A game-changing program for you and your dog. A life-changing program for shelter dogs.
What is K9 Nose Work?
Here is a description of nose work credited to Alexandra Butler, and we believe no one has said it better.
It’s Not Just a Game. People love to call scent work a fun little enrichment activity. And sure it is fun. Dogs love it. Handlers love it. It’s full of joy. But don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s just a cute game. Scent work changes dogs. It rewires behavior. It builds confidence. It gives anxious dogs a way forward, energetic dogs a sense of control, and disconnected dogs a way back in. It’s not just about finding an odor. It’s about who the dog becomes on the way there.
The dog who couldn’t cope with the outside world suddenly has a reason to engage with it. The dog who shut down on walks starts to pull you towards the next challenge. The dog who used to bark, spin, or disengage now pauses, breathes, and solves.
It’s not a distraction. It’s not a trick. It’s proper work. Structured, satisfying, mentally rich work that taps into the part of your dog that’s always been there, waiting for something that finally makes sense. Scent work isn’t just a game. It’s a turning point.
What is behind K9 Nose Work?
The activity and sport of K9 Nose Work was originally introduced in 2009 by three top professional canine detection trainers. After many years of witnessing positive changes in dogs due to searching for controlled substances, these three detection experts decided to bring these same positive benefits to the world of companion dogs. Today, K9 Nose Work is the fastest growing sport in the world with instructors, trials and training classes in 14 countries. K9 Nose Work operates under the guidelines and guidance of the National Association of Canine Scent Work, commonly referred to as NACSW. Certified Nose Work Instructors, or CNWI’s, are certified through rigorous training and coursework by NACSW.
Why is Nose Work so popular?
Nose Work training is all about unleashing your dog’s desire to search, something your dog is already equipped to do. In Nose Work, you are going to harness your dog’s drive to search and use it for the benefit of you and your dog as a team. Dogs work one at a time and out of the sight of other dogs, so that dogs can engage and focus on the job in front of them. The act of deep sniffing for an odor or scent is hard work for your dog, so they become physically and mentally satisfied with just a few minutes of searching. This allows you to exercise your dog indoors, outdoors and in small, confined areas. Additionally, K9 Nose Work helps dogs to build confidence, impulse control and develop socialization skills. For the human end of the leash, it helps to build teamwork between you and your dog.
How does Nose Work help shelter dogs?
It’s been proven through research that the act of searching builds optimism in dogs, so dogs within a shelter that engage in K9 Nose Work are quite simply, happier dogs. Shelters across the country report that an in-shelter K9 Nose Work enrichment program increases adoption rates for their dogs due to the dogs becoming calmer, quieter and more relaxed.
By enrolling in the K9 Nose Work Program, you help your dog and you help bring Nose Work to shelter dogs.
When you take a class from APS-FH, your tuition is used to help fund the K9 Nose Work Program for the in-shelter dogs. You are helping shelter dogs to receive the gift of a home while allowing your dog to use the greatest gift of all. The dog’s nose.
SJI K9 Detection Club
Ongoing practice sessions on all K9 Nose Work elements in various locations are offered through the SJI K9 Detection Club at $25 per month plus one-time club membership join fee.
Upcoming Classes
Call us if you have questions.
K9 Intro to Nose Work Levels 1&2 – $500
Ideal for beginners and returning students – this is the first class to ready you and your dog for Intro to Odor. 11 sessions: 1 hour Orientation, 6 weeks Intro to Nose Work and 4 weeks Continuing Elements.
Class 1
January 10 – March 21
Saturdays 9:30am to 11:15am
(longer class due to more teams)
Class 3
January 6 – March 17
Tuesdays 9:30am to 11am
Class 2 is full so we’ve added class 3 on the same days, starting at 9:30am.
K9 Intro to Odor – $360*
This class is designed for graduates of our Intro to K9 Nose Work Level 1 class. 6 sessions.
February 8 – March 21
Session 1: Odor Kit Making on Saturday Feb 8, 2pm to 4pm
Sessions 2-6: Saturdays 2pm to 3:30pm
Odor kits are included for SJI K9 Detection Club members, reducing class cost to $300.
K9 Puppy Nose Work Games – $200
For pups 8-16 weeks old who have had their 1st core vaccines. This class has the same benefits as our other nose work classes but is geared towards puppies. We will be interactive with our pups as we help them learn the love of the game through play and by providing an outlet for their natural instincts. Join in for fun, confidence building and/or to pave the way to Intro to Nose Work! 4 sessions.
Class 1
January 4 – January 25
Sundays 1:30 to 2:30pm
Class 2
February 22 – March 15
Sundays 3:30pm to 4:30pm
K9 Nose Work is a registered trademark of the National Association of the Canine Scent Work.