Flint Hill K-9 is thrilled to be offering group

classes in the fantastically fun and completely

addicting new sport of K9 NOSE WORK®!!

WHAT IS K9 NOSE WORK®?

Click below to download K9 Nose Work Flyer

FHK9 NW FLYER.pdf

K9 Nose Work® is the new, exciting, urban dog

sport that is designed to develop dogs’ natural

scenting abilities by using their curiosity, desire

to hunt, and their love of toys, food, and exercise.

This sport teaches the dog to use its nose to find a specific scent or odor* on cue, and then tell their owner that they have found it.  It’s a great way for any dog to have fun, build confidence, and burn lots of mental and physical energy. The art and practice of nose work has made basic search dog skills available to companion dogs, creating a new sport arena for dog enthusiasts. Not only has it proven to be a great activity for all types of dogs, but the founders' techniques make this one of the most accessible activities for the widest variety of dog owners regardless of previous training experience.  K9 Nose Work® is open to dogs of all shapes and sizes - no prior obedience training required! Dogs are sniffing it up!! (*Note: this activity is for fun and sport - the target odors used in the sport are 3 particular essential oils).

Cost for Each 6-Week Course: $180.

Courses offered:

INTRO TO NOSE WORK 1 & 2 - (Two 6-Week Courses) Start the foundation skills and get your dog using his or her natural scenting abilities.  No prerequisite for Intro to Nose Work 1; prerequisite for Intro to Nose Work 2 is Intro to Nose Work 1.

INTRO TO ODOR 1 & 2 - (Two 6-Week Courses) Prerequisites: Intro to Nose Work 1 & 2.  These courses are for those who are already having fun training their dog in the basics of K9 Nose Work and want to take the next step.  All dogs are taught to identify the same scent, a natural essential oil used in K9 Nose Work® trials. Techniques and tactics for building better dog/handler teamwork are covered. High food or toy motivation is beneficial for this class.

Dogs/handlers must have completed both Intro to Nose Work 1 & 2 (and Intro to Odor 1 if signing up for Odor 2) and be able to demonstrate skill proficiency with box hides, elevated hides, and various environmental hides. The first target odor is introduced in this class. Your instructor will assess your dog’s readiness for the odor courses.  A good guideline for knowing when you and your dog are ready for Intro to Odor:

1. ❖  Your dog sees a line of boxes, and knows the
   nose game is on!
   

2. ❖  Your dog has experienced and can search in 5 different locations of varying environment types (i.e. living room other then the dog's, garage at a friend's house, park like area, office, etc.)
   

3. ❖  Your dog will search many objects, not just boxes to find his reward
   

4. ❖  Your dog has built stamina to do several searches and maintain focus and energy
   

5. ❖  You know what really motivates your dog and overrides other interests (in people, dogs, environments)
   

INTERMEDIATE NOSE WORK - For dogs that have completed Intro to Nose Work 1 & 2 and Intro to Odor 1 & 2 and have met minimum proficiency in finding their initial target odor. This class will continue to develop handler skills and increase searching challenges. Handlers interested in entering trials with their dogs will learn trial rules and skills. Once you and your dog earn your NW1 title, you will graduate to an Advanced Class!

ADVANCED NOSE WORK - Designed for the experienced teams who have earned their NW1 title or above. Advanced level training will expand both the handler's understanding of the concepts of Nose Work and expand the dog’s level of experience in problem-solving more difficult searches. New target odors will be introduced in this course. This level, which is offered on an ongoing basis, is geared towards tactics, advanced handling, off-leash work, and trial preparation. The teams will learn to navigate more intricate and challenging training scenarios to prepare them for their NW 2 & 3 titles.

About the classes:

•  The classes meet once a week for 60 or 90 minutes

•  Each class is limited to 6 dog/handler teams or less

•  Each dog will be worked individually during the class

•  Dogs will need to be crated and/or kept in your vehicle (weather permitting) between working times (indoor climate-controlled crating area available) - If crated, dogs must be able to rest calmly in a crate. 

Who can participate?

•  Any dog or puppy 4 months old and up!

•  Even retired dogs or dogs with physical limitations    (as long as they are mobile)

1. •     EVEN dogs who are fearful of other dogs and/or reactive toward other dogs can participate! We create a safe environment where only one dog at a time is working in class and the others are crated out of sight in a separate area.  This is great because owners of reactive dogs can relax and enjoy the FUN!!
   

2. •    If your dog has ever injured another dog, we can assess if a class or private Nose Work sessions would be better for you and your dog.
   

3. •   Dogs with aggression issues toward people are not able to participate in a group class environment - but be sure to ask Leah about Private Nose Work Sessions!
   
   

Contact: Leah Gangelhoff, CNWI

(205) 267-7793

leah@flinthillk9.com

Flint Hill K-9 owner, Leah Gangelhoff, is

the first Certified K9 Nose Work®

Instructor (CNWI), in the Southeast

region. While living in Los Angeles,

she studied under, trained with, and

certified dogs to professional level

detection work with K9 Nose Work

co-founders Ron Gaunt & Amy Herot

and was part of a weekly on-going

detection training group with Ron,

Amy, and third co-founder, Jill Marie

O’Brien (see Leah’s dogs here).

Leah has been invited by the

founders to be an Instructor at

K9 Nose Work® Training Camps and to

co-teach national K9 Nose Work®

workshops with the co-founders. She

is a Judge for K9 Nose Work® Trials

and a Certifying Official (and Judge)

for required ORTs (Odor Recognition Tests),

that all dogs must pass before entry into a

K9 Nose Work® trial.