Things I did Differently with my Second Scent Work Dog
...the success feels great, but it also feels rushed in a way. We climbed up the levels because we could, but not because we should have.
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SCENT WORK
Let's Get Sniffy Together
Scent work is currently, in 2024, one of the fastest growing dog sports. The sport allows for our dogs to zone in on one of their most important senses, and creates an incredible bond between handler and dog as we interact in this sniffy environment with them.
Whether you're doing scent work for the goal of competition, already compete but want to strengthen your skills, or are interested in it for enrichment purposes for your pet dog, we're here to help you!
The Sniffy Team
Michelle competes in a multitude of sports with her border collies Arya and Rainier. For a list of titles visit Arya's Page and Rainier's Page. This year, in 2024, Michelle hopes to complete the requirements to become an AKC Scent Work Judge, and begin provisional judging.
Rising Tide's Endless Summit SWE SWAE SWNE SEEE SEM DDBE DJ DN TKE VHMA VHMP, NW1 - Rainier
Michelle has competed in scent work since 2021, but has experience with teaching scent work through service dog medical alert training since 2015. Her border collie Arya is competing in the excellent and master divisions of AKC scent work, and her puppy Rainier completed her overall novice elite title (40Q's within novice, 10Qs per element), her overall advanced elite title (40Q's within advanced, 10Qs per element), her overall excellent title, her first master title, and is now working on excellent elite titles and master titles. They will both be debuting in NACSW and CPE CSS this year, in 2024.
In 2021, Michelle and Arya debuted in Scent Work gaining her Scent Work Novice overall title SWN in 4 trials, with placements and Q's across the board. In 2022, at their first trialing weekend of the advanced divisions of containers & interiors, they achieved their SCA & SIA titles with placements. After a temporary break to raise puppies (which brought Rainier into our lives!) they were back at it in the fall of 2022 and have quickly finished their advanced overall titles SWA, elite advanced titles SIAE & SCAE, as well as their excellent buried SBE and container titles SCE. In summer of 2024, Arya completed her SWE title as well as her first Master title SCM! In the fall of 2024, Arya completed her SBM & SCME titles! She also got her NACSW ORT at her first NACSW trial in February, and her NW1 in November with a 2nd place overall & 1st place in exterior.
Rainier made her debut in AKC scent work at 10 months of age, and has been excelling ever since, with virtually no NQ's and placements (primarily 1sts) for almost every run. At 2.5 years of age she has 27 AKC Scent Work titles, including her SWN, SWNE, SWA, SWAE, SWE, SEEE & SEM titles! We are also starting our NACSW journey, and in February of 2024, at her first attempt ever at NACSW, Rainier achieved her ORT title passing Birch, Anise, & Clove! In August of 2024, on her first try for her NW1, Rainier got her NW1 title, as well as 3rd place overall for the trial, 1st in Vehicles, and pronounced in Interiors.
1
Let's Get Sniffy! An Introduction to K9 Scent Work
6 Week Virtual Group Class
Class begins November 20th, 2024
(Private Group on Facebook)
Working Spot: $250+tax
Audit Spot: $125+tax
Working spot: you have a personalized thread to upload videos to on our group. You work through the material from the class and upload hw assignments. I then comment on your assignments with critiques, how to fix & change things so you can progress as a team with your dog! 1-1 training within a "group setting". Since the lectures are posted once a week, it gives you a full week to upload videos when you can (and you can continue posting as many videos as you'd want, it's not just one a week)
Audit: you get all of the material and get to watch classmates videos and learn from them and my critiques, but I do not give you personalized feedback.
Classes will be uploaded once a week for 6 weeks in lecture style with a powerpoint with videos and instructions/education embedded
2
Let's Get Sniffy: Level 2
6 Week Virtual Group Class
Class begins November 20th, 2024
(Private Group on Facebook)
Working Spot: $250+tax
Audit Spot: $125+tax
Working spot: you have a personalized thread to upload videos to on our group. You work through the material from the class and upload hw assignments. I then comment on your assignments with critiques, how to fix & change things so you can progress as a team with your dog! 1-1 training within a "group setting". Since the lectures are posted once a week, it gives you a full week to upload videos when you can (and you can continue posting as many videos as you'd want, it's not just one a week)
Audit: you get all of the material and get to watch classmates videos and learn from them and my critiques, but I do not give you personalized feedback.
