SCENT WORK
Let's Get Sniffy Together
Scent work is currently, in 2026, 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, Rainier, and Zion. For a list of titles visit Arya's Page, Rainier's Page and Zion's Page. Michelle is an AKC Scent Work Provisional Judge.
Rising Tide's Endless Summit SWM SCME SWEE SWAE SWNE DDBE DJ DN TKE VHMA VHMP, NW1 - Rainier
Rising Tide's Spirit of Sinawava SCN TKA - Zion
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 3.5 years of age she has 36 AKC Scent Work titles, including her SWN, SWNE, SWA, SWAE, SWE, SWEE, SCME & SWM 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.
Zion is currently in training and doing incredible! She debuted in AKC Scent Work at 6.5 months of age and had a clean sweep of 4/4 Q's in Novice B Containers with her first scent work title SCN. We plan on doing our ORT soon. To watch her develop as a scent work dog (and so much more) consider joining her training diary: find more information here!
Let's Get Sniffy! An Introduction to K9 Scent Work
6 Week Virtual Group Class
Class begins June 17th, 2026 (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
Let's Get Sniffy: Level 2
6 Week Virtual Group Class
Class begins March 18th, 2026 (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
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables: Hide Placement Strategies For All Levels *NEW*
6 Week Virtual Group Class
Class begins July 22nd, 2026 (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
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 + 6 Months of Feedback ($450)
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Let's Get Sniffy Level 1 & 2 + 1 Year of Feedback ($650)
Private Student + Virtual Feedback
Designed for private in-person or virtual students without the group class option
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Contact us for information!
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
Freeze! A "Freeze" Indication Mini Class
Virtual Mini Group Class
Class begins March 18th, 2026 (Private Group on Facebook)
Working Spot: $200+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".
*This is a working spot ONLY class*
1 Class will be uploaded in lecture style with a powerpoint with videos and instructions/education embedded. Follow up video content will be uploaded per team "needs" specific to the students in the class.
Let's Get Sniffy: Around The Town
6 Week In-Person Group Classes
Classes on-going year round
Working Spot: $300+tax
Learn more about our scent work offerings here!
This class is for dogs who are on odor and for teams that are looking to practice different skill sets. Searches will be set according to the skillset of the class.
Each section of class meets for 6 weeks total, with each class potentially meeting at a different location. Locations can/may be visited more than once over the course of the 6 classes.
Let's Get Sniffy: New Teams
6 Week In-Person Group Classes
Classes Start TBD
Working Spot: $300+tax
Learn more about our scent work offerings here!
This class is for dogs who are brand new to scent work and have had zero to minimal work in the sport. Welcome to your new addiction!
Each section of class meets for 6 weeks total. Class location pending!
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!
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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
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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
Prviate Rates
New Students
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90-minute Consult (All clients start here): $225+tax
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Hourly Follow Up Sessions: $150+tax
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5 Class Package: $750+tax, includes the consult (1) and 4 1-hour classes
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10 Class Package: $1400+tax, includes the consult (1) and 9 1-hour classes
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12 Class Package / Day Training: $1700 + tax, 12, 1 hour sessions
Follow Up Packages for Active Students (clients who have worked with us within past year)
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Hourly Follow Up Sessions: $150+tax
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5 Class (1 hour each) Follow Up: $700+tax
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10 Class (1 hour each) Follow Up: $1350+tax
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12 Class Package / Day Training: $1700 + tax, 12, 1 hour sessions
All rates for new students or follow up packages are for both Private In Home and Virtual Classes
Rates
Let's Get Sniffy Virtual Classes
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Working Spot: $250+tax
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Audit Spot: $125+tax
Let's Get Sniffy In-Person Group Classes: $300+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
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Let's Get Sniffy 1 + Let's Get Sniffy In Person Group Class: $450
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)
Freeze! A "Freeze" Indication Mini Class
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Working Spot: $200+tax
Upcoming AKC Scent Work Judging Assignments
Burlington County Kennel Club
April 25th & 26th, 2026
TBD
Greater Boston Area Earthdog Club
June 27th & 28th, 2026
TBD
Sleeping Giant Kennel Club
July 11th & 12th, 2026
TBD
Long Island Golden Retriever Club
August 1st & 2nd, 2026
TBD
Scent Work
Scent Work
Rainier Excellent Exterior Elite Title Run 🥈 (LIGRC Nov 2nd, 2024)
Rainier NW1 Interior Pronounced
Rainier Excellent Container 🥈 | 🏆 Judge’s Choice Award Container Element (LIGRC Nov 3rd, 2024)
Upcoming Scent Work Webinar/Workshops
Intro to Scent Work w/o Odor
Thinking about starting scent work? Start here first! Become a scent work team with your dog without odor to start!
Start-line Routines for Success
A cross sport webinar/workshop to improve your start line routines
Scent Work: Containers Galore!
Learn how to fix your containers strategies. For novice or advanced teams!
Scent Work: Breaking down the Buried Element
Learn how to practice the buried element better. For novice or advanced teams!
Scent Work Air-Flow Challenges
Work air-flow challenges to prepare yourself for air-flow issues at trials
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!"