Find Your Fix- Sport Dog Scent Detection Podcast- Training Tips and More !

We zoom out from our own leash and talk about what we learn by watching dozens of dogs run the same hide, then bring those lessons back into training. We focus on becoming an active handler who can read odor behavior early, support verification, and make better “stay or go” decisions under trial pressure. • learning odor movement by observing many teams and reviewing video • defining the active handler and taking responsibility for odor information • recognizing odor importance vs chasing a fast dog • supporting the verification phase without overhandling • using leash length and pace to reduce pressure and improve observation • staying present in complex searches and managing NW3 and Elite mental stamina • telling working apart from distractions like crittering or sniffing spots • training resiliency around non-target odor and trial-like distractions • building start line focus so the dog releases into hunting • supporting novel hides for novice dogs without “convincing” • spotting handler focus patterns and resetting the search when needed • using transition zones and walkthrough videos to predict airflow changes Let us know if you have any questions and we can clarify those, hopefully. Help her find a trial, an elite trial, between Missouri and Phoenix, Arizona. Send us Fan Mail

In this episode we reveal the  “Wheel Of Odor”, an easily crafted randomizer used to spur a fun discussion focused on ODOR training for the nosework and scentwork dog. We wanted to use some creativity to otherwise break out of training ruts and think OUTSIDE THE ODOR BOX for fresh ideas on how to set hides and build odor training objectives for our dogs and ourselves. The Wheel of Odor uses three categories to describe each odor puzzle or odor scenario in training or trial searches. We included a multitude of factors in each category from big odor, to muddy odor, to accessible hides, to back of search hides and odor in snow. By including  hide placement, odor behavior, and the environment, as our Three Wheels we gained random on the spot training objectives and descirbe how we might train the combination for our novice to advance dogs and elite to summit. Our mission is to motivate more creativity in our training and in yours exposing our dogs to an opporutnity to learn a vast array of odor scenarios from simplistic to complex. We enourage all our listeners to build your own Wheel of Odor or use the URL app in the notes below to check out our SPIN on the Wheel of Odor. Enjoy and spin yourself a new odor training idea not yet in your odor training objectives. Apps- Daily Decision- https://wheel.page.link/14DA OR Wheel of Names https://wheelofnames.com/Send us Fan Mail

Dust, heat, and a whole lot of critter scent—this elite nose work weekend had it all. We headed to a Western movie set and came home with a sharper game plan: how to spot channeling odor, decide when to finish early, and build independence without frying your dog’s brain. Along the way, we faced a classic trap—two hides on one side of a truck—and turned that miss into a concrete progression using off-leash discovery, long-line refinement, and short-leash control. We lay out our exact drills with chairs and boxes, why we set sources deeper off the plane, and how we balance elevation work with ground hides that ride up walls and read “high.”You’ll hear how a six-foot leash can calm a fast dog’s acceleration, how structured pre-trial exercise trims arousal without killing drive, and why “benefit from a no” is the skill that separates steady teams from spirals at elite and summit. We share the timer habits that actually help—halftime alerts, risk thresholds, and knowing when a quick finish beats burning minutes on a hide nobody solved. There’s honest talk about handler errors too, including the cheese cube heard round the leaderboard and a timeout that cost placement, plus the mindset shift from “find them all” to “bank points and build skills.”If you’re prepping for NACSW Elite or eyeing Summit, this is a field-tested roadmap: converging odor realities, site-specific prep for schools vs desert sets, elevation progressions without guesswork, and low hides that teach patience. We’re candid, curious, and focused on decisions, not drama—so you can leave your next trial with clearer notes and a smarter plan.If this helped you think differently about your recap, subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a quick review. Tell us: what’s your toughest call—stay and hunt or finish and bank?Send us Fan Mail

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We explore how dogs navigate changing odor pictures and what handlers must do to support their dog's odor pathway to source. From haunted houses to school gyms, we share Handler, CO and judging insights, trial lessons, and practical training setups that build dog and handler odor recognition of the multitude of odor puzzles we encounter in nosework and scent work trials.• defining pathway to source and odor availability• why heaters, humidity and doors reshape odor pictures• balancing handler support with canine independence• single-hide training to build handler literacy• vessel choice and orientation changing scent flow• natural versus object hides and containment effects• staying patient on edges versus rushing coverage• reframing no calls as odor picture feedback• practical resets, leash use and area support• upcoming trials, seminars and community updatesThankful you’re all listening and learning with usSend us Fan Mail

THE GOOD CALL- or is it ? AI offered various titles to our October podcast- MY ALL TIME FAVORITE: My Dog Said Trash Can : The Judge Said No ! If you’ve ever called “alert” on a hot object only to hear “no,” this conversation is your map back to clarity. We unpack the gap between a fair training call and a fair trial call, and show how to build a dog that presses all the way to source—even when the environment throws pooling, trapping, and convergence into the mix.We start at the foundation: imprinting, odor importance, and the nose-on-source "good habits" that help keep our reward standards tight at ORT and NW1 on up to Summit. From there, we layer timing and reward strategy—when to mark effort, when to wait for more, when to expect contact, and how to use remote rewards without teaching self-release. You’ll hear practical frameworks for accessible versus inaccessible hides, two-step reinforcement that opens the door and still pays at source, and why revisiting “easy” anchor hides is essential insurance against fringing.Then we climb into advanced odor problems. Elevated hides get a stepwise progression that favors safety and intellect over flashy stretching dogs, using channeling surfaces so dogs can solve "source is up"  cleanly. We dissect Summit-style puzzles where odor pools on trash cans and chair racks, and explain how judges decide consistency and when stretch calls make sense. Along the way, we focus on handler craft: reading behavior instead of forcing a final response, trusting the dog after a no, and managing the clock so you search effectively instead of bailing early.If you want sharper calls, steadier performance, and a dog that knows the difference between hot air and true source, this episode gives you the blueprint—tight training standards, smart setups, and resilient trial habits. Subscribe, share with your training group, and leave a review with your biggest “aha” from today’s search talk.Send us Fan Mail

