N3000 Advanced Skills for Emerging Nosework Teams

Training advanced skills early helps shape strong, confident search behavior from the start. In many sports, we train ahead of our current level to build fluency, problem-solving ability, and understanding - nosework is no different. By gradually adding new challenges, we strengthen communication, increase accuracy, and make complex searches more natural for the dog.

This 3-week course focuses on developing a “thinking dog” who can work independently while maintaining focus and enthusiasm. Each week offers multiple search setups and handler exercises that build both skill and strategy in realistic trial-style scenarios.

Topics include:

• Working blank search areas with confidence
• Introducing inaccessible hides (elevated, deep, or contained)
• Expanding use of multiple hides within a search area
• Developing accuracy with crack and ground hides
• Exploring new container types and setups
• Increasing the number of vehicles and exploring new vehicle setups
• Empowing dogs in tight spaces
• Teaching a “no-pee zone” for worry free handling
• Importance of novel area searching

Dogs thrive on challenge, and handlers often find renewed motivation when they see steady progress. This course provides both — keeping searches fun, purposeful, and engaging while preparing your team for advanced trial work ahead.

Teaching Approach:

Lectures and Video Demonstrations

Lectures are released the night before each week and include both written and video descriptions of every exercise, presented in a clear step-by-step format. The lectures are designed to help a student understand the purpose of the exercise and how it might vary by team.

Homework & Practice

Homework assignments are listed at the end of each lecture for easy reference. Each week offers several exercises, tailored to the skill level and needs of both dog and handler. Teams progress at their own pace, working at a level where the dog demonstrates confidence and understanding. Gold students will have 6 minutes of video homework time each week. Sliver students will have 1:30 minutes of video homework time each week.

Feedback & Support

Gold students receive both general and personalized written feedback, often with timestamps for clarity. You may submit work from current or previous weeks to continue receiving guidance throughout the course. Silver students recieve both general feedback and personalized video for their weekly video submission. Each team is supported at the level they are working, with no expectation to progress beyond their dog’s readiness.

A Teacher’s Assistant (TA) will be available to support Bronze students. Directions for participating in the Bronze Student Forum will be provided in the classroom after registration.