Bay State Sniffers

23/06/2025

Just some food for thought on this hot day… I like to think of nose work training (or any dog training, for that matter) as a marathon rather than a sprint. Trials are meant to be tests of your training. When you were in school, did you take tests every couple of days? No, because you need time to learn stuff in between tests. You may have gotten away with it at school, but a nose work trial is not a test that you can cram for.
Some levels have a big jump in skill for the dog - NW1 to NW2, for example. In NW1 the dog has to find a single sourceable hide. In NW2, there could be up to 3 hides in a search, they may be inaccessible, and there will definitely be distractors in the container search. It takes *time* to build those new skills.
Some levels are a big jump in difficulty for the handler! NW2 to NW3 isn’t a big increase in difficulty for the dog - the biggest change is the possibility of a blank search. But for the handler? Woof - not knowing how many hides you’re looking for really messes with your mind. Your observation skills and understanding of how odor works and how your specific dog works need to be very solid. Building those skills also takes time.
As a general rule of thumb, you know you’re ready to trial if you are solidly working at a level above the level you plan to trial. There is no cramming for nose work. In fact, I don’t train nose work at all the week leading up to a trial. I want my dog mentally rested and raring to search at a trial. I also let her rest for a couple of days after a trial. We do other things instead - agility, walks in the woods, etc.
Besides the actual nose work training, there are other skills that are necessary for trailing: does your dog travel well? Can they rest quietly in a crate in the car for several hours? Can they walk confidently into a strange building with strange people, and be ready to search? Can you recover mentally from a “no” or other disappointment?
All this is to say, take your time. Enjoy the scenery along your journey. Savor the joy of partnering with your dog doing an activity that they love. They don’t care about the ribbons - that’s for you. To return to the school analogy, if you do your homework, complete your assignments, and love what you’re studying, taking a test can actually be fun. 😊❤️🐾

21/06/2025

I have a few openings in my drop in class on Thursday morning June 26. The heat wave will be over and we will be searching a (hopefully) cool basement! This will be my last class offered until July 7.
Sign up here:

Class location: South Foxboro Community Center, 382 South St, Foxboro, MA 02035 Exact class times will vary depending on how many dogs sign up, but the time frame will be 10am-12pm. Space is not guaranteed until you get an email confirmation. (Photo credit: Karen Ogden)

21/06/2025

To everyone coming to drop in class today in Foxboro: there is a concert tonight at Gilette Stadium, so avoid Route 1. (The traffic won’t be heavy yet but there are road closures and turn restrictions already.) Take route 140 instead.

18/06/2025

Drop in classes are canceled for Monday June 23 in Franklin due to the predicted heat.
There will be no classes on June 30 or July 3. Classes resume on Monday July 7. Have a great 4th!

18/06/2025

One additional spot available in the 9am NW2 class! Cost is $40. Sign up here if you want to grab it!

Class location: Bethany Congregational church, 3 Rockhill St, Foxboro, MA 02035 Exact class times will vary depending on how many dogs sign up, but the time frame will be 9am-1pm. Space is not guaranteed until you get an email confirmation. (Photo credit: Karen Ogden)

15/06/2025

Congrats to everyone on your titles and personal bests this past weekend!

12/06/2025

Last call for drop in class in Franklin, MA for Monday June 16! I have a few spots available for any level NW1 through ELT. Sign up here! I will be sending the confirmation email out tomorrow (Friday June 13)

Class location: New England Chapel, 300 E Central St, Franklin, MA 02038 Exact class times will vary depending on how many dogs sign up, but the general time frame will be 1-5pm. Space is not guaranteed until you get an email confirmation. (Photo credit: Karen Ogden)

12/06/2025

Looking forward to this!

Sale Event Information Description Advanced Handling to Emphasize Joy and Drive in the Search with Dana Zinn CPDT-KARegistration is open.Saturday, November 8, 2025 9:00AM – 5:00PM Innovation Academy Charter School 72 Tyng Road Tyngsborough, MACurrent limit is 80 attendees.There will be 6 demonstr....

10/06/2025

Volunteers needed this Saturday at the NACSW ELT-P trial in Cummington, MA! Come watch some super experienced teams work!

Thank you for volunteering! Volunteers will get lunch and credit towards the NACSW frequent volunteer program. You can't volunteer in a trial you are entered in, but if you are in the AM trial, you can stay and volunteer in the PM, or vice versa. You will get a confirmation of your submission from G...

10/06/2025

Rare SATURDAY drop in class opportunity! Classes will be held at Bethany Church in Foxborough, the site of my sniff thru in May. There are some great spaces to work! Registration is open to dogs on odor, at any level. $40 per dog.

Class location: Bethany Congregational church, 3 Rockhill St, Foxboro, MA 02035 Exact class times will vary depending on how many dogs sign up, but the time frame will be 9am-1pm. Space is not guaranteed until you get an email confirmation. (Photo credit: Karen Ogden)