Judith Guthrie's Nose Dogs Newsletter

Volume 5 - November 2025

Author

Judith Guthrie
November 17, 2025

November always feels like a transition month in scent work. With fewer trials and cooler air, it is a great time to settle in, work on skills, and enjoy a little extra time with family and your dogs.

The highlight of my month was the Patriotic Puppy Regional Training weekend. Spending time with teams who love learning and want the best for their dogs is always the part of this work that fills me up the most.

Shoulder Shrimp

Speaking of which, if you want to use this part of the season to keep your own training moving forward, reply to this email and we can set up one-on-one coaching or a small group session that works for you.

In This Issue:
🌊 Success in Buried: Part 1 - How Sand and Water Impact the Odor Picture
📘 Scent Work Rules That Can Help You Get The Q
🐾 Detection Puppy Training Lessons for Sport Teams
🎓 Handler Discrimination and Buried Virtual Event
📅 Upcoming Training Seminars and Training Opportunities

Success in Buried: Part 1 - How Sand and Water Impact the Odor Picture

Shrimp says, “This is it, Mom!”

Does buried bum you out? Good news! I’m focusing on buried for the next two months.

In the first of my two-part buried series, I break down how odor moves through sand and water and why buried hides create a more complicated odor picture than you might think.

Next month, I’ll share how to train for these odor pictures so buried becomes clearer and far less frustrating for both you and your dog.

Five AKC Scent Work Rules That Can Help You Get The Q

Scent work rules can actually help you, but only if you know them. This guest post shares five rules that can make a real difference when you are in the heat of a search.

It is written by Scot, a scent work competitor and the host of the Alert! Scent Work Podcast.

And yes, I am still waiting for my chance to record with him, so feel free to nudge him.

Lessons That Detection Puppy Training from the Patriotic Puppy Program Offers Sport Teams

What a fun weekend working with some great dogs and handlers through the AKC Patriotic Puppy Program at my training facility earlier this month.

Skills for Detection (and Sport Dogs)

Two of the fundamental skills we train early and often for our detection dogs are environmental exposure and drive building. These exercises might look like play, but they provide valuable experiences that build drive and expose puppies to the environmental challenges they will face as working dogs.

By the way, you can use many of these techniques for training your sport dogs too!

Here’s an exercise we did during the Patriotic Puppy Weekend that builds drive and environmental confidence. Notice how everyone keeps it fun and is using their high, excited voice? By the way, even the guys need to use their higher, excited voice.

Moving through a room full of plastic bottles and odd objects might look simple, but it teaches puppies how to stay confident when things shift under their feet, make noise, or brush against their legs. These early experiences help prepare them for the unpredictable environments they will face as working dogs. Check out how this puppy conquered the plastic bottle gauntlet.

I hope these detection dog training videos inspire you to incorporate similar training for your dogs. Next time you go to trial, you will notice the difference.

For more pictures and training videos from the weekend, check out my full post.

Decoding AKC Handler Discrimination and Buried Classes Virtual Event

If you want to up your team’s HD and buried skills, this is an excellent opportunity with some of the best.

I’m excited to join Anita Ambani, Holly Bushard, Natalie McManus, Khara Schuetzner, and Aleks Woodroffe for a ScentWorkU virtual event on December 12th.

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 In-Person Seminars and Training Opportunities

If you are in any of the areas below and want to set something up, be sure to reach out to me by replying to this newsletter or email me at the address at the bottom of the newsletter.

Hello, Coolidge, AZ

AZ, NM & TX (I-10 Corridor ) – November 18–20
Traveling along I-10 from Las Vegas to El Paso. I’ll be available for groups or privates in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas along the way.

Tucson & Phoenix, Arizona – November 21–23
Group and one-on-one problem-solving opportunities in the Tucson and Phoenix area, including a two-day seminar with Splash Town Dog Training in Coolidge, AZ. Email [email protected] to reserve your spot—more info on their Facebook Page.

Prescott, Arizona - November 24
Quick stop with time for small group and one-on-one problem-solving sessions. If you are interested, reply to this email.

Las Vegas, Nevada - November 26 - 29
In town around Thanksgiving. To set something up, reply to this newsletter. I’d love to work with your team.

📩 Reach out to learn more about any of these opportunities or hosting a seminar, by replying to this newsletter or send an email to [email protected].

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

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.

Next month, I’ll talk cover part two how to train for buried hides so you can more confidently walk into the element and not fear it anymore.

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