The Scholarly ScentZ, LLC

09/18/2025

Thoughtful Thursday: Mistakes are a teaching tool

I have two very sassy black lab puppies who are pushing boundaries and I'm molding into my next round of detection dogs. They are super fun, make me laugh on a daily basis, and also make me want to pull out my hair. Belle just turned five months and Raven is about 12 weeks. They are at the ages when I am starting to teach resilience. Dogs come with a certain amount of grit or try, but during my training, I try to teach them that failing is a part of life. It helps prepare them for later, which I know I will need.

What does this mean? I don't reinforce mistakes.
Sometimes you fail. Sometimes you don't get your reinforcement.
Why? Because you get more of what you reinforce. I don't want behavior not at criteria.
Do I accidentally reinforce mistakes, yes, because I'm human. But I don't mean too.

I am also balancing the confidence of puppies. It is MY JOB as the trainer to know the environment, training lesson, and amount of behavior that is happening to make sure the dog is learning the lesson I want it to learn and not backsliding on my criteria of behavior. Remember, these are puppies. We are not working on long chains of behavior. I want to make sure each segment of my chain is strong prior to putting them all together.

Creating resiliency in our dogs is crucial. Mistakes is one way we can do that. What do I do when something is not at criteria? I may try it again and ask the question if the behavior is under stimulus control. Because sometimes if you don't get what you want, you try a little harder. Most importantly, I'm teaching my dogs to learn what works and what doesn't.

For my operational level dogs, reinforcing mistakes in their odor work is not an option. There are right and wrong answers. Mistakes mean they do not get reinforcement.

Know the consequences of your behavior as a trainer. Is reinforcing mistakes in your dogs behavior something you want more of in your future? You get what you reinforce.

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Our 2026 Calendar will be coming out soon! Check the website!

09/18/2025

Did you know that the NACSW has a Search Review Request Process?

It is always best practice to review your score cards (or trials results summary for EST trails) before you leave. This allows the score room to correct any errors prior to packing up and submitting the results.

After you leave the trial, if you believe a search result was incorrect or unfair, you can initiate a formal review. See details below on how to submit a request.

Eligibility & Timing
Only handlers who competed in the search may request a review.
Requests must be submitted within 21 days of the trial date.
The NACSW will ONLY provide a review in situations where it will affect a qualifying score, a title, Elite Division points, or move a team into the top 3 placements.

The NACSW will offer review of scoring in the case of the score card not matching the score shown in the official results.

How to Submit
Send the request to NACSW via https://nacsw.net/trial-score-card-inaccuracy-request-review
Be respectful and factual—this is a formal process, not a complaint forum
What to Include in a Search Review Request:
- The trial date, level and location
- Handlers Name & Membership #
- Dog’s name, K9 # and breed
- The specific search or element in question
- A scan or photograph of the score card in question. Not necessary for Element Specialty Trials.
- What occurred during the search
- Why the result is being challenged
- Any supporting evidence, such as video. Please put the link to the video in the Description of Discrepancy field.

Review Process
NACSW’s Trial Review Committee will evaluate all requests.
A decision is typically communicated within 30 days.

Outcome
If the review finds an error, NACSW may adjust the score or title status.
If the result stands, the handler receives a detailed explanation.

09/16/2025

“Quality is more important than quantity”…. yet, how do you ensure you are employing quality when training your dog?

Sometimes handlers fall into a cycle of working their dog in a manner that is comfortable to them, with familiar patterns and predictability. This can result in inadvertently accepting complacency— in their handling, their dogs development or their overall partnership.
It may happen for several reasons and almost always includes a lack of intention in training.

Training with intent is being engaged in the moment with purpose. It requires eagerness, effort and a mindset shift from passive to active.
Specifically, it means having a purpose that includes and identifies the ‘why’ of each training session; establishing what you are trying to accomplish and how your dog will benefit.
Consider goals that are specific, measurable, actionable and realistic.