NACSW and AKC (and other venues) utilize pre and post search videos for Handlers to preview or review actual "real life" trial searches. These videos are captured by the Certifying Offical or Judge with the goal to provide search and hide placement analysis for your competition day prepartion or post trial review. The videos are an amazing tool for experiencing what a trial search looks and "feels" like in "real life" on that trial day. Optimizing this virtual experience tool can help shape your trial day and/or shape your pre or post trial training. The online videos are real life search scenarios from NW1 and Novice to Summit and Detective. These videos provides a wealth of information from start line to finish, environmental awareness, search area size, boundaries, distraction areas and a virtual map for Handler review. Before the trial, the Walkthrough Video provides a Handler's SNEAK PEAK and private viewing that may be used to  gain search area awareness and potential search condifence much like building a search map in your minds eye to better understand your dog's search as it unfolds and better prepare for areas within that search that may be easy to miss or dismiss.After the trial- Its the analysis of what that search looked like, hide locations, areas of odor pathways, odor collection, pooling and trapping and transitiions moving from one area to another and building your muscle memory for the "types" of searches and parameters for the level at which you trial with your dog.These videos are so much more than the depictiion of "yet another search area" and are an amazingly important tool to build awareness and confidence in our Handler understanding and search expectations on trial day.Send us Fan Mail

Time management could be the missing key to your nosework competition success. In this candid conversation, Jill Kovacevic and Alex Woodruff share their summer training approaches and fall trial preparations while diving deep into critical skills for effective competition.Jill reveals a breakthrough in her handling technique that transformed her Elite trial performance—taking full advantage of search time rather than calling "finish" prematurely. This simple adjustment allowed her to find hides that would have otherwise been missed, demonstrating how our handling decisions directly impact our dogs' success. Alex complements this with insights on training during Arizona's summer heat and her preparation for welcoming a new working cocker puppy into her home.Both experienced handlers explore the psychological differences between training and trial environments. Why does your dog work differently in competition? How can you maintain the same patience and trust you have in training when under trial pressure? The answers involve understanding convergence zones, odor puzzles, and the unique challenges of different competition levels.The discussion provides practical solutions for common competition challenges: using timers effectively, reading your dog's subtle communication cues, recognizing when your dog has detected source versus investigating pooling odor, and developing targeted training plans based on honest assessment of your current skills.Whether you're struggling with the transition from NW3 to Elite, preparing for your first competition, or looking to refine your handling for championship-level performance, this episode offers specific techniques to elevate your partnership with your dog when it matters most.Be sure to join us for our next episode where we'll continue exploring the fascinating world of canine scent detection with more coaching tips and practical training advice.Send us Fan Mail

When your dog alerts away from the actual hide location, are they making a mistake or has the scent truly collected elsewhere? In this deep-dive episode, we tackle the phenomenon of "pooling and trapping" - one of the most challenging and misunderstood concepts in scent detection work.Alex and Jill break down exactly what happens when odor molecules migrate from their source and accumulate in quantities significant enough to fool even experienced dogs. They share fascinating observations about how humidity dramatically changes scent pictures, with Alex and Jill describing how "sticky" odor in Minnesota presents different challenges than the "dust in the wind" patterns we see in drier climates.The conversation provides practical training progression ideas for handlers wanting to build clearer source understanding in their dogs. Starting with accessible hides and using barriers where dogs learn to push through to source and create search dogs who don't give up when encountering pooling. They also tackle the human side of the equation - how handlers often get stuck in pooling areas out of fear of missing hides, or making alert decisions before our dogs and how recognizing repetitive behavior patterns can help teams move forward productively.Whether you're competing at elite levels or just starting your scent detection journey, this episode offers valuable insights into creating better odor clarity for your dog while improving your own observation skills. After all, as Jill notes, "The dog solves the problem with its supercomputer called an olfactory system" - our job is learning to recognize and trust what they're telling us about the complex world of scent.Ready to be the Odor Lifeguard and pull yourself out of the "pooling problem"? Listen now and discover how to become the lifeguard your team needs!Send us Fan Mail

Seasoned dog competitors share their most memorable and hair-raising travel stories from years on the road attending trials and competitions. The podcast hosts and guests exchange tales of adventure, mishap, and the unexpected challenges that come with traveling alongside canine athletes.• Ensuring dog safety in unfamiliar environments, including stories of dogs chasing wildlife• Strange and memorable accommodations from the "nun house" to remote wilderness lodgings• Weather emergencies including taking shelter from a tornado at a police station• Vehicle mishaps like flat trailer tires and doors threatening to fly off on highways• Practical travel tips for dog handlers including extra supplies and rental car strategies• Developing relationships with pet-friendly accommodations and explaining your needs• The challenges of maintaining dog routines while traveling for competitions• How competing away from home builds camaraderie within the dog sport communityJoin us next time when we'll dive into the topic of imposter syndrome in dog sports!Send us Fan Mail

What if everything you thought you knew about reading your dog in scent work needed a second look? This eye-opening myth-busting episode challenges common misconceptions that might be holding back your detection team.We start by tackling the belief that a trained final response means you can ignore your dog's more subtle communications. The truth? Those changes of behavior as your dog works through the odor puzzle are just as crucial as their final alert. We discuss why depending solely on that end behavior can cause you to miss inaccessible hides or struggle when your dog can't perform their typical alert.Perhaps most fascinating is our exploration of the "my dog lies" misconception. Dogs don't have the capacity to intentionally deceive us about odor. What appears as deception is actually a training gap or communication breakdown that we can solve by better understanding our canine partners.Whether you're looking to strengthen your handling skills or simply want to understand your dog's odor detection process more deeply, this episode offers practical wisdom for handlers at all levels. Send us Fan Mail

