Judith Guthrie's Nose Dogs Newsletter

Volume 7 - February 2026

Author

Judith Guthrie
February 04, 2026

Hey everyone. Judith here.

Check this out!

I’m excited to host a FREE scent work Q&A via ZOOM on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 6pm - 7pm MTN time! It’s open to everyone in scent work regardless of role or orginization - all are welcome!

When you register, you’ll be asked for your question. If you don’t have one, that’s cool. You can still come and listen in.

Also, congratulations to Julie Louden from Washington. She’s the winner of a training webinar of her choice from ScentWorkU.com, after replying to a recent email contest.

More chances to win on the way.

In This Issue:
🦮Bring Banner into Your Home!
🧠 Creating an Independent Searcher
🕵️ Detective Debrief
⏸️ Slowing Down The Search
💻 Virtual Training Event
 🧑‍🏫 Seminars and Training Opportunities

Meet Banner. Banner Is Looking For His Person.

Not every dog you breed and train is meant to follow the same path, and recognizing that is part of being responsible to the dog.

Banner is a dog I’ve bred, raised, and trained. Over time, it became clear that while he is talented and willing, his strengths are better suited to a different kind of partnership than full-time detection work.

He deserves a home where those strengths can shine. Banner, a young male Yellow Lab (born May 10, 2024), is currently available to the right home.

Bred from generations of professional detection dogs with a sprinkling of Master Hunt mixed in, he is athletic, energetic, and affectionate. While detection was not the right long-term path for Banner, he would thrive in an active, sport-minded household where structure, consistency, and engagement are part of daily life.

Happy Banner

In new situations and around unfamiliar people, he may be unsure at first and naturally look to his person for guidance. For the right handler, that creates a close bond and a dog who truly works with you. He is transitioning from a working kennel to home life and is learning what it means to be a house dog, including the pleasures, expectations, and needs of someone willing to help him on his journey.

To learn more about bringing Banner into your life, and if he’s the right fit for you, reply to this email.

Creating an Independent Scent Work Dog

Would you like a dog that enters the search area and gets the job done with minimal handler input?

In this article, I discuss how you can build an independent searching dog by making a few minor adjustments in your training. The first step, help your dog less.

Detective Debrief: How the Door to the Search Area Impacted the Search

The opening and closing door that significantly changed the odor picture

You may have already seen my recent Judges Debrief video on this detective search.

In this post, I’m taking a deeper dive for my newsletter readers how a constantly opening and closing door reshaped the entire odor picture.

I break down what was happening in the space, how airflow and barriers affected what the dogs could access, and what we can learn from the way the dogs worked through those changing conditions.

If you’ve ever wondered why a search didn’t “look right,” this deeper look will change how you see it.

Slowing Down the Search – Seeing Independence in the Small Decisions

This clip is about more than whether the dog finds the hide. It’s about learning to recognize what real problem-solving looks like when conditions aren’t helping.

Poker is working a search where the wind isn’t especially helpful. The problem here isn’t speed or motivation. It’s staying in the work long enough to sort out information that keeps changing, without help from the handler.

As you watch, pay attention to what Poker does when the picture doesn’t come together right away. Notice the overshoot, the moment she crosses the plume, and how her body reorganizes after that. Also notice what she doesn’t do. She doesn’t check back in. She stays in the problem.

That’s where perseverance and independence actually live. Not in one big decision, but in a series of small ones. Keep going. Test it again. Stay engaged long enough for the picture to sharpen.

Take those moments as information, not judgment. They tell you what Poker believes is available and how confident she is in it at that point in the search.

Seeing that clearly here makes it easier to recognize later, when you’re watching your own dog work through wind, distance, or uncertainty.

“How Would You Train It?” Virtual Event

Learn how six trainers would approach three common training issues:

  • A dog worried about being wrong

  • A dog new to competition that guesses

  • A dog who avoids difficulty and defers to the handler

On February 13, I’ll join Anita Ambani, Holly Bushard, Kayla Dever, Jill Kovacevich, and Michael McManus for the Judge’s View Virtual Event, a three-hour live discussion about how each trainer would tackle each scenario.

While you’re there, take a look at my library of over 50 webinars. I’m confident you’ll find a few that can support you and your dog’s training.

Upcoming Seminars and Training Opportunities

Here’s where I’ll be in February. If I’m near you and you want to train, let me know!

I also travel regularly from Nevada to the East Coast, so if you’re interested in bringing me out, let’s see if we can make something happen.

Salt Lake City, Utah - February 7-8 
Competing in the AKC SLC scent work trial. Say hi and let me know if you want to train before or after.

San Antonio, Texas - February 11-13
Presenting dogs to TSA. Available in the afternoon and evening for small group or one-on-one sessions. 

San Antonio/Austin, Texas area - February 14-16
If you're within a few hours of the area and want to host a learning opportunity, let me know!

Tucson, Arizona - March 7
One-on-one privates available.

Phoenix / Tucson Area - March 8
Seminar at Splash Town, hosted by Sandy Bellow.

Arizona - March 9
Working with Desert Drug Dogs.

Phoenix, Arizona - March 10 (morning)
Limited private sessions available.

Las Vegas, Nevada - March 11–12
Attending the Canine Cop Conference.

Richland, Washington - March 20-22
I’ll be at 4 Paws Dog Works for Sniffy Sessions. Contact Tracy Hill for more information.  

Salt Lake City, Utah - March 27–29
Trialing at the Bristle Nose Scent Work Trial. Lessons may be available on March 26 or March 30.

📩 To talk about any of these opportunities or hosting a seminar, reach out to me at [email protected].

Upcoming Judging Assignments

I’ll be judging at these upcoming trials, and I’d love to see you there:

  • Capitol Dog Training Club of Austin Feb 21-22, Bee Cave, TX

If you’re competing, please come say hi! Even better, I often come a day early or stay after so I can offer private sessions or small group training.

Happy Hunting

That’s a wrap for this edition of the Nose Dogs Newsletter.

My hope is that these ideas give you something concrete to bring into your next search and maybe even shift how you think about approaching the sport.

I’d love to hear from you, whether it’s about training, judging, questions, ideas, or just to say hi. You can email me or connect on social media:

And if you know someone who might enjoy these stories and tips, please share this newsletter with them.

—Judith