In this episode, we have the distinct privilege of speaking with Melissa McCue-McGrath about how she has used Scent Work training within her behavior modification programs, her participation in the Invasive Species Detection Study 2024 for the Spotted Lantern Fly and her upcoming book, Misadventures of the World's Okayest Dog Trainer.

This discussion highlights the power of Scent Work, how it can not only build a dog's confidence, but deepen the relationship between dog and handler and that as an activity it encompasses so much more than competition or trialing.

Speakers:

Melissa McCue-McGrath

Dianna L. Santos

Click here to read the 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. 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 home and when out and about? Check out the Pet Dog U program, where we offer a variety of online dog training services and resources you and your dog will love.

#allaboutscentworkpodcast #spottenlanterfly #detectionwork #invasivespecies #dogsareamazing #scentwork #nosework #trainscentwork #trainnosework #dogbehavior #dogbodybehavior #dogcommunication #scentworktrials #noseworktrials #scentworkpodcast #noseworkpodcast #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

Pressure exists in all our searches, both when we are training and trialing. The question is, what do we do with this pressure? How do we react to it? Should we avoid a pressure point or lean into it? The answer is not quite as clear as you may think. The approach one team takes may be completely inappropriate for another. Also, what a team does will likely change from search-to-search.

The choices made are entirely dependent on your individual dog, yourself, your team and the situation at hand. In this episode, we discuss the challenge of giving blanket advice, how nuance matters and ways we can better assess what the pressure points are for our individual dogs, ourselves and our teams while determining which approach will work best.

We are thrilled to be launching a new community which will focus solely on Scent Work. Tired of being bombarded by a million other things on social media? Come join fellow Scent Work aficionados, team up with a "sniffing accountability-buddy", get inspiration for your searches, enjoy more learning opportunities, celebrate your wins and more! Join the community here.

Additionally, we will be launching a membership program in April which will add in another layer of learning and perks that we are super excited about. Stay tuned!

Are you looking for an intensive learning experience? Check out the new format for our Student enrollments which will promote even more interaction and learning between fellow Students and your instructor!

Enrolling as a Student means you will enjoy the following:

• Immediate and continual access to the pre-recorded course content (lecture, video examples, handouts).
• Free access to the Scent Work U community and the private course-specific Student Group.
• Ability to post weekly homework and videos for the instructor to review and provide feedback on.
• Weekly live Zoom classes where you and your fellow Students can meet with the instructor, discuss how your training is going, ways to customize or modify the exercises, have your questions answered and more. Cannot make a live Zoom class? No worries! These will be recorded and posted to the course player and community to view at any time.

Our next Student Session starts on April 6th and spots are limited, so enroll today!

Cannot fit the requirements of a Student enrollment into your schedule right now? No worries! Check out our self-taught options to have the ability to go through the course material when it works best for you and you may order a video review or Zoom consultation at any time.

Click here to read the 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. 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 home and when out and about? Check out the Pet Dog U program, where we offer a variety of online dog training services and resources you and your dog will love.

#allaboutscentworkpodcast #pressureinscentwork #pressureinnosework #dogbehavior #scentwork #nosework #trainscentwork #trainnosework #dogbehavior #dogbodybehavior #dogcommunication #scentworktrials #noseworktrials #scentworkpodcast #noseworkpodcast #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Adam Skandarani about their new monthly membership program, Smelly Dog Club. Leveraging their behavioral background, Adam has designed this coaching program to help those teams who are experiencing nagging issues in their searches, whether when training or at trial.

Adam discusses how the root causes may not be as simple as they seem. Is your dog truly goofing off and being distracted in the search or is something else going on? Do you need to lean into training more distractors and proofing exercises, or could there be another culprit at work? Applicable for all dogs, whether they have behavioral challenges or not, this discussion will highlight the importance of looking clearly at what is happening to design an appropriate solution.

Speakers:

• Adam Skandarani
• Dianna L. Santos

• Let's Chat: Smelly Dog Club Livestream
• Terrific Teamwork: Searches Built on Trust Webinar
• Intro to Control Unleashed Webinar
• Control Unleashed and Scent Work: Crazy Calm Start Lines Webinar
• Work with Adam directly: Flash of Brillance Behavior Consulting

Click here to read the 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. 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 home and when out and about? Check out the Pet Dog U program, where we offer a variety of online dog training services and resources you and your dog will love.