This month Jill Kovacevich and Aleks Woodroffe, your CO-Hosts, tackle a wide range of myths circulating in scent detection sports ("Nosework"? "Scent Work"? we dive into that too!). Drawing from their experience as trainers, judges, officals and competitors, they systematically dismantle misconceptions that might be limiting your dog's potential OR your perception of your dog's limitations!The conversation dives into three critical areas: myths about dogs, handlers, and the environment. Ever heard that panting dogs can't detect odor? Or that small dogs are at a disadvantage? Perhaps you've been told fast-working dogs are inherently better performers? These are just a few of the beliefs the hosts analyze and refute with compelling examples from their experiences.Whether you're new to scent sports or a seasoned competitor, this episode offers fresh perspectives that will transform how you approach training and trials. Listen now, and stay tuned for the second installment where they'll tackle HANDLER myths that might be sabotaging your search success!Send us Fan Mail

PART THREE- Yes, Part Three ! Who knew this topic would be this expansive. In this EPISODE we take on ELITE to SUMMIT trial prep and include AKC Detective in the mix. We are looking at the trial levels  of  Elite Select, Elite, Elite Premier and Summit and the AKC equivalent and the skill sets needed for THIS trial level with a template for assessing where your canine team IS as of now and how to determine what to train for your next trial SUCCESS.Here is the ASSESS- TRAIN AND MEASURE TEMPLATE to REVISIT from our PARTS ONE and TWO that IS a best practice to apply to your compeition Nosework Team in preparing for TRIAL.ASSESS YOUR TEAM1- SKILLS TESTED - What is measured or tested for each trial level;2- DOGS SKILLS - Is the dog's search work effective and efficient for THAT trial level;3- PROBLEM SOLVING- Is the Dog's and/ or Handlers problem solving effective for that level;4- SEARCH WORK Ds- Duration, Distance, Difficulty, Distraction- for the level testedWe cover HOW TO  apply training to your TEAM assessment including:OBJECTIVES1- PROGRESSIVE TRAINING - Use progressive training level to level and skill sets within each level;2-TRAIN NOT TEST- limit testing; testing IS blind hides without help; complex puzzles above the dogs skill set; prior to trial- focus on the specific skill sets to train for that level or foundation for the trial level you are entering- rather than training above;3- TRAIN THE SKILLS- Understand the trial level and its search, hide, time parameters and skills for both dog and handler to be testedAnd then break down EACH TRIAL LEVEL by the skills tested at that TRIAL level for NACSW and AKCLEVEL APPROPRIATE- 4 AREAS TO CONSIDER FOR EACH LEVELSKILLS TESTED- What skills for dog and handler are tested for the trial levelSEARCH PARAMETERS- Elements; Search Area; Hides; Time; Distractions SKILL SETS REQUIRED- to meet Title LevelSend us Fan Mail

We share essential tips and insights on preparing for trial season, focusing on gear essentials and communication strategies. Key elements discussed include checklists, hospitality management, and effective team interactions.• Importance of creating thorough checklists for trial preparation • Essential supplies needed for the score room • Strategies for effective communication among team members • Significance of hospitality in enhancing participant experiences • Role of flexibility and problem-solving on trial day • Organizing materials for easy access during trials • Discussion on adapting to various trial settings and conditions • Insights on updating equipment and supplies for efficiency • Encouragement for sharing experiences within the trial community Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to another enlightening episode where we pull back the curtain on the intricacies of hosting K9 scent trials. From sharing insights on managing waitlists to navigating the challenges of trial day logistics, this episode is packed with wisdom from experienced hosts in the community. We delve into the often-overlooked aspect of vehicle management, tackling how to protect volunteers' cars while ensuring our furry competitors have a safe space to shine.The conversation dives deep into the emotional challenge of receiving negative feedback from competitors, offering proactive communication strategies that help ease concerns and maintain community trust. We also shed light on volunteer retention—how can hosts cultivate a heartfelt environment where every helper feels valued?Join us as we share experiences, tips, and heartfelt discussions that will resonate. This episode is valuable for seasoned hosts and new hosts alike, aiming to foster an enriching K9 scent trial experience. Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to keep the conversation going!Send us Fan Mail

PART TWO- In this PODCAST we are looking at the trial levels  of NW3 and AKC equivalent and the skill sets needed for THIS trial level with a template for assessing where your canine team IS as of now and how to determine what to train for your next trial SUCCESS.Here is the ASSESS- TRAIN AND MEASURE TEMPLATE that IS a best practice to apply to your compeition Nosework Team in preparing for TRIAL.STAY TUNED FOR PART THREE- Yes, Part Three ! Who knew this topic would be this expansive. In March we will take on ELITE & SUMMIT trial prep and include AKC Detective in the mix. ASSESS YOUR TEAM1- SKILLS TESTED - What is measured or tested for each trial level;2- DOGS SKILLS - Is the dog's search work effective and efficient for THAT trial level;3- PROBLEM SOLVING- Is the Dog's and/ or Handlers problem solving effective for that level;4- SEARCH WORK Ds- Duration, Distance, Difficulty, Distraction- for the level testedWe cover HOW TO  apply training to your TEAM assessment including:OBJECTIVES1- PROGRESSIVE TRAINING - Use progressive training level to level and skill sets within each level;2-TRAIN NOT TEST- limit testing; testing IS blind hides without help; complex puzzles above the dogs skill set; prior to trial- focus on the specific skill sets to train for that level or foundation for the trial level you are entering- rather than training above;3- TRAIN THE SKILLS- Understand the trial level and its search, hide, time parameters and skills for both dog and handler to be testedAnd then break down EACH TRIAL LEVEL by the skills tested at that TRIAL level for NACSW and AKCLEVEL APPROPRIATE- 4 AREAS TO CONSIDER FOR EACH LEVELSKILLS TESTED- What skills for dog and handler are tested for the trial levelSEARCH PARAMETERS- Elements; Search Area; Hides; Time; Distractions SKILL SETS REQUIRED- to meet Title LevelSend us Fan Mail