Classes will be uploaded once a week for 6 weeks in lecture style with a powerpoint with videos and instructions/education embedded
3
Let's Get Sniffy: Private Study
6 or 12 Week Virtual Group Class + Private Study
This can be scheduled to start at any time
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Let's Get Sniffy Level 1 + 1 Year of Feedback ($350)
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Let's Get Sniffy Level 1 & 2 + 1 Year of Feedback ($600)
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Let's Get Sniffy Level 1 + 3 Years of Feedback ($450)
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Let's Get Sniffy Level 1 & 2 + 3 Years of Feedback ($750)
Private Study students get a private facebook group for video and question review. For Private Study you have multiple options to pick through. Level 1 is a 6 week class. Level 1 + 2 is a 12 week class.
Feedback
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Feedback includes feedback to homework videos from class AND feedback to normal practice in the real world that you set up outside of class.
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Feedback also includes trial footage feedback.
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If you are a private IN person client OR a private virtual client, you will have this to upload your videos for feedback.
Classes will be uploaded once a week in lecture style with a powerpoint with videos and instructions/education embedded
Scent Work
Our Scent Work private classes are designed for the dog who thrives with new activities and an active brain, as well as an active sniffer. Finished our obedience sessions and looking to do more? Discover the incredible sport that is scent work and watch your dog flourish!
These classes can be done in person (Long Island - Nassau, or Queens) or virtually!
We also have 2 popular virtual group classes Let's Get Sniffy & Let's Get Sniffy Level 2!
What do we offer?
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Introduction training for scent work
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Advanced skillsets
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Element skillsets
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Interior
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Exterior
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Vehicle
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Container
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Buried
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Preparation for trialing (AKC)
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Handling help: become a better handler
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Video review
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Out and about scent work training: stores, parks, and more
Rates
Privates
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Contact us at letsgetsniffy.pwadt@gmail.com for pricing!
Let's Get Sniffy Virtual Classes
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Working Spot: $250+tax
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Audit Spot: $125+tax
Bundles
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Let's Get Sniffy 1 & 2 Working Spot: $450
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Let's Get Sniffy 1 & 2 Audit Spot: $225
Private Study Students
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Let's Get Sniffy Level 1 + 1 Year of Feedback ($350)
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Let's Get Sniffy Level 1 & 2 + 1 Year of Feedback ($600)
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Let's Get Sniffy Level 1 + 3 Years of Feedback ($450)
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Let's Get Sniffy Level 1 & 2 + 3 Years of Feedback ($750)
Scent Work
Scent Work
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Rainier Excellent Exterior Title Run 🥈 (LIGRC Nov 2nd, 2024)
01:08
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Rainier NW1 Interior Pronounced
01:10
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Rainier Excellent Container 🥈 | 🏆 Judge’s Choice Award Container Element (LIGRC Nov 3rd, 2024)
00:42
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Scent Work Webinar/Workshops in 2024
Emma with Timber
"I was an auditing student in PWA’s last virtual scent work class and it was such a great experience!! We started with no experience with oils or searches beyond a basic treat scavenger hunt, but now I’m considering starting novice scent trials next year with my pup! I’ve learned so much, the material is so well explained and put together. Plus my dog has absolutely loved it! In person weekly classes are hard for me to work into my schedule so the virtual class was perfect for me, I would absolutely recommend PWA to anybody looking into starting scent work!"
Rachael with Willow
"We had the pleasure of taking PWA’s virtual scent course and it was SUCH an amazing class! Chock full of knowledge, material, and excellent videos to help you through the process of getting started with and progressing with scent work. I was blown away at everything that was included- and the interactive student group was such a fun way to learn from everyone else and get feedback on our progress. I can’t say enough good things about Michelle and her training offerings. Will definitely be participating in any future courses she offers!"
Stephanie with Oliver
"I’m currently taking a scent work class with my dog, Oliver, and we’ve been having such a great time! Michelle has a fb group in which she posts the weekly material and the videos are clear and thorough. We have a working spot and can ask unlimited questions on both the general material and any specific questions related to our homework or challenges we may be having. She responds in a timely manner and gives both positive feedback and ideas on improvement or working through challenges. Oliver is dog reactive so we may never compete as I rather not put him through the stress, but I’ve seen him become so happy to work for scent and train. It’s improved our relationship even more and I love that we have something else to do together. Thanks Michelle!"
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