logo

  • Log In
  • About Us
  • Calendar
  • Faculty & Staff
  • instagram-icon
  • facebook-icon
  • twitter-icon
  • Courses
    • Schedule
    • By Discipline
    • By Instructor
    • Prerequisites
    • Self-Study
    • Scholarships
    • Gift Certificates
  • Webinars
    • Schedule
    • FAQ
  • Workshops
    • Schedule
    • FAQ
    • Gift Certificates
  • On Demand
    • Pet Dog Presentations
    • Pet Professionals Presentations
    • Self-Study Courses
  • Special Links
    • Podcast
    • Blog
    • Fenzi TEAM Titles
    • Trainer Certificates
    • Private Lessons
    • Other Free Stuff!
    • Swag
  • Events
    • Matters of Motivation - May 10, 2025
    • FDSA Training Camp - Maryland Sept 26-28, 2025
  • Contact
    • Course FAQ
    • Webinar FAQ
    • Workshop FAQ
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Help
  • Courses
    • Schedule
    • By Discipline
    • By Instructor
    • Prerequisites
    • Self-Study
    • Scholarships
    • Gift Certificates
  • Webinars
    • Schedule
    • FAQ
  • Workshops
    • Schedule
    • FAQ
    • Gift Certificates
  • On Demand
    • Pet Dog Presentations
    • Pet Professionals Presentations
    • Self-Study Courses
  • Special Links
    • Podcast
    • Blog
    • Fenzi TEAM Titles
    • Trainer Certificates
    • Private Lessons
    • Other Free Stuff!
    • Swag
  • Events
    • Matters of Motivation - May 10, 2025
    • FDSA Training Camp - Maryland Sept 26-28, 2025
  • Contact
    • Course FAQ
    • Webinar FAQ
    • Workshop FAQ
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Help

NW455: Converging Odor Deep Dive

  • Overview
  • Syllabus
  • Prerequisites & Supplies
  • Sample Lecture
  • Testimonials & Reviews
    • Registration
      Apply for a scholarship

  • See Also
  • All Classes
  • All Workshops

NW455: Converging Odor Deep Dive

Course Details

This class is ALL about Converging Odor...

What IS Converging Odor?  Converging Odor occurs when there is at least a partial overlap of scent cones from 2 or more hides.  For a dog to work this skill effectively, they need to understand how to work GROUPS of hides without getting stuck on one particular hide for perpetual reinforcement.  The dog also needs to have minimal latency in returning to the search process after finding a hide.  This means that once a hide is found, the dog immediately goes back to searching.  This requires FOCUS and ENGAGEMENT.

This class will use my signature method utilizing the dog's innate ability to pattern in order to create an expectation of a hide nearby.  I introduced this method in my popular workshop "The Key to Convergence: Using Patterning to Build Expectation".  This class replaces, overhauls, enhances, and upgrades my original converging odor class NW241: Nosework Challenges Series 2.  You will learn my patterning method and then apply it in all sorts of scenarios that challenge your dog including the use of thermals and complicated air flow.

Watch the Trailer!

Teaching Approach 

Lectures will be released weekly.  Lectures will be relatively short and will include both theory and exercises.   The exercises initially will be rather simple but will build over the course of the class and will ultimately require the learner to interpret the setup and create something similar.  The setups in the first week only will be prescriptive.  Videos will be included to demonstrate the lecture material. In general, most videos, at least in the early weeks, will be short (under 2:00).  All information will be conveyed via written lecture.  Videos will be examples only. Week 1 assignments will be easily done at home.  After that assignments may require the student to work away from home. If you have questions as to how this can apply to your situation, please reach out to me via the instructor link.

This class will have a Teacher's Assistant (TA) available in the Facebook study group to help the Bronze and Silver students! Directions for joining will be in the classroom after you register.