PART ONE - In this PODCAST we break down the skill sets needed for each trial levels and provide a template for assessing where your canine team IS as of now and how to determine what to train for your next trial at that trial level.SKILL SETS FOR TRIAL PREP- ORT (NW1 CONTAINER -SAME) NW1-NW2 NACSW and NOVICE- ADVANCED AKCASSESS YOUR TEAM1- SKILLS TESTED - What is measured or tested for each trial level;2- DOGS SKILLS - Is the dog's search work effective and efficient for THAT trial level;3- PROBLEM SOLVING- Is the Dog's and/ or Handlers problem solving effective for that level;4- SEARCH WORK Ds- Duration, Distance, Difficulty, Distraction- for the level testedWe cover how to apply training to your TEAM assessment including:OBJECTIVES1- PROGRESSIVE TRAINING - Use progressive training level to level and skill sets within each level;2-TRAIN NOT TEST- limit testing; testing IS blind hides without help; complex puzzles above the dogs skill set; prior to trial- focus on the specific skill sets to train for that level or foundation for the trial level you are entering- rather than training above;3- TRAIN THE SKILLS- Understand the trial level and its search, hide, time parameters and skills for both dog and handler to be testedAnd then break down EACH TRIAL LEVEL by the skills tested at that TRIAL level for NACSW and AKCLEVEL APPROPRIATE- 4 AREAS TO CONSIDER FOR EACH LEVELSKILLS TESTED- What skills for dog and handler are tested for the trial levelSEARCH PARAMETERS- Elements; Search Area; Hides; Time; Distractions SKILL SETS REQUIRED- to meet Title LevelSend us Fan Mail

JANUARY 27 2025  TRAIN TO TRIAL - TRIAL TO TRAIN MENTAL GAME ON TRIAL DAY !Our 2025 NOSEWORK SEASON is off and "running" ! Lets chat about TRIAL DAY and all the tips and tricks to be the BEST TRIAL TEAM we can be AND the BEST handler to our amazing search canine ! In this PODCAST we discuss taking our TRAINING TO TRIAL and supporting our dogs and ourselves for a FUN and PRODUCTIVE trial day. From once your IN the trial, thinking of travel, lodging, time frame to get to trial morning with the best frame of mind to build a Growth Mindset and Mental Game "ON".Lets cover from how to prep before and during Trial Day to build your skill sets and MOST IMPORTANT plan and execute a FUN and FULFILLING day engaged with your dog in the activity and sport we LOVE !We have PART ONE AND PART TWO for January and will follow up with AFTER TRIAL DAY and building your MENTAL GAME for future training and trial.Mountain Dogs LLCJill E. Kovacevich, [email protected] us Fan Mail

Our 2025 NOSEWORK SEASON is off and "running" ! Lets chat about TRIAL DAY and all the tips and tricks to be the BEST TRIAL TEAM we can be AND the BEST handler to our amazing search canine ! In this PODCAST we discuss taking our TRAINING TO TRIAL and supporting our dogs and ourselves for a FUN and PRODUCTIVE trial day. From once your IN the trial, thinking of travel, lodging, time frame to get to trial morning with the best frame of mind to build a Growth Mindset and Mental Game "ON".Lets cover from how to prep before and during Trial Day to build your skill sets and MOST IMPORTANT plan and execute a FUN and FULFILLING day engaged with your dog in the activity and sport we LOVE !We have PART ONE AND PART TWO for January and will follow up with AFTER TRIAL DAY and building your MENTAL GAME for future training and trial.Mountain Dogs LLCJill E. Kovacevich, [email protected] us Fan Mail

DECEMBER 30 2024  TRAIN TO TRIAL - TRIAL TO TRAIN DECEMBER TO REMEMBER - LOOK BACK- VISUALIZE FORWARD2024- A NOSEWORK-SEARCHING YEAR TO REMEMBER!Lets CELEBRATE all the WINS - THE TAKEAWAYS AND the JOY of Learning Nosework with our K9s ! 2025- Set new goals and BUILD a SMART plan to succeed !Mountain Dogs LLCJill E. Kovacevich, [email protected] us Fan Mail

RECENT TRIAL- Wondering IF you have holes and how those might be filled ??? Ive KNOW Ive got ideas for all the teams I watched-- maybe you know who you are ! Both Alex and myself will do online privates to review your recent trial success or misses with or without trial video and suggest a 2025 New Year training plan ! COMMUNICATION PODCAST SERIES CONTINUED!Objective - Lets brainstorm the parts and pieces of "communication" in scent detection ! Lets explore the semantics, the words and the concepts to describe those training and trialing ideas.EPISODE 3- TEAM COMMUNICATION- GETTING TO THE ZEN SEARCH !In Episodes 1 and 2 we had an amazing conversation about DOG and HANDLER communication in training, trialing and in our lives with our dogs! If you missed it check it out in our September and October K9 Scent Fix Episodes. It's truly a fun and fascinating discussion.For our final Episode 3 to round out our Train to Trial and Trial to Train Communication Series, WE will bring it all together and brainstorm the 1001 ways to COMMUNICATE as a TEAM. It's a dialogue, a harmony, a story to tell between YOU and YOUR dog during the SEARCH.When your dog communicates an odor pathway what DO YOU do ? What do you say with your body, leash, and enthusiasm? How DOES your DOG respond to your "I gotcha" response DURING your dog's search persistence?Is your dance step timely ? Are you in sync with ebb and flow of odor and WITH THE search area? Do you dance the dance, Tangle the Tango or Rumble in the Rumba ?Send us Fan Mail

