Course Details
SEEKING is ”the basic impulse to search, investigate and make sense of the environment.” - Dr. Jaak Panksepp
Dogs are driven to seek information from their environment. It gives them pleasure (dopamine release), is soothing and provides security. Knowing how beneficial it is to get our dogs sniffing, we can nurture this emotional system of the brain by exposing our dogs to non-threatening novel situations and evoke curiosity in their environment.
In this presentation, we will first cover scent games using primary reinforcement (food) and how that can reduce arousal and build problem solving skills. For Nosework teams, we will focus on 4 key areas that can be setup in small areas: Go to Source, Stay at Source, dismissing Distractions and clearing Blank areas. Handler scent games will also be covered where we can build value for finding our scent whether it be for the obedience scent article exercise or the AKC Handler Scent Discrimination division.
For sports or enrichment, the therapeutic role of playing scent games is proven every day!
About the Instructor:
Julie Symons (she/her) has been involved in dog sports for over 25 years and prides herself on the versatile accomplishments she has earned with her dogs. She has earned HITs across four different sports with three dogs and earned Championships in Obedience, Conformation, Agility and Nosework.
Her passion for dog training grew out of the incredible journey she shared with her first performance dog Rival. She was her Novice A dog and together became the first CH OTCH MACH Belgian Tervuren.
Through their journey, Julie learned how wonderful the bond can be with our canine partners and all that was possible to accomplish together. After the thrill of earning a TDX and immersing herself in Nosework with her next dog Savvy, Julie’s love for scent sports intensified. She has been coaching Nosework teams since 2014, is a co-creator and judge for the FDSA virtual NW TEAM program and is a retired AKC licensed Scent Work judge.
Along with being a faculty member at FDSA, Julie is owner of Savvy Dog Sports, Inc where she teaches in-person Foundation, Nosework and Agility classes. She is a consummate learner, an energetic instructor and skillful at problem solving. Julie brings a wealth of experience to her students; her success across multiple sports is built on solid foundation skills and effective communication.
Julie currently shares her life with 3 dogs:
- Savvy who is now retired at almost 15, has earned a CH, ELT-CH, MACH2, UD, TDX, VCD3 and many other NW titles.
- Drac at 7 years of age is continuing the versatility work and has earned his TD, HSAd, AX, AXJ and ELT-3 titles.
- Moxie is the youngest member at 4 years old and is already racking up many accomplishments including a breed CH, TD, HSAds, OA, OAJ, ELT-2 and many other NW titles.
Besides the joy in reaching her competition goals and those of her students, Julie is most content when out on a trail hiking with her dogs and spending time at home with her husband and son.
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