Stacy BarnettInstructor: Stacy Barnett

Stacy Barnett is a top nosework competitor and trainer, with many Summit Level titles in the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW),  (Judd SMTx3, Brava SMTx5, Powder SMTx3). She is also a Wilderness SAR K9 handler with her certified dog, K9 Prize. Stacy has been a faculty member at FDSA since 2015 (Click here for full bio and to view Stacy's upcoming courses)

Syllabus

View Full Syllabus

Week 1: Teach Proximity and Reduce Latency to Re-engage with the Search

Week 2: Generalize Proximity with Searching Away from Home

Week 3: Add Basic Convergence utilizing Drivers of Air Flow

Week 4: Increasing the Convergence Challenge with Thermals

Week 5: Changing up the Variables (# of hides, proximity, use of air flow, and more!)

Week 6: Bolting New Skills onto Full Searches

 

Prerequisites & Supplies

View all Prerequisites & Supplies

This is an advanced level class.  All teams should be confidently working multiple hides in novel locations.  The only specific equipment aside from a scent kit will be two identical chairs, preferably folding chairs.

Sample Lecture

More

 

We are going to start this training process with clear progression utilizing HOW a dog thinks.  We are going to leverage both patterning and contextual understanding.

Our dogs understand Context.  So we are going to pick something that they see hides on all the time... I like using folding chairs for this exercise.  you can conversely use stools, waste baskets, or something similar that your dog is used to finding hides on.  Please DO NOT use Containers or anything small and unlikely to be in a standard search area.

It's easiest to start this patterning in a fairly open area.

  1. Start with something contextual in a non-cluttered area. Folding Chairs are PERFECT. Avoid using “Container” type objects. Set a hide on each chair and work off leash.

  2. Add “clutter” around the chairs. Reposition the chairs before re-running the search to minimize the potential of the dog to search off of memory rather than the nose.

  3. Replace the chairs with other objects in the same location as the chairs were in the previously run search.

  4. Move the objects to different locations.

Here's a video of Brava going through these steps:

How quickly you advance through these steps will depend on your individual dog.

A fun application is to use this to pattern double thresholds!

 

Testimonials & Reviews

Read All Testimonials

A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...

Love Stacy’s classes. Great information. Great feedback. Fabulous Teaching assistants for bronze students.


I thank Stacy for her keen insight and knowledge of Scent Work. Her advise has made all the difference in Sadie's performance and I learn so much from her classes. The one on one is invaluable.     


This is the first Gold class that I followed through and turned in weekly multiple videos for feedback. I am proud of myself for sticking with it and have truly seen an improvement in my skills at thoughtful setups and my girls searching skills. I highly recommend this class!          


Stacy provides what your needs are and explains SW scenarios clearly to ensure your understanding of odor.  I'm very pleased with the course context and instructions.  

Registration

There are no scheduled sessions for this class at this time. We update our schedule frequently, so please subscribe to our mailing list for notifications.

Registration opens at  12:00pm Pacific Time.

NW455 Subscriptions


Gold

Silver

Bronze
Tuition $ 260.00 $ 130.00 $ 65.00
Enrollment Limits 12 25 Unlimited
Access all course lectures and materials ✔ ✔ ✔
Access to discussion and homework forums ✔ ✔ ✔
Read all posted questions and answers ✔ ✔ ✔
Watch all posted videos ✔ ✔ ✔
Post general questions to Discussion forum ✔ ✔ ✖
Submit written assignments ✔ ✖ ✖
Post dog specific questions ✔ With video only ✖
Post videos ✔ Up to 2 ✖
Receive instructor feedback on
  • Questions
  • All videos
  • Questions
  • All videos
✖

Find more details, refund policies and answers to common questions in the Help center.

  • Prev
  • Next
  • FDSA
    • About Us
    • What Do We Teach?
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Testimonials
    • Privacy Policy
  • Student Resources
    • Calendar
    • Scholarships
    • Gift Certificates
    • Swag
    • Trainer Certificates
  • Courses
    • Class Schedules
    • By Instructor
    • By Discipline
    • Prerequisites
    • Self Study
  • Webinars
    • Schedule
    • Webinar Courses
    • Register
  • More Learning
    • Podcast
    • Blog
    • Puppy Book
    • Private Lessons
    • Team
  • Help!
    • Getting Started
    • Enrolled Students
    • Video & Images
    • Webinars

Copyright © Fenzi Dog Sports Academy and individual instructors.

Technical support - send email to help@fenziacademy.com

Connect with us! facebook-icon email-icon instagram-icon