Your K9 SCENT FIX - Host Support Podcast Team has been working diligently behind the scenes to craft our Podcast Progression and Facebook Support group to bring our scent detection sport dog hosting community closer together to share ideas and inspire each other to Host !  IN our HOST SUPPORT PROGRESSION- We have broken down the Sport Scent Detection Event Hosting TO DO List and added in basic and needed concepts along the way, pertinent for most every host, new or seasoned from Site Acquisition to Its a Wrap - Event Closure ! For October (uploaded October 321, 2024- just in the nick of time to count for October) we jump back into more pre-planing ideas including Forms submission and what we need to GET the TRIAL SITE approval completed. We want to add in some focus on finances so we have TWO PARTS filled with information and educaiton to at the very least insprice more questions and an exchange of ideas.PART TWO- FINANCES - TRIAL PLANNING AND BUSINESS CONSIDERATIONSCoHosts- Jill Kovacevich of Mountain Dogs; Aleks Woodroffe of Release Canine and Jen Fleming of Georgia Nosework together with input from veteran host Tracey Gamley - contributor.Send us Fan Mail

Your K9 SCENT FIX - Host Support Podcast Team has been working diligently behind the scenes to craft our Podcast Progression and Facebook Support group to bring our scent detection sport dog hosting community closer together to share ideas and inspire each other to Host !  IN our HOST SUPPORT PROGRESSION- We have broken down the Sport Scent Detection Event Hosting TO DO List and added in basic and needed concepts along the way, pertinent for most every host, new or seasoned from Site Acquisition to Its a Wrap - Event Closure ! For October (uploaded October 321, 2024- just in the nick of time to count for October) we jump back into more pre-planing ideas including Forms submission and what we need to GET the TRIAL SITE approval completed. We want to add in some focus on finances so we have TWO PARTS filled with information and educaiton to at the very least insprice more questions and an exchange of ideas.Trial Production and the Digital Paperwork-Pre-Trial- Budget Planning; Submission content; Levels; Calendar/ Membership Announcements/ AdvertisingCoHosts- Jill Kovacevich of Mountain Dogs; Aleks Woodroffe of Release Canine and Jen Fleming of Georgia Nosework together with input from veteran host Tracey Gamley - contributor.Send us Fan Mail

Objective - Lets brainstorm the parts and pieces that may be "communication" in scent detection and the semantics - words and concepts to describe those training and trialing ideas for HANDLER communication. In our Train to Trail and Trial to Train Series we are exploring COMMUNICATION. In EPISODE we covered DOG COMMUNICATION and the broad view of the 1001 ways communication is present in our scent detection search to now in our next episode in Communication to talk about HANDLER communication. First lets look at the definition: What is communication in simple words? Communication is a process that involves sending and receiving messages through the verbal and non-verbal methods. Communication is a two-way means of communicating information in the form of thoughts, opinions, and ideas between two or more individuals with the purpose of building an understanding. What words might describe COMMUNICATION ? Everything we see, do, hear, feel, think By and Between Dog - Handler - Environment My List- Aleks' List Communication is the key to dog and handler clarity for learning and training the task of seeking and finding in nosework. Lets explore training concepts that "involve" include or depend on "communication AND break down the "areas" for more in depth focused discussion of those perceived as more important areas for our next few episodes and maybe even identify our favorite or most compelling areas of need in training our scent detection dogs. And more ! Send us Fan Mail

Week Four: Meeting Expectations with Success - In this EPISODE- our final in the September Trial Hosting Series- jumps into getting your trial site approvals with NACSW or HOW TO pull in great AKC Judges with clear plans & photos! With guest Sue Frisch, NACSW Trial Approval Chair and Certifying Official, providing excellent insight into what makes great photos/videos of sites and what is required for NACSW approval!Send us Fan Mail

ITS A HYJACK !We are hijacking todays podcast to talk about our September to Remember and all the great TRAINING and TRIAL experiences with GOALS met and new ones SET. Our Co-Host Aleks Woodroffe with Release Canine is featured to tell us her Summit success from Estes Park CO September 27-28 2024 culminating in a Summit Title and 1st Place overall for Aleks and her wonder pup Tana. Team Tana has faced challenging odds this trial season with a cancer diagnosis that so far has been met with good results YET forged a GOAL for Aleks of NOW or NEVER. Listen to not only the Story of Summit Success but lots of training nuggets for any scent sport dog team with goals to develop trial level search skills and find their own success. Team Tana is pure joy in motion. A spectator asked while watching the team search, is that dog a puppy- she has so much fun energy. Now THATS the JOY of SCENT DETECTION sport dog searching ! CONGRATULATIONS ! This lifetime "bucket list" is CHECKED as DONE and Done Well. This is not a brag tag podcast- its heartfelt and full of good train to trial and trial to train tid bits.ENJOY THE JOY ! Send us Fan Mail

FACILITY USE FEES-Explore facility expectations first, explore calendar BEFORE fees; off-season; low activity schedules; check online fee forms; ask for fee info; have budgets in mind- if goal is to break even- determine revenue potential less costs (get cost estimate from other Hosts in your area or build your own; POTENTIAL FEES- Ask for a written quote; revise to reduce hours for each area; offer to include staff hourly rate; BILLING -INVOICE- Ask how fees are billed; do you need to speak with accounting office; can you include the accounting office in a quote or proposed fee; do you need the accounting office buy-in - with small NON PROFIT the accounting office may be responsible for meeting facility use revenue goals; DECISION MAKER- Who  facilitates community facility use; decides on contract; who signs the contract; who bills for the fees- this will reveal alot about the decision maker and commitment to your event use; CONTACT PERSON- Is this the same as the Decision Maker; if not can you email to include both Contact Person and Decision Maker (Principal and Activity Director);COMMUNICATION- If its a first time use- build an expectation that you will be communicating via email EARLY AND OFTEN (clearly and be timely); get emails and phone numbers; have a local host team member who can drop in to say hello and check in with folks- be respectful- "I imagine your very busy with school starting, but thought Id stop by and say hello and check on the calendar for our event and answer any questions"  etc.RELATIONSHIPS- This is the CRUX of the FIRST USE and every repeat use thereafter !Send us Fan Mail