An example of passive training or that without intention, imagine you have a dog that is nursery-open level, sheep are dog broke and you are ‘training’ before a trial.
You causally send your dog on an outrun, the sheep come to you in a straight line, then you start to drive in the general direction as usual, do a cross drive, bring the sheep back to you, try a shed and put the sheep in a different field.
You and your dog might have great success, however, because it was mostly straight line work with sheep that are dog broke and patterned, your dog did little to no off balance flanking, no unexpected stopping, no precision work or challenge above what you did the day before.
You may have even given commands your dog didn’t take because the sheep were doing what they usually do and you assumed based on their behavior, your dog was correct.
—In this example, in addition to the specifics you weren’t able to evaluate, you also don’t have a very good idea of how you and dog are working together as partners because you did only what you usually do and are comfortable with (not often what we have at the trials).

Imagine instead, you go out with intention, specifically to train for precision and off balance flanks and
set up a measurable, quantifiable exercise with markers that require those aspects of work in order to be successful at the exercise. Because it’s quantifiable you can film yourself to see where and how you and your dog are improving. In this example you have a very good idea of how your dog is flanking, how well he’s stopping, pacing, the level of precision, how you are working as a team and what needs improvement. Additionally, varying your work sessions is mentally stimulating.
While this example is for trial prep, the same applies to training a young dog to ensure the fundamentals, complex training for dogs further forward, dogs with quite a bit of eye, etc.
Having purpose and intention for your training will motivate you, empower your dogs development and most important, elevate your partnership.

09/16/2025

REMINDER: Join us on September 16th at 1:00PM PT/2:00PM MT/3:00PM CT/4:00PM ET for our livestream, Let's Chat: AKC Scent Work with Dr. John Strassner.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from an Expert AKC Scent Work, hear about his experiences as a Judge, what he sees at trials and more. Come and bring your questions about AKC Scent Work, it is certain to be an excellent time!

LENGTH: 1 hour

HOW TO WATCH
Looking to join the conversation? You can!

This livestream will be offered on the Scent Work University and YouTube Channel:

FACEBOOK PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/events/1040024118278091/

YOUTUBE CHANNEL
https://www.youtube.com/live/q7XjZyjJkSo?feature=shared

Happy Training!

09/16/2025

Natalie always puts on an incredible seminar. The venues are large so each person will have a lot of hunt time. Looking forward to seeing everyone this season.

http://www.fourpawsk9detection.com/
614-378-0023.

With all the exciting things happening for FordK9 with the merger and training high level explosive dogs we feel lucky to have her this year.

09/16/2025

Save the Date! Nancy Reyes is coming to visit us and it's going to be FUN! Sign up will be posted on our website on September 23 at 8pm EST.

09/15/2025

It's another weekend line up and it was a special one! We had teams from veterans to newbies stepping to the line this weekend.

We have our first TSS team to earn their SWME! A huge congrats to TSS student team Ross and Ginger (not pictured) who not only landed their SWME but also earned Q's 6 and 7 in Detective! It's been such a wonderful journey seeing their growth from Novice to now!

Big congrats to TSS student team Catherine and Gia on their AKC Scent Work debut! They sniffed their way to earn their SCN, SIN, and SEN titles! She is well on her way to an amazing career in the sport!

Big congrats to TSS student team Cindy and Rizzoli who on their second AKC Scent Work trial earned their SCN, SEN, and SBN titles! I can't wait to see this amazing spitfire of a dog tackle interiors!

Big congrats part 2 to TSS student team Catherine and Q who earned their first master elite title their SCME! This was Catherine's first time handling 2 dogs which is not an easy thing to do at all in AKC Scent Work!

Last but not least honorable mention to my OG partner Zuri, who braved some really unseasonably hot temperatures and stepped to the line for our first NACSW Elite trial. It was a tough day for us in many ways, but what a gift to experience it at least once. Zuri will soon be retiring her NACSW competition uniform to focus on AKC Scent Work elite titles and retiring from competition dog sports.

09/13/2025

Dr. John Strassner was one of my first mentors in the sport. I have learned a lot from him which has inspired my journey within NACSW and AKC. I loved partnering with him and just being the sponge. I was humbled and honored when he shared (to my surprise) our journey. Take a listen, it's a good one!

