Connecting with Dogs

Connecting with Dogs Specializing in K9 Nose Work® • Private Lessons, Group Classes & Workshops

Services available throughout Southeast Wisconsin Don't mess with karma :)

Connecting with Dogs is the culmination of over 10 years of personal experience, professional training, hundreds of teaching hours, unwavering support from my ever-patient husband, and a lot of influence from a few amazing people along the way. My mission is to be humane, my style is reward-based and my greatest teachers are the dogs I work with every day. My techniques combine compassion and the

latest science. Mindful people who want to develop an honest connection with their dogs, participate in my practical, hands-on workshops, private training sessions, telephone consultations and educational talks in Southeast Wisconsin. You may share any original images I post on my page so as long as you do not alter them in any fashion.

🧡🐾👃 Youngster, Mercy, had her first sniffy lesson this week! At just 18 weeks of age, she proved that all dogs … young o...
01/30/2025

🧡🐾👃 Youngster, Mercy, had her first sniffy lesson this week! At just 18 weeks of age, she proved that all dogs … young or old… love to use their noses! Can you guess what breed of pup Mercy is?

🤔 Let's Talk About "Always" and "Never" in Nosework! We've all heard those absolute statements in training and competiti...
01/28/2025

🤔 Let's Talk About "Always" and "Never" in Nosework!

We've all heard those absolute statements in training and competition...

"You should ALWAYS reward at source."

"NEVER let your dog self-reward."

"You should ALWAYS work into the wind."

"NEVER run a blind hide without a second set of eyes."

These absolutes shape our training decisions and sometimes create unnecessary pressure, and over the past 14 years of being in the world of nosework, I’ve heard a lot of absolutes that leave me scratching my head. Let's explore this together!

Share your experiences:
• What "always" or "never" rules have you heard in nose work?
• Which ones have you found helpful?
• Which ones have you successfully broken?
• How have these absolutes affected your training path?
• What exceptions have you discovered to these "rules"?
• What would your dog say about “always” and “never”?

Remember, every dog is unique, and what works for one team might not work for another. Let's learn from each other's experiences.

👃 Last night’s sniffy dog auditions 🎤
01/24/2025

👃 Last night’s sniffy dog auditions 🎤

1️⃣2️⃣🎤✅ !
01/22/2025

1️⃣2️⃣🎤✅ !

📢 ALERT - Registration is open for the March 16th Sniff-n-Go 📢👉 Location: Mequon Nature Preserve, Mequon, WI👉 Levels: NW...
01/20/2025

📢 ALERT - Registration is open for the March 16th Sniff-n-Go 📢

👉 Location: Mequon Nature Preserve, Mequon, WI
👉 Levels: NW1, NW2, NW3 and Elite Levels offered
👉 Cost: $50/dog - 45 spots available

Register online here:

Let's get our Sniff-n-Go fun on! NW1 through Elite level participants are welcome!

01/14/2025

🔔 I have some rare private lesson openings this Friday (January 17th) and next Saturday (January 25th)! Check out the available lesson times and book an appointment at:

🍀 👃🐾 SAVE THE DATE - Sunday, March 16, 2025 🐾👃🍀I'll be offering the first Sniff-n-Go of 2025 at Mequon Nature Preserve i...
01/13/2025

🍀 👃🐾 SAVE THE DATE - Sunday, March 16, 2025 🐾👃🍀
I'll be offering the first Sniff-n-Go of 2025 at Mequon Nature Preserve in Mequon, WI. NW1, NW2, NW3, and Elite levels will be offered. Registration opens Monday, January 20th—Mark your calendars!

More details are available at:
https://www.connectingwithdogs.com/march-2025-sniff-n-go

Hehehehehehhe 😝😂😆
01/13/2025

Hehehehehehhe 😝😂😆

🤣

🥰 🐾❤️ Baby sniffy lessons are so much fun! And a very real reminder to live in the moment and to enjoy every second you ...
01/13/2025

🥰 🐾❤️ Baby sniffy lessons are so much fun! And a very real reminder to live in the moment and to enjoy every second you get to watch your dog sniff. ❤️🐾🥰

Join me for a Nose Work Video Review class!👉Date: Wednesday, January 29th👉Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM👉Platform: Zoom👉Cost: $...
01/11/2025

Join me for a Nose Work Video Review class!

👉Date: Wednesday, January 29th
👉Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
👉Platform: Zoom
👉Cost: $50 per person, 10 spots available

Take a closer look into nose work training through collaborative video analysis! During this 2-hour session, I will offer feedback, coaching, and lead an interactive discussion using submitted training and trial videos. This unique format will allow you to gain insights from both your own searches and those of other teams.

Each participant may submit one video for potential review prior to class. Videos will be pre-screened by me to ensure a diverse and educational selection of searches that highlight key learning opportunities for all skill levels.

Limited to 10 participants to ensure personalized attention and maximize learning opportunities for everyone. All participants will receive a recording of the class for future reference.