HOW TO START THE CONVERSATION with Guests Stacy Saravo and Sue Frisch ... SCHOOLS -GET Insider Information; Get to know a School Staffer;  Pros and Cons; relationship with staff; challenges; how to create buy in; create progress to getting to yes; written proposal; School support groups- sports, coaches, PTA/PTO; Theater, Band, 4 H; TAs; Keep engaged- Front office; P/VP;Secretary; Accounting staff MUSEUMS/ FAIRGROUNDS- Use the online event request forms- fill it out generally- too much detail may disuade the readerBUSINESSES- Build relationships !COLLEGES- Ask to train from building manager and invite staff spectatorsSTUDENTS- Ask NoseWork students about their jobs, work or business relationships- who DO YOU know; EXPECTATIONS- Get more NOs than YES ! Keep the MAYBEs on your list !EXCLUSIVE USE-When asked or during Walk Thru for event exploration-  Explain Dog-Handler parking; one dog searching; search dog focus needs exclusive use to avoid distraction; dogs maintained on leash moving to and from search area; maintained in parking (include all the safety-respectful policies for YOUR hosting to gain the Exclusive Use allowance; COI- $1m/$3M; RESPECT - Communicate respect to ALL staff you encounter- build the relationshipTIPS and TRICKS- VOLUNTEER for any Host, any job, show up, ask questions, be a sponge !Send us Fan Mail

Site Suitability – what can you offer? Lets discuss how you can identify potential trial sites and what are the needs for a trail site !Here's our laundry list - Types of locations:  Whats important -  Logistics- Parking, Dog Potty Areas Rest Rooms, Score Room, Hospitality for Volunteers; Search areas for levels the site supports; Is the site Event Manageable- Line of sight; sound; enter/exit; reactive dogs; ADA-TBD; Location proximity- lodging; food; travel distances; are events allowed; dogs allowed; budget feasible; New host/ experienced host; team hosting; single business hosting; engagement-conversation with the site; alot of info v little info; decision maker; methods to ask; Exclusive Use- Ask for it and explain why- for the AREAS you MAY needReview How to Host- Ask questionsProgression- Host event- mock; sniff n go; ORT; classes at new facility or area; ask to train at potential trial event facility; create a facility coordinator team; ask existing Host if you can be a facility coordinator for that Host; Offer to do trial secretary tasks; Ask to learn trial secretary tasks; volunteer for different hosts- different positions with learning in mind; ask to shadow the Host/ VC even if you miss searches or all the searches; offer to help with set up - break down; learn the Host Team Jobs- SR; VC; PLOT; GS; JS; T RESOURCES ONLINE- Rules- Be familiar with the rules for that Venue- NACSW/ AKC - otherHow To Host- NACSW - INCLUDES IT ALL ! https://nacsw.net/events/trials/hosting-trialTrial Location Requirements- NACSW https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JcuQDfA0uY0BH1cUm3B3yf-xqzd9zG0S/editOther Hosts- Learn who is hosting in your area; can you collaborate not infiltrate; how does that community share hosting calendarSend us Fan Mail

PART TWO- In our Train to Trial and Trial to Train Communication Series we started with DOG to HANDLER communciaton ! DO YOU SPEAK DOG ? In Part One we explored our thoughts and ideas of how our dogs' communicate various odor attributes and presence or absence of odor in the search.In PART TWO we continue this fun discussion and explore a bit more about hide placement and how training may build dog commuicaiton CLARITY for DOG and HANDLER for imporved Handler observation and understanding. LETS JUMP back into the conversation where we left off as PART TWO. Send us Fan Mail

We are excited to start our Host Support Weekly Tid Bits with a focused monthly topic to build a Host- Handler community and support our great sport of scent detection with training and trial events. Join Us starting Wednesday September 11 2024 on K9 Scent Fix posted to your favorite PODCAST app or at k9scentfix.buzzsprout.comSend us Fan Mail

If you BUILD it they will come ! Who knew ! Over 3,000 downloads ! We are all hungry to learn,  in the dog sport world of scent detection and one more podcast to choose from didnt seem possible but became probable and here we are ONE YEAR later with our upcoming September K9 Scent Fix Podcast Episode ! Thanks from Aleks with Release Canine and myself Jill with Mountain Dogs to all our listeners and supporters and folks who engage in this great sport and become life time learners with our dogs. Its Amazing, Awe Inspring and just plain Fun. So Congratulations to all of you who engage in learning and sharing the pursuit of odor with your dogs.  We hope you will JOIN US and continue to tune in and listen to the K9 Scent Fix Podcast upcoming episodes for another year of K9 Scent Fix talk !Send us Fan Mail

DO YOU SPEAK DOG ? "Hey- the hide is HERE !!!" Learning to read our dog working ODOR is no easy task. Our next PODCAST will jump into the deep end and explore Canine Communication ! Everything from our dog's communication of odor, to environment, to distraction and more from search start or release to search finish and search reward. In our TRAIN TO TRIAL & TRIAL TO TRAIN series we have explored the concepts of source and sourcing,  odor pathways, handler observation and Tools to Trial by. Our next series is to TALK COMMUNICATION.  Dog to Handler, Handler to Dog and Team Speak ! Everything we DO, everything we SAY and even what we THINK, FEEL and SEE is part of the communication process from start line to finish between ourselves and our dog as a nose work team when we train and trial. To say communication is KEY is an understatement. Lets explore this fun topic and unlock our TRAIN TO TRAIL and TRIAL TO TRAIN potential in our next podcast and beyond.  JOIN US LIVE - Monday August 26 2024 at 4 pm via ZOOM to participate in our Podcast discussion and recording ! LISTEN ON DEMAND- Wednesday August 28 2024 via your favorite Podcast App or at https://k9scentfix.buzzsprout.com/Mountain Dogs LLCJill E. Kovacevich, [email protected] us Fan Mail

