THE GOOD CALL- or is it ? AI offered various titles to our October podcast- MY ALL TIME FAVORITE: My Dog Said Trash Can : The Judge Said No ! If you’ve ever called “alert” on a hot object only to hear “no,” this conversation is your map back to clarity. We unpack the gap between a fair training call and a fair trial call, and show how to build a dog that presses all the way to source—even when the environment throws pooling, trapping, and convergence into the mix. We start at the found...
NACSW and AKC (and other venues) utilize pre and post search videos for Handlers to preview or review actual "real life" trial searches. These videos are captured by the Certifying Offical or Judge with the goal to provide search and hide placement analysis for your competition day prepartion or post trial review. The videos are an amazing tool for experiencing what a trial search looks and "feels" like in "real life" on that trial day. Optimizing this virtual experience tool can help shape y...
Time management could be the missing key to your nosework competition success. In this candid conversation, Jill Kovacevic and Alex Woodruff share their summer training approaches and fall trial preparations while diving deep into critical skills for effective competition. Jill reveals a breakthrough in her handling technique that transformed her Elite trial performance—taking full advantage of search time rather than calling "finish" prematurely. This simple adjustment allowed her to find h...
When your dog alerts away from the actual hide location, are they making a mistake or has the scent truly collected elsewhere? In this deep-dive episode, we tackle the phenomenon of "pooling and trapping" - one of the most challenging and misunderstood concepts in scent detection work. Alex and Jill break down exactly what happens when odor molecules migrate from their source and accumulate in quantities significant enough to fool even experienced dogs. They share fascinating observations ab...
Seasoned dog competitors share their most memorable and hair-raising travel stories from years on the road attending trials and competitions. The podcast hosts and guests exchange tales of adventure, mishap, and the unexpected challenges that come with traveling alongside canine athletes. • Ensuring dog safety in unfamiliar environments, including stories of dogs chasing wildlife • Strange and memorable accommodations from the "nun house" to remote wilderness lodgings • Weather emergencies i...
What if everything you thought you knew about reading your dog in scent work needed a second look? This eye-opening myth-busting episode challenges common misconceptions that might be holding back your detection team. We start by tackling the belief that a trained final response means you can ignore your dog's more subtle communications. The truth? Those changes of behavior as your dog works through the odor puzzle are just as crucial as their final alert. We discuss why depending solely on ...
This month Jill Kovacevich and Aleks Woodroffe, your CO-Hosts, tackle a wide range of myths circulating in scent detection sports ("Nosework"? "Scent Work"? we dive into that too!). Drawing from their experience as trainers, judges, officals and competitors, they systematically dismantle misconceptions that might be limiting your dog's potential OR your perception of your dog's limitations! The conversation dives into three critical areas: myths about dogs, handlers, and the environment. Eve...
PART THREE- Yes, Part Three ! Who knew this topic would be this expansive. In this EPISODE we take on ELITE to SUMMIT trial prep and include AKC Detective in the mix. We are looking at the trial levels of Elite Select, Elite, Elite Premier and Summit and the AKC equivalent and the skill sets needed for THIS trial level with a template for assessing where your canine team IS as of now and how to determine what to train for your next trial SUCCESS. Here is the ASSESS- TRAIN AN...
We share essential tips and insights on preparing for trial season, focusing on gear essentials and communication strategies. Key elements discussed include checklists, hospitality management, and effective team interactions. • Importance of creating thorough checklists for trial preparation • Essential supplies needed for the score room • Strategies for effective communication among team members • Significance of hospitality in enhancing participant experiences • Rol...
Welcome to another enlightening episode where we pull back the curtain on the intricacies of hosting K9 scent trials. From sharing insights on managing waitlists to navigating the challenges of trial day logistics, this episode is packed with wisdom from experienced hosts in the community. We delve into the often-overlooked aspect of vehicle management, tackling how to protect volunteers' cars while ensuring our furry competitors have a safe space to shine. The conversation dives deep into t...
PART TWO- In this PODCAST we are looking at the trial levels of NW3 and AKC equivalent and the skill sets needed for THIS trial level with a template for assessing where your canine team IS as of now and how to determine what to train for your next trial SUCCESS. Here is the ASSESS- TRAIN AND MEASURE TEMPLATE that IS a best practice to apply to your compeition Nosework Team in preparing for TRIAL. STAY TUNED FOR PART THREE- Yes, Part Three ! Who knew this topic would be this expansive. ...
