to Novice & Advanced titles in Performance Scent Dogs and AKC, and an NW3 title and various Element titles in NACSW. I miss her every day.
Axel was two years old when he began his Nosework career in 2018. A fun-loving, sensitive, happy boy with a killer smile, he quickly developed a love for the game and the ball that followed each finished search. Together we have achieved our NACSW Elite 1 title, NW3 Elite and NW3 Element titles, NW2, NW1, ORT and various Level 1 and Level 2 element titles, as well as AKC Scent Work Master title and Performance Scent Dogs Novice title. He is also a very popular Demo Dog among AKC Scent Work judges in our area, and my best Demo Dog when I am judging AKC Master and Detective trials.