Welcome to our NEW podcast to focus on Event Hosting  for Sport Dog Scentwork and Nosework  ! Im Jill Kovacevich with Mountain Dogs together with my co-hosts Aleks Woodroffe at Release Canine and Jen Fleming with Georgia Nosework. We seek to offer this podcast and our NEW K9 Scent Fix Hosting Support Facebook page as a resource and guidance with insight to anyone interested in hosting K9 scent events from ORTs to workshops to trials. Our intent is to be inclusive and offer information, as best we can, to support any chosen venue whether NACSW, AKC or other venue that is available in your area. We hope to provide guidance to shape a professional level event product and hosting support network,  while at the same time promoting not only good sportsmanship but great sportsmanship for everyone. Our vision is to build a valued resource for training and competition events from start to finish for everyone, from the host, to host team, to handlers, officials, volunteers, including our facilities and our sanctioning organizations. We strive to create a hosted product that provides an opportunity to train and trial in a safe and fun environment. Our goal is to support hosting that then supports our wonderful nosework dogs and their handler on the end of the leash.This podcast is our first episode to explore hosting interest and topics with insights from our vast experiences from years of  involvement in this great dog sport. Listen to our thoughts, ideas and be ready to engage in more learning as we embark on the journey to build a valued dog sporting hosted event resource. Thanks for listening. Please feel free to check us out on Facebook at the K9 Scent Fix Hosting Support page. Let us know your questions, concerns and awesome ideas as we build our Hosting Network together.  Check us out on Facebook at K9 Scent Fix Hosting Support https://www.facebook.com/groups/7348760681892064Send us Fan Mail

In our TRAIN TO TRIAL & TRIAL TO TRAIN series we have explored the concepts of source and sourcing,  odor pathways, handler observation and Tools to Trial by.Now its time to TALK COMMUNICATION. Everything we DO, everything we SAY and even what we THINK, FEEL and SEE is part of the communication process from start line to finish between ourselves and our dog as a nose work team when we train and trial. To say communication is KEY is an understatement. Lets explore this fun topic and unlock our TRAIN TO TRAIL and TRIAL TO TRAIN potential in our next podcast and beyond.  Send us Fan Mail

In our TRAIN TO TRIAL & TRIAL TO TRAIN series we have explored the concepts of source and sourcing odor pathways with keen handler observation and the needed goals and resources for training competent skill sets to thrive in training AND in trial. Along this training and trial journey we (handlers and trainers) use numerous tools to build skill sets and clarity for both the dog and the handler. TWO IMPORTANT tools often used that directly relate to SOURCE, are pairing (food or toy at source) and markers (verbal source locators).  Lets discuss the INS and OUTS of these TWO TOOLS and how similar and how different they actually are or may be !TO PAIR OR NOT TO PAIR - TO MARK OR NOT TO MARK - THAT IS THE QUESTION !Send us Fan Mail

TO REWARD OR NOT REWARD- THAT IS THE QUESTION - GOT THAT ONE !How do we train MOVING ON v REWARD AT SOURCE in training ? Does this change for trial day ? Does our dog have clarity of a prior found hide or prior found odor ? Is this a handler construct to fit our scent detection sport  for effective and efficient trial performance searching ? All these questions and more- in this insightful discussion inspired by a recent trial where as a handler I got "lost" between two mirror hides and thought a not yet found hide or new hide was potentially a prior found hide and later asked myself does that matter ?  Does my dog differentiate found odor from not found odor ? New odor from old odor ? Conundrum or maybe not ? Send us Fan Mail

Topic : TRAIN TO TRIAL and TRIAL TO TRAINREWARD AT SOURCE ! How do we train SOURCE drive for Trial ? How do we reward AT source in training or in trial ? Is it the same or is it different ? Lets chat about Source Reward ! Its a fun topic to gain insight into the concepts of SOURCE REWARD  and what that may mean AND CHANGE in multiple scenarios from training accessible to inaccessible hides,  high hides to ground hides, known location hides vs blind hides, remote reward away from source or training final response reinforcement, dog decision making or rewarding the dog's odor or source indication. ALL with added FUN comments and discussion from our TRIAL HOST family sitting around the table ! Send us Fan Mail

Let's explore tips and tricks for training and trial confidence and experience the fun and amazement of team search work, in both training and in trial, as we hit the road in the next months to come in 2024.  We start with self discovery of our current skill sets and where we ARE NOW  and build thoughtful, productive, progressive training plans with measurable skill sets for trial day.  AND just as important, we purposefully explore FUN ways to commemorate, assess and appreciate our trial performance ON trial day, no matter the ups and downs, as an amazing day shared with our scent detection dog companions. K9 Scent Fix Podcast for February explores our Training and Trial Game Plan with tips and tricks to discover our current skill sets, develop those skill sets for measurable  gains and reaching or revamping our dog sport training and trial goals with each training or trial experience in 2024.Send us Fan Mail

In Part 2 we explore the science of odor in the environment and our human perceptions of odor with enlightened odor intelligence gained from hours of observation watching our dogs search the odor environment to find what we are asking them to find when we ask them to find it. Build your Odor Intelligence with observation hours live or from video of any dog searching, any time, any where and with your odor miles build confidence in your dog for your search in training or in trial.Send us Fan Mail

Part One is all about the activity of setting hides and using imagination to meet or measure your search training objectives. We disucss setting hides for carefree quick fixes or using specific categories to help describe and craft your hide setting choice within a progressive training plan of hide complexities including location, anticipation of odor movement and environmental influences. Then adding in the Ds of dog training of duration, distance, difficulty, distraction and more if your a Dwiz, we can easily provide our dogs with an opportunity to experience searching for odor to source in training to broaden our dogs odor memory and build dog and handler search confidence. Send us Fan Mail