PART ONE - In this PODCAST we break down the skill sets needed for each trial levels and provide a template for assessing where your canine team IS as of now and how to determine what to train for your next trial at that trial level. SKILL SETS FOR TRIAL PREP- ORT (NW1 CONTAINER -SAME) NW1-NW2 NACSW and NOVICE- ADVANCED AKC ASSESS YOUR TEAM 1- SKILLS TESTED - What is measured or tested for each trial level; 2- DOGS SKILLS - Is the dog's search work effective and efficient for THAT trial level...
JANUARY 27 2025 TRAIN TO TRIAL - TRIAL TO TRAIN MENTAL GAME ON TRIAL DAY ! Our 2025 NOSEWORK SEASON is off and "running" ! Lets chat about TRIAL DAY and all the tips and tricks to be the BEST TRIAL TEAM we can be AND the BEST handler to our amazing search canine ! In this PODCAST we discuss taking our TRAINING TO TRIAL and supporting our dogs and ourselves for a FUN and PRODUCTIVE trial day. From once your IN the trial, thinking of travel, lodging, time frame to get to tria...
Our 2025 NOSEWORK SEASON is off and "running" ! Lets chat about TRIAL DAY and all the tips and tricks to be the BEST TRIAL TEAM we can be AND the BEST handler to our amazing search canine ! In this PODCAST we discuss taking our TRAINING TO TRIAL and supporting our dogs and ourselves for a FUN and PRODUCTIVE trial day. From once your IN the trial, thinking of travel, lodging, time frame to get to trial morning with the best frame of mind to build a Growth Mindset and Mental Game "ON". L...
DECEMBER 30 2024 TRAIN TO TRIAL - TRIAL TO TRAIN DECEMBER TO REMEMBER - LOOK BACK- VISUALIZE FORWARD 2024- A NOSEWORK-SEARCHING YEAR TO REMEMBER! Lets CELEBRATE all the WINS - THE TAKEAWAYS AND the JOY of Learning Nosework with our K9s ! 2025- Set new goals and BUILD a SMART plan to succeed ! Mountain Dogs LLC Jill E. Kovacevich, CNWI mtnnosework@gmail.com Send us a text
RECENT TRIAL- Wondering IF you have holes and how those might be filled ??? Ive KNOW Ive got ideas for all the teams I watched-- maybe you know who you are ! Both Alex and myself will do online privates to review your recent trial success or misses with or without trial video and suggest a 2025 New Year training plan ! COMMUNICATION PODCAST SERIES CONTINUED! Objective - Lets brainstorm the parts and pieces of "communication" in scent detection ! Lets explore the semantics, the words and...
Your K9 SCENT FIX - Host Support Podcast Team has been working diligently behind the scenes to craft our Podcast Progression and Facebook Support group to bring our scent detection sport dog hosting community closer together to share ideas and inspire each other to Host ! IN our HOST SUPPORT PROGRESSION- We have broken down the Sport Scent Detection Event Hosting TO DO List and added in basic and needed concepts along the way, pertinent for most every host, new or seasoned from Site Ac...
Your K9 SCENT FIX - Host Support Podcast Team has been working diligently behind the scenes to craft our Podcast Progression and Facebook Support group to bring our scent detection sport dog hosting community closer together to share ideas and inspire each other to Host ! IN our HOST SUPPORT PROGRESSION- We have broken down the Sport Scent Detection Event Hosting TO DO List and added in basic and needed concepts along the way, pertinent for most every host, new or seasoned from Site Ac...
Objective - Lets brainstorm the parts and pieces that may be "communication" in scent detection and the semantics - words and concepts to describe those training and trialing ideas for HANDLER communication. In our Train to Trail and Trial to Train Series we are exploring COMMUNICATION. In EPISODE we covered DOG COMMUNICATION and the broad view of the 1001 ways communication is present in our scent detection search to now in our next episode in Communication to talk about HANDLER commu...
Week Four: Meeting Expectations with Success - In this EPISODE- our final in the September Trial Hosting Series- jumps into getting your trial site approvals with NACSW or HOW TO pull in great AKC Judges with clear plans & photos! With guest Sue Frisch, NACSW Trial Approval Chair and Certifying Official, providing excellent insight into what makes great photos/videos of sites and what is required for NACSW approval! Send us a text