Julie Eskoff CPDT-KA, CNWI with Pearl and NACSW Co-founder Ron Gaunt
National Association of Canine Scent Work - K9 Nose Work®- Detection Classes for Fun and Trial
Need something new for your dog that is easy, portable, and highly enjoyable, which you can play and play now? Want to get out and explore and pursue with your dog? Just what is this K9 Nose Work® all about?
The activity and sport of K9 Nose Work® is designed to develop your dog’s natural scenting abilities by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise. It’s a phenomenal way for your dog to have fun, build confidence, overcome environmental challenges, and use more critical thinking while burning lots of mental and physical energy, and it all starts with a box!
Why is K9 Nose Work® so different?
All dogs get to play and play now. Dogs are given a choice and learn to work more independently while providing highly nuanced communication with their owners - creating the ultimate satisfied dog and relationship. As a pet parent you will learn how to communicate with your dog at a level you cannot get through any other discipline as K9 Nose Work® is obedience free while searching.
What is K9 Nose Work®?
K9 Nose Work® is a fun activity for dogs and owners designed around your dog’s natural scenting ability and desire to hunt. It provides mental enrichment, helps increase confidence, and is just a lot of fun for dogs! It also gives you the opportunity to learn more about and appreciate your dog’s amazing “scent-ability”.
What Will My Dog Learn?
Dogs are already exceptionally capable of finding things with their noses, so we don’t actually have to teach them how to smell. However some dogs have the confidence to hunt intrinsically, others have to be cultivated which we do very well in K9 Nose Work®. In the beginner classes, class instructors and handlers (that’s you) set up numerous and diverse situations for dogs to hunt for toy and or food rewards with increasing levels of challenge.
In the advanced stages, dogs are taught to search for tiny hints of odor, and are always rewarded at the end of each hunt. It’s amazing to see how the dogs get excited about hunting even in their first class! We call K9 Nose Work® magic as you will see your dog improve right before your eyes!
Who Can Play?
One huge item to know about K9 Nose Work® is that it’s suitable for just about any dog and any person, even those with some physical limitations. All breeds and mixes of all ages are welcome, and even dogs that are reactive to other dogs or people can safely join a class.
Dogs with a bite history on dogs or people and are considered aggressive and intend to do harm are not allowed in a group setting and require a private evaluation and future lessons all on a private basis to continue.
All handlers must please complete a pre-class questionnaire so Julie knows how to support your dog in class. This is required to enroll in the class.
Most dog activities & sports, such as agility, fly ball, and rally obedience, are not typically suitable for dogs that are reactive to other dogs. K9 Nose Work® can open up a whole new world of enrichment for these dogs!!
Dogs work off-leash in class sometimes so only one dog works at a time and all others are crated in a calm area until their turn comes around again. This is done so the working dog is not distracted by other dogs while in the “sniff zone”. Each dog will have multiple turns during class so they won’t spend a lot of time in crates.
Your dog please must be crated trained and comfortable being crated to participate as we run one dog at a time. If the weather is cool, you may crate your dog in your car. Otherwise, we have a separate room from the search area to host your dog for the class in their cozy crates.
For Fun and Competition
There are Nose Work® competitions on the West Coast as well as a few other parts of the country, and the East Coast had its first competitions in 2011. However, you don’t need to compete for you and your dog to receive the full benefits of this exciting activity. You will quickly learn K9 Nose Work® techniques that are easily re-created at home for practice and fun! Dogs don’t care if they win any competitions, so they enjoy it whether they compete or not. This gives pet parents another fun way to be out and about with their dog!
Behavior Issues – The Bonus of K9 Nose Work®
Since the founders of K9 Nose Work® (all professional scent detection dog trainers & handlers) started offering these classes a few years ago, owners who have dogs with separation anxiety, reactivity, environmental sensitivity, and other stress-related concerns have reported improvement after doing Nose Work.
How Can I Find More Information?
For more information, see the official K9 Nose Work® website: www.k9nosework.com. Also check out YouTube for videos of some dogs in action! Just search on K9 Nose Work®
How Do I Get Started?
If you’re interested in registering for a 6-week class (approximately 1.5 to 2.0 hours per week), please contact Julie Eskoff CPDT-KA – CNWI. Julie is the first CNWI in Texas and is from San Antonio, Texas currently living in Leander, Texas. You can see more about Julie at www.rmwnwje.com.
If you’re not ready to join a class but are curious about K9 Nose Work®, you’re welcome to come and observe a class. Please contact Julie Eskoff at 512 940-7574 to schedule a time to observe classes being hosted at K9 Country Club in Bulverde, Texas.
Benefits of K9 Nose Work:
1. Mentally and physically relaxed puppies and dogs!
2. Easy to go and set up for mental activity for those cold wet winter days &/or too hot to go outside summer days!
3. Fantastic compliment to an already existing Behavior Modification Program for reactive, environmentally challenged, &/or shy puppies and dogs.
4. A supportive and calm outlet for physically challenged dogs (blind, deaf, old/senior dogs, physically limited, etc.). A wonderful confidence builder for those shy puppies and dogs - giving pet parents another avenue to connect and bond with their companion. This sport builds the ultimate relationship!
5. Learn how to read your dog's body language and communicate at a level you cannot get from other canine sport.
6. Learn the world from your dog’s vantage point.
7. You will have more fun than you can imagine.
8. You train with your friends and get out and about with traveling classes once you get your foundation in Intro to Nose Work and Introduction to Odor.
Please contact Julie Eskoff CPDT-KA and CNWI for enrollment forms, pre-class questionnaire, what to bring and class rules and structure. Once you pay online www.rmnwje.com under Pet Store – Classes – K9 Country Club.
Julie will send you the paper work via e-mail to complete for your dog.