Relect, review and revitalize your learning throughout your self learning journey. Its essential to find resources for learning that work for you, that speak to your understanding. that supports' asking questions and ultimately honors your self training self, where you are now and where you may go next.  Find the tools to tighen, loosen or get just right the balance for you and your dog in training.  Be supportive of yourself and of others. Build your training tribe. Train safe, train with clarity and train with kindness. Send us Fan Mail

Self learning in  scent detection dog sport training is vital for every handler to acknowledge and accept and embrace for both ourselves and our dogs. To become the best learners we can be, to provide oursleves and our dogs with the many opportunities to experience and learn,  and to become passionate about training and learning sufficient to build a confident olfaction team,  by developing our Best Self Training self.  Send us Fan Mail

Jill and Aleks have a wealth of experience hosting nosework and scentwork trial events and along with a survey share their experience and provide guidance on what the K9 Handlers in this detection dog sport find and value most in the trials they have attended and look for in their future competition trial choices.Send us Fan Mail

In Part Two of our focused conversation on Arousal and the Engaged Search Dog we explore the multiple and variable training tips and tricks to provide your dog with an opportunity to experience and learn about self-regulating arousal in and out of search, how to better understand the complexity of arousal and search/source drive and how to self manage our handler selves as well.Some Resources we discussed in this episode:Leslie McDevitt Pattern Games (Link to her course on Clean Run)Nosework Camp (Link to DogsofCourse)The podcast from Hannah Brannigan that discusses arousal (Drinking from the Toilet)Dr Kathy Murphy: Behavior Vets- Neurobiology of Arousal: The Yerkes Dodson Law (behaviorvets.com)Send us Fan Mail

In this jam packed Episode with take a deep dive into canine and handler arousal, its innate attributes and answer with conversation many questions we all have about arousal in our scent detection sport canines and how arousal affects our team success. What is dog arousal ?What is optimum arousal for learning, training and performance ?How to identify low- medium or high arousal ?How to increase arousal if needed?How to decrease arousal if needed ?How to train an engaged or focused search ?How to refocus a search with increasing or decreasing arousal ?Pros and cons of high or low Optimizing arousal for an engaged search in trainingTrial strategies for an engaged searchSend us Fan Mail

Part Two- In this podcast we continue our coversation about developing and utilizing a growth mindest to train for trial and trial to train.  First we finish our ideas on use of a body cam and other trial video to facilitate trial learning, then discuss odor and hide challenges in trial including pooling and trapping and handler search teamwork, all with a growth mindset as our primary learning goal.  Finally we conclude with a list of future podcase topics includings Arousal and the Engaged Search Dog; Training the Elements; Places to Train; The Vehicle Search and  Containers with Distractors.We hope you enjoy the podcast and we look forward to having you tune in for another great Episode either live on November 16 2023 at 4 pm MT (sign up online at mountaindogs.org to catch the Podcast live via zoom) OR check back the week of November 16 2023 for the recorded podcast posted and available for your listening pleasure, anytime, anywhere. Keep on Sniffin- from Jill and Aleks - Podcast HostsSend us Fan Mail

Welcome Everyone to the Mountain Dogs Coaching Call & Podcast. Im Jill Kovacevich from Mountain Dogs and am excited to launch a new format for our monthly live-zoom coaching calls. We will be recording the audio from our live zoomcast and uploading a link to the Mountain Dogs and Release Canine websites, and onto our Podcast Hosted page,  as an On-Deman Podcast available to a broader audience as a scent detection sport dog training and trialing resource. Getting to Know Our Podcast1- Format Change- We have had great success with our coaching calls covering training and trialing topics, that are invaluable, with input from all those that attend. But rather than offering the live cast to only those who attend live via zoom, offering our discussions as a valued training resource has great merit , so we can reach a broader audience via a recorded PODCAST with published links on the Mountain Dogs and Release Canine websites. 2. More Expertise - We are adding Aleks Woodroffe from Release Canine as a co-host/ co-coach to broaden the discussions and provide added perspectives to nose work and scent work training and trialing.3- Guest Speakers- We look forward to adding Guest Speakers to discuss hot topics again with the added benefit of posting the coaching sessions as an available on demand PODCAST and important resource for training.Host and Co- Host IntroductionsIntroductions- Jill and Aleks; Jill Kovacevich from Mountian Dogs in Colorado  is our moderator and co-host with over 13 years of nose work coaching, training and trial experience and as a trial event host and official with NACSW;Aleks Woodroffe from Release Canine joins us from Arizona and brings another perspective for coaching on all things nose work and scent work. Aleks has extensive experice in multiple nose work trial venues as a compeitior, trial host, AKC Judge and highly experienced coach including NACSW and AKC Scent Work.Aleks- give us your background in nosework and scentworks,  how you got started and where you see yourself today with all the numerous nosework and scentwork hats you wear.Our Podcast- Your Training ResourceResources -We aim to provide you with training resources- Tips and Tricks to Fix- discussing how  we,  Jill and Aleks,  are available as a fundamental resource to your nose work dog training. We will detail specific methods and chat about whether those methods are inclusive or exclusive, pros and cons of each, the impact of a result focused training versus a  growth mindset with a goal to develop a balanced skill set for your  nose work team success.Inclusive- Open Minded ApproachOffering open minded discussions on multiple and variable training methods and techniques cationing as best we can to avoid the "Never" and " Always" training regminens to support an open inclusive dog training development that is so important in nose work, no matter which event venue you or we choose to enter or have available for competition or trials.Future Topics- -Distractions- Environment and More -Engaged Dog- High and Low Arousal and the Engaged Dog-Running the Elements- Setting up training for all elements- NACSW and AKC and more-The Box Search and Intentional container distractions- How to Train for success-+R Nose work- using food or toy as primary reinforer for Intro to Elite and Summit beyondSend us Fan Mail