Bay State Sniffers

08/10/2025

Drop in classes are happening in Franklin on Monday October 13! Still a few spots available. Sign up here:

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 12-4pm. Space is not guaranteed until you get an email confirmation. (Photo credit: Karen Ogden)

07/10/2025

Calling all small dog handlers! This webinar may be useful to you....

In this webinar Sue and Dana will discuss training and competing with small dogs, and working with dogs of all sizes in small spaces. Are there any adjustments we need when handling our height-challenged team members? What do small dogs need to solve the same problems at taller/longer dogs? How do

06/10/2025

Over the last couple of weeks Magic and I got to add a couple more element specialty titles to our collection - L2E in Tuftonboro, NH and L3I in Nashua, NH. Now the only one left for us is L3E! We have been chipping away at them for years, it is exciting to be so close to a complete set! Thanks to the hosts, officials, and volunteers who make these trials possible. My best girl does love sniffing!
My only handling regret was in the last search at the L2E - she wanted to work a bit out of the boundaries of the search area, but I restricted her, feeling the time pressure. If I had let her work where she wanted to, she would have nailed the second hide a lot faster. But, she's a diligent worker, and found it anyway, a different way -and it probably took her a lot longer. 😆 Lesson learned!

29/09/2025

Congrats to all for your success at recent trials in NY, CT, and NH! I love to hear about new titles AND personal triumphs. 👏👏👏

27/09/2025

We had a couple of cancellations for the October 26 sniff thru in Foxboro, so some space is available! Sign up here if you’re interested:

*Please fill out one form per dog!* Location is the Foxboro Recreation Facility at 68 Mill St. in Foxboro, MA. Fee per dog: $55 There will be 4 judged searches plus one self-serve search. All four elements will be offered (interior, exterior, container, and vehicle). All searches will be appropriate...

27/09/2025

A few spots left in my drop in classes on Thursday Oct 2 in Foxboro!
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)

18/09/2025

Exciting addition to the Halloween sniff thru! Professional photographer Blue Amrich will be attending and available to take photos of any participants who would like a portrait of themselves and their dog (or just your dog!). We will have a festive fall themed area set up for photos.
Check out her beautiful work on her website:

Beyond the Fence specializes in professional pet photography and exploring the natural landscapes of New England. Sessions are available in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and beyond.

16/09/2025

(I updated the link! Should be working now! I hate facebook! 🙃)
Here's the sign up form for the Halloween sniff thru on October 26!
(NOTE that there will be themed lighting, decorations, and sounds/music, so this event is NOT recommended for environmentally sensitive dogs.)
👻💀🎃🦇🕷🕸🍁🧙🧛‍♂️🧟‍♂️

https://forms.gle/VLEdZ4H3jLrVvVzJ9

*Please fill out one form per dog!* Location is the Foxboro Recreation Facility at 68 Mill St. in Foxboro, MA. Fee per dog: $55 There will be 4 judged searches plus one self-serve search. All four elements will be offered (interior, exterior, container, and vehicle). All searches will be appropriate...

14/09/2025

You won’t get it right the first time. You’re not supposed to.

But the only way to be great is to show up when you’re still terrible.

Progress comes from the courage to begin, not the perfection of the start.

13/09/2025

I was going through my Halloween stuff for the upcoming sniff thru, and I noticed that one of my “potion ingredient bottles” was filled with star anise. I wondered if it would be significant to Magic so I did an experiment. This is the kind of quality control your nose work instructors do! 😆

Spoiler: YES, it was significant to Magic! She worked it as if it was a hide. Even the cork! The anise bottle will NOT be coming to the sniff thru. 😊

12/09/2025

Save the date! Karen and I will be hosting a SPOOOOOOKY sniff thru on Sunday afternoon/evening October 26.
Details and sign up to come soon! 🎃👻🕷️💀🦇🧙🏼‍♀️🧛🏻🧟‍♂️