Judith Guthrie's Nose Dogs Newsletter

Volume 8 - March 2026

Author

Judith Guthrie
March 10, 2026

Judith here, getting excited for the upcoming scent work season!

Lots of exciting things this month!

I’m hosting another free scent work Q&A on Zoom on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 6–7 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT). It’s open to anyone involved in scent work.

Also, I’m giving away over $800 in training sessions to help raise money for a ballistic vest for K9 Falco of the Marana Police Department in Arizona.

This month, I talk about presentations, one of the most misunderstood tools in scent work.

Plus, another Slowing Down the Search video, with an elevated plume.

And I’m teaching a live 6-week course to help you prep for AKC Master and Detective levels, including video review!

I’m also looking for East Coast hosts for in-person training opportunities.

All this and more. Read on!

Using Presentations the Right Way in Scent Work

Presentations. Some handlers avoid them entirely because they worry it means interfering with the dog’s job. Others use them so often that the search begins to revolve around the handler instead of the dog. And some avoid them altogether because they simply haven’t learned why they’re useful or how to use them well.

In Part One of this three-part series, I talk about what presentations are and where they fit in the search without taking over the dog’s job.

If you’ve ever wondered whether using a presentation could be useful, this series will give you some things to consider.

Free Zoom Scent Work Q &A with Judith!

I’m hosting another free scent work Q&A on Zoom on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 6–7 p.m. MT.

It’s open to anyone involved in scent work, regardless of role or organization. All are welcome! (Thank you to everyone who made my first one in February a huge success!)

Meet Eligor

Eligor is a four-year-old black Lab looking for his own human. Great for a scent work and sport dog home!

He is crate-trained, accustomed to structure, and understands routines with clear expectations. In the house, he settles well with supervision. He loves to play fetch, he is very smart, and he is genuinely fun to be around.

He is extremely dog-friendly and social. That is one of the reasons he has been used so often in the nursery. He reads puppies well, is appropriate, and has helped teach a lot of early social skills. I can absolutely keep him in that role.

I would rather see him have his own person.

Every one of his siblings is working in detection. His litter sister is my narcotics dog. The genetics and brain are there.

Eligor has not been started on sport odor or shed hunting yet, but with the right handler, he could be a very enjoyable sport dog or a solid shed hunter.

If someone would like him started before going home, I’m happy to put him through our Foundations course or begin shed hunting or odor imprinting. Those options are available, not required.

He will also go home with my transition guide for moving a structured working dog into a companion home.

I will be traveling coast to coast over the next couple of months, so delivery or meetups along major routes can be arranged.

He’s fun. Personable. Capable.

If that sounds like your kind of dog, let’s talk.

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

Win Training Opportunities and Help K9 Falco Get a Protective Vest

I’ve donated several remote training and coaching opportunities through Nose Dogs Detection Services to support a fundraiser for Marana Police Department’s newest K9 officer, Falco.

Officer Falco

These training opportunities — with a combined value of more than $820 — are part of a raffle that also includes other donated prizes from the scent work community. All proceeds will go toward purchasing a ballistic vest for Falco.

Some of the training opportunities included in the raffle:

• One-Month Tier 1 Remote Mentorship — structured video review, consultation, and messaging support (typical value $300+)
• Search Analysis Video Review Package — six video review credits for detailed search breakdowns (typical value $150)
• Training Diagnostic Session — video review plus a 30-minute consultation (typical value $135)

Additional training opportunities and other donated prizes will also be included in the raffle. Full details below.

You do not need to attend the trial to participate. Tickets can be purchased from anywhere.

Raffle Ticket Prices
• $1 each
• 6 for $5
• 12 for $10
• 25 for $20

How to Buy Tickets
Contact Jo Quintenz with your contact info and the number of tickets you purchased.
[email protected]

Send Zelle payment to:
[email protected]

Deadlines
Online ticket sales close March 20 at 6 PM
In-person sales close March 21 at 11 AM

Slowing Down the Search – Working an Elevated Plume

Elevated odor can wrap and present from more than one side. Dogs often move around the edges of the plume as they work the odor picture.

Watch Tempo working on an elevated plume. There’s a moment that makes many handlers nervous; when the Tempo gets close to source and then turns away.

Handlers often step in here to help because it looks like the dog has left odor.

He hasn’t.

He is working the odor picture.

When dogs are allowed to work through moments like this, they learn. That experience becomes part of the dog’s odor library. When they encounter a similar odor puzzle later, they move through it more efficiently. If we step in too quickly, we interrupt that process.

Training with elevated accessibles is a useful step when teaching elevated hides. The dog can still reach source and completely solve the puzzle.

Prepare for AKC Masters and Detective – 6 Week Online Courses

Ready to conquer master or detective this season?

I’m offering two separate 6-week online courses designed to help teams prepare for the unique challenges of AKC Masters and AKC Detective.

Each course includes live weekly Zoom meetings and weekly video review to help you develop stronger search strategies, better read your dog, and tackle complex odor puzzles.

Both courses start April 6.

Register now to save your spot.

Upcoming Seminars and Training Opportunities

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

I also travel regularly from Nevada to the East Coast. Scroll down to see availability.

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

Las Vegas, Nevada - March 13
Private lessons available.

Richland, Washington - March 20-22
I’ll be at 4 Paws Dog Works for Sniffy Sessions. Contact Tracy Hill for more information. [email protected]  509-946-7297 

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

Pocatello, Idaho - April 4  
AKC Temperament Test (testing day).

Pocatello, Idaho - April 5  
Available for privates, small groups, or a one-day focused working seminar. 
If you’re within driving distance and would like to organize a training day, reach out.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - April 17–19
Butler Dog Training Association in Renfrew, PA. Go to https://butlerdogtraining.com/ or contact [email protected] for more information.

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

Upcoming Hosting Opportunities

Interested in hosting but feel like you're on the other side of the country? Take a look at the dates below.

I travel between Nevada and Virginia several times each year. When I’m on that route, I open select weekends for host organizations.

If you can organize a working group in your area, reach out. Formats can include focused working seminars, advanced workshops, or scenario-based training

Front Royal ⇄ Philadelphia Corridor - April 25–26
Northern Virginia / DC metro
Baltimore MD
Frederick MD
Philadelphia PA
Harrisburg PA
York PA
Wilmington DE  

If you’re in VA, MD, PA, WV, DE, NJ, or surrounding areas and would like to host, reach out.

Happy Hunting

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

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