• Build upon the strong foundation skills you and your dog learned in the 6 week Intro to K9 Nose Work beginner course
• Introduce you and your dog(s) to the odor, Birch, which is utilized in the NW1 level of competition and titling in the sport of K9 Nose Work.
• Build a strong association and therefore strong drive to hunt Birch Odor through creating increasingly more challenging scent puzzles, in multiple search environments.
• Introduce your dog to beginner "NW1 competition-type" searches: container, interior, exterior.  Vehicles is the fourth element of an NW1 trial and will be taught in the Level 3 Continuing Odor class.
• Begin the process of preparing you and your dog for his/her Birch ORT (Odor Recognition Test); dogs must pass their Birch ORT before they can be entered into an NW1 trial.  Completion of a Level 3 Continuing Odor class, at least, is typically necessary to fully prepare you and your dog for passing an ORT.
• Burn tons of your dog's mental and physical energy while participating in a low-impact activity for the handler
• Continue to enhance your observational skills and ability to read dog body language and behavior for better communication, teamwork, and strengthening of the bond between dog and handler.
• Note:  dogs work one-at-a-time (solo) with their handler in this class.  There are never other dogs in the search area, watching on the sidelines, or interacting with each other.  The purpose for this is twofold:  (1) scent-work searching is natural and fun, but it takes tremendous focus and is mentally exhausting for the dog; so downtime provides the dog with much needed time to rest and process, facilitating a great learning experience and (2) by not having to manage their own dog, handlers in the class are afforded the opportunity to focus their full attention on watching other teams search and this provides an additional opportunity for the handler to learn about all aspects of scent-work. Because of this class format, it is possible to safely include dogs in the group class who are fearful and/or reactive (aggressive) towards other dogs (and if you have any questions/concerns regarding this, please contact Colleen directly). 

Course Prerequisites:  

1. Completion of a Level 1 Introduction to K9 Nose Work 6 week course (if you attended that course via another instructor, please submit proof of completion of the course)
2. Demonstrated sufficient drive for the game.  If dog's are too easily distracted or environmentally sensitive such that they don't show sufficient drive for hunting for a primary reinforcer (i.e., food or a toy), it may make sense for that dog to repeat a Level 1 class.  If they don't have sufficient drive for hunting for a primary reinforcer, then it doesn't make sense to start them in the process of hunting for a conditioned reinforcer (i.e., Birch Odor).
3. Dogs work one-at-a-time (solo) in this class and so will be crated when not being worked. So, all dogs (puppies, adolescents, adults) must be capable of quietly handling confinement, without barking, and without stress while crated away from their handlers for up to 20 minutes at a time. We will have indoor areas to crate.  Crating in cars that are appropriately set up for current weather conditions is another option that many teams use.  Handlers must bring their own crates.  Refunds will not be given for dogs unable to meet this requirement. 
4. Students must also complete the online K9NW Pre-Training Questionnaire before they can be enrolled in a class.
5. No obedience training or other skills required.
6. Proof of current vaccinations required (or proof of sufficient titers). 
7. This class is suitable for all dogs (including those who have previously taken this course or other scent-detection courses) and can be repeated.
8. Intact dogs are permitted in class.  Females in season are permitted provided they wear panties when they are on site.

1. Complete and submit a Pre-Training Questionnaire.  If you have already submitted one in the past, do NOT submit another unless something has changed with your dog (for example, your dog has become fearful of men, or your dog now has food allergies).
2. Then download, complete, sign, and return the K9NW Group Class Training Agreement (click here to download).  You may scan the signed agreement and email an electronic copy to Colleen@HappyTailDogTraining.com or send through US Post Office mail (contact Colleen for mailing address). 
3. To Pay for the class, bring cash to the first day of the 6 week course.
4. Email, fax, or mail copies of your dog's proof of vaccinations/titers to Colleen.  Contact Colleen directly for her email, fax, or mailing address.  Colleen must receive proof of vaccinations/titers before the first day of class; otherwise, your dog will not be permitted on site without this proof. 
5. Colleen will send you an email confirming your scheduled day/time once the class meets the minimum enrollment requirements.  At that time, she will also provide further instruction for the first class (such as address in Phoneix for the classes, what to bring, etc). 

