K9 Nosework Classes for Winter are Posted!

Jennifer Carter will be a Speaker at the 2025 Annual Conference in Savannah, Georgia! Her topic will be "Unleashing the Power of Nutrition and Rehab"

Attending an IACP conference gives you ample opportunities to broaden your knowledge in the canine professional world while also expanding your network of like-minded individuals. Listen to leaders in the industry present their insights. Grow on your expertise by participating in continuing education opportunities. You will surely leave inspired at the 2025 IACP Annual Educational Conference. In the canine professional community, we are Better Together. See you in Savannah!

The 2025 Conference has an amazing line-up of expert speakers who bring knowledge that is unmatched in the industry.  Whether you are a small business owner, work for a professional training facility, or serve in some other professional capacity with dogs, this conference is for you!

In addition to an incredible schedule of learning, our conference offers an unsurpassed networking opportunity where you can connect with other industry professionals who share your same passion.  The conference also hosts our annual paper plate races and other interactive events that make this an event you won’t want to miss! 

Snowstorms. Ice. Sleet. Freezing temperatures and salt on the sidewalks. None of those make for enjoyable outside playtime with your pup! If you have a rehabilitating, young, senior, or high-energy dog, winter can present some real hurdles to providing enough physical exercise.

Believe it or not, mental exercise can be as effective as physical exercise when it comes to tiring out your dog. Canine nose work, or searching for an odor or food in different environments, can be a great way to give your dog a fun, mentally stimulating activity. Is your dog's healing time causing depression, unwanted behaviors, or weight gain? Have you ever considered giving your dog a nose work job?

Dogs have incredibly powerful noses, and the amount of information they take in just from odor is exponentially more significant than what we get. It takes a lot of their brain power to focus that amazing sniffer, so teaching them to hunt for odor actively can really tire them out—it’s like doing a tough crossword puzzle or having a challenging day at work for you!

This is an introductory class. No prior experience is required, and no obedience is required. In K9 Nose Work®, dogs learn to search for a specific odor or odors and find the source. In this class, dogs start by searching for their favorite food or toy reward hidden in various environments, increasing the challenges and adding new search skills as they progress. Dogs will run one at a time so no dog-dog interaction will occur. This also allows reactive dogs to participate in the class. 

Inside crating will be available separate from the search area, or you can crate in your vehicle.

The cost is $150.00 for 6 weeks of training.

Class Dates will be as follows: 

January 20, 2025 - February 24, 2025

Time: 2:30 - 3:45 so everyone can be home when it is dark. 

The max # for this session is 6- so register soonest to grab a slot. It will fill up quickly.

If working two dogs, please register both dogs separately. 

Class is 1x/week on Monday at the following location:

VRSVA 

17339 James Madison Hwy

Gordonsville, VA 22942

Are you and your dog ready for Birch? This will be a 6-week session starting January 25, 2025 and running through March 1 2025. 

In this 6-week online course, your dog will learn to find a new novel odor: Birch. Teams will be concentrating on searching interior and container search areas. Handlers will also learn the importance of reward placement and timing, as well as how they can further support their canine partner. This is the next level class after the Intro to Nose work class. 

Prerequisite: Completed an Intro to Nosework 6 Week session

Inside crating will be available separate from the search area, or you can crate in your vehicle.

The cost is $150.00 for 6 weeks of training.

Class Dates will be as follows: 

January 25, 2025 - March 1, 2025

Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 Pm so everyone can be home when it is dark. 

The maximum number for this session is 6, so register as soon as possible to reserve a slot. It will fill up quickly.

If working with two dogs, please register both dogs separately. 

Class is 1x/week on Saturday at the following location:

VRSVA 

17339 James Madison Hwy

Gordonsville, VA 22942

Part of being successful in nose work is taking your training on the road and working on new and challenging scent puzzles. This traveling class will allow you to expose your dog to both new and challenging puzzles. It takes the nose work fundamentals learned in the foundation classes and uses them in new environments. The class will meet at various locations to allow the dog/handler team to expand their experience and knowledge with container, interior, exterior, and vehicle searches. Your instructor will contact you with location information and details prior to each session. Multiple training levels can be accommodated. 

Prerequisites: 

• Dogs need to have been introduced to container, interior, exterior, and vehicle searching. 
• Dogs must also understand Birch, Anise, and Clove. 
• There must be a minimum of 4 students to hold any individual class.

Cost: $25 per dog per class

Class Length: 1.5 hours

This will be held in Gordonsville, Virginia! Registration will be open Soon for 2025! 

Where to find Race Pictures:

Shamrock Studios - Course Pictures from the Creek

Go to www.shamrockstudios.net

Click on Event Photography. Follow on FB and Instagram @shamrockstudios2017

Celestial Photography - Course Pictures from the Wooded/Field Area

Go to https://celestialphotography369.smugmug.com/Events-/1st-Canicross-Race.com

Dulcey Fuqua Photography- Finish Line Pictures

Go to www.dulceyfuquaphotography.pixiset.com

To see Photo Booth Pictures

Go to the Rehab Rover Run Sign Up Page and scroll down to Photos

They will be uploaded there.

For Timing Results: https://my.raceresult.com/311779/participants