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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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 community

Join us next time when we'll dive into the topic of imposter syndrome in dog sports!

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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. 

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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!

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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 TEAM

1- 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 tested

We cover HOW TO  apply training to your TEAM assessment including:

OBJECTIVES

1- 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 tested

And then break down EACH TRIAL LEVEL by the skills tested at that TRIAL level for NACSW and AKC

LEVEL APPROPRIATE- 4 AREAS TO CONSIDER FOR EACH LEVEL

SKILLS TESTED- What skills for dog and handler are tested for the trial level

SEARCH PARAMETERS- Elements; Search Area; Hides; Time; Distractions 

SKILL SETS REQUIRED- to meet Title Level

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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 

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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!

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