NEW PODCAST EPISODE - Spotlight: Epitome of Enthusiasm - Dr. John Strassner

In this Spotlight Series episode, we have the opportunity to speak with Dr. John Strassner, an Expert AKC Scent Work Judge and former AKC Field Representative. We delve into John's admirable enthusiasm for the sport of Scent Work, his desire to give back, grow and continually learn all while having a fantastic time with his own personal dogs.

John's love for Scent Work is contagious and we are thankful for all that he has done, and continues to do, for the sniffing community and promoting the sniffing game overall.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE HERE:
https://www.scentworku.com/ep-135-john-strassner-akc-scent-work

Do you know of someone who is giving back to the sniffing community? Would you like them to be featured on our Spotlight Series? Let me know at [email protected], I want to talk to them!

LET'S CHAT: AKC SCENT WORK WITH DR. JOHN STRASSNER

Be certain to join us on September 16th at 1:00PM PT/2:00PM MT/3:00PM CT/4:00PM ET for a FREE livestream discussion with Dr. John Strassner that will be featured on the Scent Work University page and YouTube channel. Ask John questions about AKC Scent Work, his experience as an Expert Judge, what he sees at AKC Scent Work trials and more.

Watch livestream on the SWU page
https://www.facebook.com/events/1040024118278091/

Watch livestream on the SWU YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/live/q7XjZyjJkSo?feature=shared

Happy Training!

09/13/2025

REMINDER: Join us on September 19th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET for the live Instructors: How Best to Prep AKC Scent Work Clients Virtual Event.

REGISTER FOR THE LIVE VIRTUAL EVENT OR ORDER THE REPLAY HERE: https://www.scentworku.com/instructors-prep-akc-clients

SPEAKERS: Anita Ambani, Holly Bushard, Tony Gravley, Judith Guthrie, Natalie McManus, Khara Schuetzner

LENGTH: 3 HOURS

EVENT DETAILS: 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.

Our panelists will discuss what skills are typically missing for teams who are competing, how to build these missing skills, ways to ensure clients successfully progress up the levels, common issues and possible solutions, common pitfalls to avoid and much more.

EVENT ORGANIZATION: This virtual event will be organized into three separate sections with two lead speakers assigned to each. The entire panel will contribute throughout the event.

SECTION 1 - Identifying Missing Skillsets
Lead Speakers: Tony Gravley and Judith Guthrie
- What skillsets are the dogs typically missing at trial?
- What should instructors focus on to better prepare the dogs?
- What skillsets are handlers typically missing at trial
- What should instructors focus on to better prepare handlers?
- What is unique about AKC Scent Work trials instructors must prepare their clients for?

SECTION 2 - Common Issue and Pitfalls
Lead Speakers: Anita Ambani and Holly Bushard
- As a trial official, what are some common issues and pitfalls you are noticing?
- What trends are backfiring on teams at trial and in what context?
- How can instructors avoid these issues, pitfalls and problematic trends in their training programs?
- In preparing teams for AKC Scent Work, what are some struggles you have experienced as an instructor?
-What are some solutions or tips for success you have for fellow instructors?

SECTION 3 - Ensuring Proper Progression
Lead Speakers: Natalie McManus and Khara Schuetzner
-How can instructors better ensure their clients are properly progressing?
-Are there certain skills that must be solid before working on others?
-How can instructors better diagnose what an issue may be? Is it a dog issue, handler issue, environmental issue or something else?
-What metrics are used to determine if a team is indeed "ready"?
-What can instructors do to counteract a client's desire to rush ahead?

LIVE VIRTUAL EVENT - Join us on September 19th at 4:30PM PT/5:30PM MT/6:30PM CT/7:30PM ET for this live event where you may ask our panel of speakers questions in real-time and receive free, continual access of the event replay.
COST: $70.00

VIRTUAL EVENT REPLAY - Cannot make the live event? No worries! Order the event replay and go through the presentation at your own pace. There are no deadlines, cut-off dates or expiration dates to worry about. We fully edit all of our virtual symposiums, so the replay will be posted to the Scent Work University site by the end of the day on September 20th.
COST: $65.00

We look forward to seeing you there!

Happy Training!