Register online here: https://tinyurl.com/bdfvfwz8

👃 Hidey Hole! 🕳️
01/10/2025

👃 Hidey Hole! 🕳️


🕳️ Hole hide! 😂
01/08/2025

🕳️ Hole hide! 😂

🎉👃🐾 Congratulations to Team Cruzer on earning their 2nd NW3 title in Strasburg, Illinois yesterday!! Way to go Jen and C...
01/02/2025

🎉👃🐾 Congratulations to Team Cruzer on earning their 2nd NW3 title in Strasburg, Illinois yesterday!! Way to go Jen and Cruuuuzie!!! 🐾👃🎉

🎉👃🐾 Congratulations to Team Xena on achieving a third place overall finish in yesterday’s Elite trial in Waukesha. Beyon...
12/30/2024

🎉👃🐾 Congratulations to Team Xena on achieving a third place overall finish in yesterday’s Elite trial in Waukesha. Beyond the outstanding overall placement, they also racked up a first place 🥇 in the kitchen area search, a first place 🥇 in the parking lot search, and a Pronounced designation (they got a pronounced in all four of the searches!)! WOW!!! Way to go!!! They’re 92 points closer to their ELT-CH title! 🔥🏆🎉

🐶 Registration closes Sunday for the 2025 SNIFF CLUB TERM #1 🐾👃 OVERVIEW 👃- 4 months of nose work challenges - New skil...
12/26/2024

🐶 Registration closes Sunday for the 2025 SNIFF CLUB TERM #1 🐾

👃 OVERVIEW 👃
- 4 months of nose work challenges
- New skills released monthly from January through April
- Two participation levels: Foundation & Advanced
- Work at your own pace
- Great for ALL experience levels

🎉 BONUS FEATURES 🎉
- Optional coaching "amp" add-on available 🤝
- Share your progress videos with other club members in a supportive community 📹
- Each video submission = 1 entry to win a $100 gift card 💰

💸 TUITION 💸
- $100 for Standard Registration
- $150 for Coaching "Amp" Registration

📆 TERM SCHEDULE 📆
- January - Skill posted on Wednesday, January 8th
- February - Skill posted Wednesday, February 12th
- March - Skill posted Wednesday, March 12th
- April - Skill posted Wednesday, April 9th

REGISTER HERE: https://www.connectingwithdogs.com/2025-sniff-club

😍👃🐶 Nose Work is truly the BEST activity for all dogs! Interested in giving it a try? Contact me for info on the 2025 Sn...
12/10/2024

😍👃🐶 Nose Work is truly the BEST activity for all dogs! Interested in giving it a try? Contact me for info on the 2025 Sniff Club, private lessons, drop-in classes, and other fun SNIFFertunities you and your pup can enjoy!

🐶 Registration is open for The 2025 SNIFF CLUB TERM #1 🐾👃 SNIFF CLUB OVERVIEW 👃- 4 months of nose work challenges - New...
12/02/2024

🐶 Registration is open for The 2025 SNIFF CLUB TERM #1 🐾

👃 SNIFF CLUB OVERVIEW 👃
- 4 months of nose work challenges
- New skills released monthly from January through April
- Two participation levels: Foundation & Advanced
- Work at your own pace
- Great for ALL experience levels

🎉 BONUS FEATURES 🎉
- Optional coaching "amp" add-on available 🤝
- Share your progress videos with other club members in a supportive community 📹
- Each video submission = 1 entry to win a $100 gift card 💰

💸 TUITION 💸
- $100 for Standard Registration
- $150 for Coaching "Amp" Registration

📆 TERM SCHEDULE 📆
- January - Skill posted on Wednesday, January 8th
- February - Skill posted Wednesday, February 12th
- March - Skill posted Wednesday, March 12th
- April - Skill posted Wednesday, April 9th

REGISTER HERE: https://www.connectingwithdogs.com/2025-sniff-club
Register now through Sunday, December 29th :)

🐕

If you are interested in K9 Nose Work private lessons, group classes, or workshops, please email me at [email protected] with your inquiry. Thank you!

🎉👃🐾 Team Skye, ELT 1 🐾👃🎉 Congratulations on earning your title in just two trials, and in some chilly temps this weekend...
12/02/2024

🎉👃🐾 Team Skye, ELT 1 🐾👃🎉 Congratulations on earning your title in just two trials, and in some chilly temps this weekend! It was an honor to be one of the judges at today’s trial to see you sniff your way to another amazing achievement!

Address

Wauwatosa, WI

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 2pm

Telephone

+12628449857

Website

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Videos

💜 I’ve been building Betty’s voluntary cone entry a lot lately. This week she’ll be have her “lady” surgery, so every day for the past week I’ve been dedicating several minutes to happy, cooperative cone fitting plus having her wear the cone for several hours at a time during parts of the day when she’s normally snoozing (see photo proof in the comments). I’d say she’s a willing participant in putting it on, hey? 💜

And now, your moment of zen 🧘‍♀️. This weekend, I encourage everyone to spend a little one on one time with their canine companion/s and breathe, just like Betty White. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.

Rainy evening training with Betty! Eye contact with me is her “I’m ready for the cone” behavior... and she sure loves putting it on! 🤗❤️🐾🤛🏼😍

Rainy mornings require indoor enrichment! Here’s Betty working her Kong Wobbler for a portion of her breakfast. I love her double paw pounce 😆

My version of desensitization to wearing a muzzle involves allowing a dog to eat tasty food out of a cup (or cup-like object). Here’s a quick peek at the initial training session with Ms. Betty White, my new pup!

Remember Penny? Here she is...2.5 months old and showing of her smarts conquering a food puzzle toy!

Ernie is a brilliant learner and uses the environment to his advantage. #puppypower #willworkforfood #dogsrule

Dinner time with the Kong Wobbler!!#braingames #puppypower #willworkforfood

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Our Story

Connecting with Dogs is the culmination of over 15 years of personal experience, professional training, hundreds of teaching hours, unwavering support from my ever-patient husband, and a lot of influence from a few amazing people along the way. My mission is to be humane, my style is reward-based and my greatest teachers are the dogs I work with every day. My techniques combine compassion and the latest science. Mindful people who want to develop an honest connection with their dogs, participate in my practical, hands-on workshops, private training sessions, telephone consultations and educational talks in Southeast Wisconsin. You may share any original images I post on my page so as long as you do not alter them in any fashion. Don't mess with karma :)