Judith Guthrie's Nose Dogs Newsletter

In This Issue:
🏆 Beating Buried: Training for Success
🎥 Slowing Down the Search: Video 1
🎥 Slowing Down the Search: Video 2
🎥 Slowing Down the Search: Video 3
🎓 ScentWorkU Events
📅 Seminars and Training Opportunities
⚖️ Judging Assignments

Beating Buried Part 2: Training for Buried Success

Buried is not just tubs of sand and water. And the good news is, you can train for it without hauling them out every session.

In Part One: I broke down how sand and water impact the odor picture.

This month, I give you ways to train for buried that don’t always involve dragging out the big tubs of sand and water.

Get ready for a buried breakthrough!

▶️ Read: Part 2 - How to Train for Buried Success

Slowing Down the Search to Better Read Your Dog:
Video 1

I’ve been experimenting with a new idea and would love to hear if you find it useful. I’m taking clips of dogs searching, slowing them down, and telling you the behaviors I see so you can start reading your dog better. I’ve included three of them in this newsletter for you to check out.

I’m still working out how best to present these videos so they are easy to understand and learn from. I personally like the first one, but you might think differently. And all three really offer some great insight into odor behavior.

Here’s Murphy working a hide, narrowing down source and shwoing what it looks like as he confirms the edges of the plumes and as he works multiple odor planes to locate source.

Slowing Down the Search to Better Read Your Dog:
Video 2

Shrimp’s turn now as she gets a line to a high hide from the corner of a cardboard box. Watch for the moment of realization and how quickly and confidently she moves to source after she gets the information she needs.

Slowing Down the Search to Better Read Your Dog:
Video 3

In the third video, notice how Shrimp reads the edge and directionality of the plume at the picnic table, which is downwind of the hide. Watch the moment she realizes the hide is behind her and quickly turns back into odor, then makes a clean 180-degree turn to stay in scent at about :27. As she drives back in, she drops her nose to the ground, suggesting a crack hide, and begins working the edge and line of odor across the concrete.

Watch the small zig-zags at :27–:29 as she narrows down the hide, then how those movements become very subtle as she zeros in on source. At about :40, you can see the clear moment of realization when she freezes and looks back. Slow motion makes these subtle head-and-body shifts visible, helps us see when a dog is truly working the odor rather than just hunting, and even helps us imagine what the odor is doing in the space.

If you liked these slow-motion videos, let me know by replying to this email, and I’ll make more!

Upcoming ScentWorkU Events

I had a great time, part of an awesome panel discussion on ScentWorkU.com this month. And good news! There are more.

I’ll be joining some great people like Ana Cilursu, Anita Ambani, Holly Bushard, Kayla Dever, Jill Kovacevich, Khara Schuetzner, and Michael McManus, talking about some great topics.

Get more details by clicking the links:

January 9th Secret Sauce: Competitive Effectiveness Virtual Event 
February 13th How Would You Train It: Vol 2 Virtual Event
March 13th Scent Work Toolbox: Choosing the Best Tool Virtual Event

While you’re there, take a look at my library of over 50 webinars. Give yourself a little gift this holiday season! I’m confident you’ll find a few that can support you and your dog’s training.

Upcoming Seminars and Training Opportunities

Look at all these opportunities to up your scent work game!

Las Vegas, Nevada - December 13-19
Contact for one-on-one and small-group sessions.

Reno, Nevada -  December 20-21
Contact me for one-on-one sessions and small-group sessions.

Wendover, Utah - December 22-Jan 4 
Come to my facility to train! Or come out and help me train my dogs if you’ve ever wondered how professional detection dogs are trained! Also available to come to Salt Lake City, Utah, Elko, Nevada, and Ely, Nevada during this time. If you're in one of these areas, let’s set something up.

AZ, NM, & TX (I-10 Corridor) - January 5-9
Traveling from Wendover to El Paso, then El Paso to Tucson, mainly along the I-10 corridor. Reach out if that’s near you.

Tucson & Phoenix, Arizona -  January 12-13
Contact me for one-on-one and small-group sessions.

Salt Lake City, Utah - January 17-18
Small group and one-on-one sessions. More info coming soon!

Richland, Washington - January 23-25
I’ll be at 4 Paws Dog Works for Sniffy Sessions. Contact Tracy Hill for more information.  

Open - January 31-February 1 
Currently open, if you’ve always wanted to host a learning opportunity, let me know. 

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!

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

Upcoming Judging Assignments

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

• Sonoran Desert Scent Work Club Jan 10-11, Tucson, AZ

• 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 one-on-one or small-group training sessions

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:

• Judith Guthrie Facebook

• Nose Dog Detection Services Facebook

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

—Judith