• Continue to build upon the strong foundation odor hunting skills you and your dog learned in the 6 week K9NW Intro to Odor beginner course
• Build high drive for searching at the NW1 competition level for all 4 elements: container, interior, exterior and we'll add on vehicle searches early in this class
• Prepare you for your Birch ORT (Odor Recognition Test) - passing a Birch ORT is required before a dog can be entered into a NW1 trial.
• Begin to prepare you and your dog for the NW1 titling and competition environment. 
• Begin proofing for the types of distractions found in a competition environment 
• For one or two classes, we may travel to novel location(s) to ensure dogs generalize their hunting skills and maintain high drive for sourcing odor in new and distracting environments
• Burn tons of your dog's mental and physical energy while participating in a low-impact activity for the handler
• Continue to enhance your observational skills and ability to read your dog's body language and behavior for better communication, teamwork, and strengthening of the bond between dog and handler. 
• Note:  dogs work one-at-a-time (solo) with their handler in this class.  There are never other dogs in the search area, watching on the side-lines, or interacting with each other.  The purpose for this is two-fold:  (1) scent-work searching is natural and fun, but it takes tremendous focus and is mentally exhausting for the dog; so downtime provides the dog with much needed time to rest and process, facilitating a great learning experience and (2) by not having to manage their own dog, handlers in the class are afforded the opportunity to focus their full attention on watching other teams search and this provides an additional opportunity for the handler to learn about all aspects of scent-work. Because of this class format, it is possible to safely include dogs in the group class who are fearful and/or reactive (aggressive) towards other dogs (and if you have any questions/concerns regarding this, please contact Colleen directly).  

Course Prerequisites:  

1. Completion of a Level 2 K9NW Intro To Odor 6 week course (if you attended that course via another instructor, please submit proof of completion of the course)
2. Dogs work one-at-a-time (solo) in this class and so will be crated when not being worked. So, all dogs (puppies, adolescents, adults) must be capable of quietly handling confinement, without barking, and without stress while crated away from their handlers for up to 20 minutes at a time. We will have indoor areas to crate.  Crating in cars that are appropriately set up for current weather conditions is another option that many teams use.  Handlers must bring their own crates.  Refunds will not be given for dogs unable to meet this requirement.  
3. Students must also complete the on-line K9NW Pre-Training Questionnaire before they can be enrolled in a class.
4. No obedience training or other skills required.
5. Proof of current vaccinations required (or proof of sufficient titers). 
6. This class is suitable for all dogs (including those who have previously taken this course or other scent-detection courses) and can be repeated.
7. Intact dogs are permitted in class.  Females in season are permitted provided they wear panties when they are on site.

• Continue to build upon the strong foundation odor hunting skills you and your dog learned in the 6 week K9NW Continuing Odor course
• Build and maintain high drive for searching at the NW2 and NW3 competition level for all 4 elements: container, interior, exterior and vehicles
• Prepare you and your dog to pass his/her Anise and Clove ORTs
• Prepare you and your dog for the NW1 titling and competition environment  
• Begin to prepare you and your dog for the NW2 and NW3 titling and competition environments
• Begin proofing for the types of distractions found in a NW2 and NW3 competition environment
• These classes will primarily be traveling classes where we conduct searches in novel locations to ensure dogs generalize their hunting skills and maintain high drive for sourcing odor in distracting environments and for the rigorous types of searches and scent puzzles found at the NW2 and NW3 competition levels.
• Burn tons of your dog's mental and physical energy while participating in a low-impact activity for the handler
• Continue to enhance your observational skills and ability to read your dog's body language and behavior for better communication, teamwork, and strengthening of the bond between dog and handler.
• Note:  dogs work one-at-a-time (solo) with their handler in this class.  There are never other dogs in the search area, watching on the side-lines, or interacting with each other.  The purpose for this is two-fold:  (1) scent-work searching is natural and fun, but it takes tremendous focus and is mentally exhausting for the dog; so downtime provides the dog with much needed time to rest and process, facilitating a great learning experience and (2) by not having to manage their own dog, handlers in the class are afforded the opportunity to focus their full attention on watching other teams search and this provides an additional opportunity for the handler to learn about all aspects of scent-work.  Because of this class format, it is possible to safely include dogs in the group class who are fearful and/or reactive (aggressive) towards other dogs (and if you have any questions/concerns regarding this, please contact Colleen directly). 

Course Prerequisites:  

1. Obtaining a NW1 title for your dog
2. Dogs work one-at-a-time (solo) in this class and so will be crated when not being worked. So, all dogs (puppies, adolescents, adults) must be capable of quietly handling confinement, without barking, and without stress while crated away from their handlers for up to 20 minutes at a time. We may not have indoor areas to crate, so you should be capable of crating in your car that is appropriately set up for current weather conditions.  Handlers must bring their own crates.  Refunds will not be given for dogs unable to meet this requirement. 
3. Students must also complete the on-line K9NW Pre-Training Questionnaire before they can be enrolled in a class.
4. No obedience training or other skills required.
5. Proof of current vaccinations required (or proof of sufficient titers). 
6. This class is suitable for all dogs (including those who have previously taken this course or other scent-detection courses) and can be repeated.
7. Intact dogs are permitted in class.  Females in season are permitted provided they wear panties when they are on site.