All About Scent Work Podcast

Do All the Sniffy Things

We are incredibly fortunate in that there is a slew of dog sport activities that all focus on our dogs tapping into their wonderful sense of smell.
In this episode, Dianna discusses how we should be leveraging all of these sniffy possibilities, since doing so can actually improve our dog's Scent Work game as well. 

Find Mine: Handler Discrimination

When it comes to handler discrimination, it common for handlers to become frustrated and for dogs to be confused of what game they are supposed to be playing. Why does this happen? We discuss some of the common reasons in this podcast episode.
Interested in getting started in Handler Discrimination? Check out the online Handler Discrimination course we offer through Scent Work University.

Instructor Talk: Leveraging Primary

It is common for Scent Work handlers to want to get off training primary as quickly as possible. "We want to hunt for the real stuff!" However, there are ways to fully leverage hunting for primary to help solidify crucial skills that will serve you and your dog well into your sniffing careers.
In this podcast episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Judith Guthrie about how she uses primary and the general process one may use to transition from primary, or pairing, to hunting for a novel target odor alone, considerations to keep in mind and more.
Judith brings a breadth of knowledge to this topic, especially considering the fact she wears so hats in the Scent Work realm, both as a professional detection dog trainer and handler, an approved Scent Work trial official, professional instructor and mentor as well as an accomplished competitor in her own right! 
With that in mind, we are thrilled to have Judith share her expertise with our clients. Be certain to check out her upcoming offerings:
More Than Odor: Environmental Considerations Webinar
USCSS: It's Game Time! Trial Prep Course
You may also be interested in the Hunting for Primary: Tips and Tricks Webinar with Dianna L. Santos.

Spotlight: Barbara Deg and Scentsitive Soul Program

In this podcast episode, Dianna has the privilege of speaking with Barbara Deg of Front N'Scenter Animal Behavior & Consulting regarding her new Scentsitive Soul Program designed to help dogs with big feelings by leveraging the power of Scent Work.
Learn more about Barbara and her program:
Online platform for Scentsitive Soul Program and related services
Front N'Scenter Animal Behavior & Consulting website
Facebook Page: Front N'Scenter Animal Behavior & Consulting

Interiors: Interesting or Infuriating?

In this podcast episode, Dianna discusses the final traditional search element of Interior searches and how they are oftentimes tackled as a "stuff" search instead of an interior search. Are you leveraging these interesting and exciting search elements to their full potential? Find out in this episode!
Does your dog struggle with slippery floors? You are in luck! Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow will be presenting a webinar outlining solutions you can try. Be sure check out their The Floor is Lava Webinar.
Does your dog have a tendency to blow through threshold hides? Michele Ellertson has put together an outstanding training plan that addresses this very problem. Order the replay for her Threshold Hides: From Terrible to Terrific Webinar and marvel at the step-by-step training plan that will allow you and your dog to ace threshold hides going forward.

Exteriors: Exciting or Excruciating

As we embark on our Scent Work training journey, the prospect of tackling exterior searches with our dogs can be incredibly exciting! However, as we progress along our sniffing journey, we may find the challenges thrown at us by the environment become too much to deal with! Suddenly, exterior searches morph from this exciting venture to something that is excruciatingly painful and fraught with countless pitfalls!
In this podcast episode, Dianna discusses why this happens and how we, as handlers and trainers, may adjust our outlook to reinvigorate our love and appreciation for this challenging search element.
You may be interested in checking out these resources focused solely on tackling exterior searches:
Conquering the Environment in Scent Work Webinar
Exteriors and Field Trips with Primary Course
Exteriors and Field Trips with Birch Course
We have also been incredibly fortunate to host a slew of highly talented instructors as of late, be certain to check them all out:
All About the Box: A Detailed Look at Container Searches Webinar and All About the Box: Part 2 Webinar with Dana Zinn
Threshold Hides: From Terrible to Terrific Webinar with Michele Ellertson
Fearless Open Areas with Confidence Webinar with Judith Guthrie
Odor Concentrations Webinar with Judith Guthrie

Who Needs Vehicle Searches Anyways?!

Have you ever questioned why people even bother doing vehicle searches? Are they a search element you simply do not practice or train?
In this podcast episode, Dianna will discuss how fun vehicle searches can be, how they can be an excellent learning opportunity for dog and handler alike and why everyone should give them a try!
Intrigued? Be certain to check out Michael McManus' Perfect Patterns: Vehicles Course.
You may also be inspired by some of the challenges posed in these eBooks:
50 Sniffy Fun Challenges eBook
Winter Sniffy Fun Challenges eBook
Winter Sniffy Fun Challenge 2.0 eBook
Winter Sniffy Fun Challenge 3.0 eBook (to be released on March 31, 2023)
Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today!
Are you interested in competing in Scent Work? Give virtual trialing a try! Check out Cyber Scent Work, Inc. where not only may you earn qualifying scores, titles and ribbons, you may also receive training feedback from our incredibly talented and experienced Review Officials. Submit your video entry today.
Interested in another dog sport? Dog Sport University is sister online dog training platform, give it a peek and see what it has to offer you and your dog.
Want to help your dog in the manner department? Maybe you have a new puppy?
Check out our newest online dog training platform, Pet Dog U, where we offer online dog training courses, webinars, seminars as well as a regularly updated blog and podcast for all of your dog training needs!
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Eww...Containers!

Speaker: Dianna L. Santos
Do you DESPISE containers? Are they dumb, boring and your least favorite search element ever? You are not alone apparently! There is rather large contingency within the Scent Work community who are not fans of Container searches.
In this episode, Dianna will do her very best to try to make the case FOR Containers, describing how valuable of a learning tool they can be and attempt to inspire listeners to give this search element another chance.

Why the Why Matters

When we are training, trialing or making decisions about our sniffing journey, we oftentimes solely focus on the "how". In this podcast episode, discover the importance of understanding the "why".

Messy Human Expectations

Your dog is tackling a search and you just don't think they are going about it the right way. They are coming off the containers or vehicles, or perhaps they are attempting to go outside the barrier cones for an exterior search. Silly dog, you think to yourself, as you step in to direct them, illustrating the "right" way to go about searching this space.
In this episode, we discuss how our human expectations can inject unnecessary conflict into our Scent Work searches. Basically, how it is oftentimes best to simply trust the dog, as they can actually interact with and experience the odor we've tasked them to find. However, ceding this control and offering this trust can be exceedingly difficult and challenging for handlers, especially when the dog's choices in the space directly counter the handler's human expectations.