#allaboutscentworkpodcast #smellydogclub #crittering #dogrolling #distractedsniffing #distractredsearching #caninebehavior #dogbehavior #scentwork #nosework #trainscentwork #trainnosework #dogbehavior #dogbodybehavior #dogcommunication #scentworktrials #noseworktrials #scentworkpodcast #noseworkpodcast #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

In Scent Work, there are two players at work: the dog and the handler. Who is taking a leading role and who is supporting? Who is making the decisions, when, why and how? What are these players communicating and are they listening to one another?

The roles within the search exist on a shared spectrum of extremes. On one polar extreme, the dog is doing everything and on the other, the handler is directing the entire time. All of us have our preferences for how we want our searches to look and feel or where we will fall on this spectrum. This is where finding the balance comes into play.

Reaching the ideal equilibrium for our specific team is a continual endeavor that will never end. Furthermore, our approach should be fluid and malleable, changing and adjusting depending on the given circumstances.

Our dog tackling a search they can competently and confidently knock out of the park may have a starkly different approach or game plan to when they are tasked with something brand new or if they demonstrate they are unsure, worried or even concerned.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of not only finding the balance but embracing the journey to discover it. This path will almost certainly have a fair amount of bumps, switchbacks and unexpected turns, but can be exciting and thrilling if we allow it.

Speaker: Dianna L. Santos

• Single Hides v. Multi-Hides Livestream with Michael McManus
• Vehicle Search Mechanics: The Handler's Role Webinar with Michele Ellertson
• Know Your Role: The Handler’s Role in Training Webinar with Tony Gravley
• Know Your Role: The Handler’s Role in Trialing Webinar with Tony Gravley
• The Handler's Role: Managing Behavioral Challenges Webinar with Nancy Reyes

Click here to read the 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. 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 home and when out and about? Check out the Pet Dog U program, where we offer a variety of online dog training services and resources you and your dog will love.

#allaboutscentworkpodcast #findingthebalance #handlersrole #dogsrole #partnershipinscentwork #partnershipinnosework #scentwork #nosework #trainscentwork #trainnosework #dogbehavior #dogbodybehavior #dogcommunication #scentworktrials #noseworktrials #scentworkpodcast #noseworkpodcast #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

The one skill that torments many Scent Work teams is the handler's ability to correctly read their dog. There is so much on the line! Getting a "No" when training is bad enough but hearing the dreaded “No” at a trial, that is so much worse! It can feel as though the floor is collapsing out from under you.

Thus, it makes sense that people clamor for a definitive neon sign from their dog, “HIDE IS HERE, CALL IT!” However, this approach is limiting. We are missing a far more intricate picture our dogs are trying to paint for us when we are only obsessed about the hide location.

In this episode, we talk about why taking the time to truly learn what our dogs are communicating throughout the entirety of the search, as well as in day-to-day life, is not only worthwhile but fun to do!

Speaker

Dianna L. Santos

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Who’s Watching Who? Understand the Dog’s Changes of Behaviors (COBs) Webinar with Khara Schuetzner

Language of Nose Work: Reading Your Dog Webinar with Michael and Natalie McManus

Displacement Sniffing and Other Stress Behaviors Webinar with Sue Sternberg

P for Pronounced or Pee? Webinar with Sue Sternberg

Canine Body Behavior and Scent Work for Handlers Webinar

TRANSCRIPT

Click here to read the 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. 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 home and when out and about? Check out the Pet Dog U program, where we offer a variety of online dog training services and resources you and your dog will love.

#allaboutscentworkpodcast #readingyourdog #trulyseeingthedog #speakdog #scentwork #nosework #trainscentwork #trainnosework #dogbehavior #dogbodybehavior #dogcommunication #scentworktrials #noseworktrials #scentworkpodcast #noseworkpodcast #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

Particularly for those teams interested in competing in Scent Work trials, ensuring they and their dogs are ready is an important part of the process. Can they perform in a novel environment and under pressure? This is where mock trials and Sniff N' Go events come into play. Essential information gathering tools, participating in these events should be part of the process before a team steps to the line on trial day.

Join us for this discussion with Lori Timberlake of Do Over Dog Training to learn more about the mock trials and Sniff N’ Gos, why they can be so incredibly helpful, what to look for, how to best use them and why instructors and clubs should work to add more of them to the calendar.

