Discover What Your Dog’s Nose Can Do
K9 Nose Work® is a fun, dog-directed activity that taps into one of your dog’s greatest natural talents: sniffing.
Inspired by detection-dog training, Nose Work gives dogs opportunities to search, problem-solve, and follow scent while we humans learn to observe, listen, and let our dogs take the lead.
Whether you’re looking for enrichment, a confidence-building activity, a new way to connect with your dog, or simply something the two of you can enjoy together, Nose Work offers a wonderfully different kind of adventure.
And your dog already has the most important skill needed to begin: a nose.
Why K9 Nose Work®?
K9 Nose Work® gives dogs the opportunity to use one of their most remarkable natural abilities — their sense of smell.
- Mental enrichment — Searching, sniffing, and problem-solving give the canine brain a satisfying workout.
- Confidence building — Dogs make choices, solve problems, and experience success on their own terms.
- An outlet for natural behavior — In Nose Work, sniffing isn’t something we interrupt. It’s the whole point.
- Accessible to many dogs — Young dogs, seniors, energetic dogs, thoughtful dogs, and dogs who prefer more space from other dogs can all enjoy the activity.
- Fun for humans, too — You’ll learn to observe your dog more closely, notice subtle body language, and discover just how much they can teach you.
Watching that moment when a dog realizes, “I know how to do this!” never gets old.
K9 Nose Work® Classes
Every Nose Work journey begins with learning how to search — and learning how to let your dog do the searching.
Start With Intro to K9 Nose Work®
The Intro class is the first step in a four-class introductory series designed to build skills gradually for both dogs and their humans.
Dogs begin by discovering that searching is rewarding and fun. You’ll begin learning how to set up searches, observe your dog’s behavior, and support the search without taking over.
Classes are intentionally small, and dogs work one at a time so each team receives individual search time and guidance.
Waitlist now forming for the next Intro to K9 Nose Work® class.
No previous Nose Work experience is needed. Once we have enough interested teams, I’ll reach out with scheduling options.
The Four-Class Intro Series
Each class builds on the last, gradually adding new search skills and environments.
Intro to K9 Nose Work®
Dogs begin by searching for a favorite food or toy, building drive and enthusiasm for the hunt while handlers learn to observe their dogs and support the search.
Intro to Odor
Target odor is introduced while dogs continue developing independent searching skills and handlers strengthen their observational skills.
Intro to Exteriors
Searches move outdoors, adding wind, weather, surfaces, environmental odors, and other real-world challenges.
Intro to Vehicles
Dogs learn to search around vehicles, adding another search environment while continuing to build teamwork and problem-solving skills.
What to Expect in a K9 Nose Work® Class
Dogs work one at a time, giving each team space to search, learn, and build skills at their own pace.
A typical class includes:
- A brief check-in and introduction to the day’s searches
- Several search opportunities for each dog throughout the class
- Time for you to observe your dog, practice handling skills, and ask questions
- Opportunities to watch other teams work and learn more about how dogs communicate
- Discussion about what you observed and how to practice between classes
While another dog is searching, your dog rests away from the search area — usually in a crate, another appropriate confinement setup, or safely in your vehicle when weather permits.
One of the things that makes Nose Work different from many group classes is that dogs do not all work together at the same time. This allows each dog to focus on the search and gives many dogs who prefer more space from other dogs an opportunity to participate.
K9 Nose Work® FAQs
A few things to know before joining a K9 Nose Work® class.
Do we need previous training experience?
Not at all! Your dog does not need previous Nose Work classes or any obedience training to begin Intro to K9 Nose Work®.
Where is my dog while other dogs are searching?
Dogs work one at a time. Between searches, your dog will need to rest comfortably away from the search area, usually in a crate, another appropriate confinement setup, or safely in your vehicle when weather permits or you have a vehicle with Dog Mode capability.
Can my dog participate if they’re uncomfortable around other dogs?
Often, yes. Because dogs search individually and do not work together as a group, Nose Work can be a great activity for dogs who prefer more space from other dogs.
What if my dog is shy around unfamiliar people?
Mild shyness or caution is often manageable because the search environment can be arranged to limit interactions with unfamiliar people. We can talk beforehand about whether a group class is an appropriate fit for your dog.
Do we have to compete?
Not at all. You and your dog can enjoy Nose Work purely for fun, enrichment, confidence building, and spending time together.
Will my dog become a detection dog after completing these classes?
Not in the professional working-dog sense. Your dog will learn many of the same foundational scent-detection skills — searching independently, following odor, locating its source, and working through increasingly complex search problems — but completing K9 Nose Work® classes does not make a dog an operational detection dog.
How do we join the next class?
Join the waitlist for the next Intro to K9 Nose Work® class. Once enough interested teams are on the list, I’ll reach out with scheduling options.
Why I Teach K9 Nose Work®
And why I think you and your dog might fall in love with it, too!
K9 Nose Work® gives your dog room to think for themselves — to make choices, solve problems, work independently, and experience the satisfaction of figuring something out without us telling them exactly what to do and how to do it.
And you get a front-row seat.
You begin noticing the tiny changes in your dog’s body language as they catch scent, work through a search, and decide where to go next. You may see confidence grow, independence develop, and abilities you didn’t even know your dog had.
I first fell in love with Nose Work with Poncho, and later continued the adventure with Ringo. My husband Nolan got hooked too, and before long it became something of a family affair. I loved the sport so much that I became a Certified Nose Work Instructor so I could help other dog-and-human teams discover it for themselves.
At its heart, Nose Work gives dogs something wonderfully simple: the opportunity to be dogs — sniffing, exploring, thinking, choosing, and using that extraordinary nose in a safe, thoughtfully designed environment.
Am I a little biased? Absolutely. I think it may be the BEST. DOG. SPORT. EVER. Come try it with your dog and see if you catch the Nose Work bug, too.
Ready to See What Your Dog’s Nose Can Do?
Intro to K9 Nose Work® classes are offered throughout the year, with additional class times added as interest and schedules align.
Join the waitlist to hear about upcoming classes and new scheduling options. It’s also the best way to let me know you’re interested so I can create class times that work for interested teams.
No previous Nose Work experience is needed. Bring your dog, your curiosity, and a willingness to let that remarkable nose lead the way.