Speakers

Lori Timberlake and Dianna L. Santos

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

How to Run CSW Test Prep Classes & Mock ORT/Trials Webinar

NACSW Trial Experience Webinar Series: Part 1 (ORT - NW3)

NACSW Trial Experience Webinar Series: Part 2 (Element Specialty Trials)

NACSW Trial Experience Webinar Series: Part 3 (Elite, Elite Premier and Summit)

C-WAGS Rally, Obedience & Games Class Set-Up & Instructor Tips Webinar

Getting Started with C-WAGS Scent Detection Webinar

Let's Chat: Training and Learning About Elsa Livestream

TRANSCRIPT

Click here to read the 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. 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 home and when out and about? Check out the Pet Dog U program, where we offer a variety of online dog training services and resources you and your dog will love.

#allaboutscentworkpodcast #mocktrials #sniffngos #loritimberlake #scentworkinstructor #noseworkinstructor #instructortraining #scentwork #nosework #scentworkpodcast #noseworkpodcast #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #trainscentwork #trainnosework #scentworkofficial #noseworkofficial #scentworktrialhost #noseworktrialhost #scentworkcompetitionorganization #noseworkcompetitionorganization #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with the co-founders of K9 Nose Work® and NACSW™, Amy Herot and Jill Marie O'Brien regarding the Instructor Certification Program.

In this episode, Amy and Jill discuss why the Instructor Certification Program was created, what prospective instructors can expected from the program, the benefits afforded dogs, handlers and instructors alike and their plans for the future.

Speakers:

Amy Herot, Jill Marie O'Brien and Dianna L. Santos

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Learn more about the Instructor Certification Program here.

See the FAQs about the Instructor Certification Program.

Register for the February 2026 Session here.

See the K9 Nose Work Newsletter here and subscribe here.

TRANSCRIPT

Click here to read the 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. 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 home and when out and about? Check out the Pet Dog U program, where we offer a variety of online dog training services and resources you and your dog will love.

#allaboutscentworkpodcast #instructorcertificationprogram #k9nosework #nacsw #amyherot #jillmarieobriend #scentworkinstructor #noseworkinstructor #instructortraining #scentwork #nosework #scentworkpodcast #noseworkpodcast #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #trainscentwork #trainnosework #scentworkofficial #noseworkofficial #scentworktrialhost #noseworktrialhost #scentworkcompetitionorganization #noseworkcompetitionorganization #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

This episode features an exciting conversation with Anita Ambani of The Scholarly Scentz, LLC regarding her "Project Poodle", an ongoing endeavor designed to help her young dog Figment become more confident especially when it concern being around people. Throughout this discussion, Anita highlights how she leverages Figment's love for Nosework, to further build his comfort working inside novel interior spaces with people around.

We are so thankful to Anita for sharing her experiences, her emphasis on appreciating the dogs for who they are and the need to be creative to best support them. Our primary goal should always be for our dogs to be as confident as possible without pushing the envelope too far. Striking this delicate balance can be a challenge, but can improve our dog's daily lives and overall performance in training and at trial.

Speakers: Dianna L. Santos and Anita Ambani

WORK WITH ANITA

To learn more about Anita, check out her website The Scholarly Scentz, LLC or her Facebook page here.

We have been incredibly fortunate to host Anita for several webinars and virtual events. Click here to see the full listing of Anita's offerings through Scent Work University.

RESOURCES FOR SENSITIVE DOGS

• Be Brave: Using Scent Work to Build Confidence Webinar
• Canine Body Behavior and Scent Work for Handlers Webinar
• Click to Calm: Turning Fear and Frustration Into Focus Through Positive Reinforcement Webinar
• Confidence Building Course
• Displacement Sniffing and Other Stress Behaviors Webinar
• Games for Low-Drive Dogs Webinar
• Scent Work for Sensitive Dogs Webinar
• Stranger Danger Webinar
• Trial Prep for Sensitive Dogs Webinar
• What Do You Need Pup Webinar

TRANSCRIPT

Click here to read the 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. 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 home and when out and about? Check out the Pet Dog U program, where we offer a variety of online dog training services and resources you and your dog will love.

#allaboutscentworkpodcast #projectpoodle #sensitivedogs #peoplearescary #buildingdogsconfidence #fieldtripsearches #novellocations #incrementaltraining #dogtraining #scentwork #nosework #scentworkpodcast #noseworkpodcast #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #trainscentwork #trainnosework #scentworkofficial #noseworkofficial #scentworktrialhost #noseworktrialhost #scentworkcompetitionorganization #noseworkcompetitionorganization #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity