Spotlight: Epitome of Enthusiasm - Dr. John Strassner

Being a Scent Work instructor is an honor and a privilege. You devote countless hours learning and honing your craft, perfecting it with your own dogs and then transferring that knowledge to your clients. Those clients then go on to play the wonderful sniffing game, having successes and a blast doing so. However, to be an effective teacher requires one also be a student, someone open to learning new information, approaches and perspectives. The issue? There may come a point in time when this seemingly runs in conflict with your current approaches, program or curriculum! In this episode, we discuss how painful it can be for Scent Work instructors to grow and adjust their training approaches, lessons and curriculum. The possible professional ramifications. The emotional toll. How it may cause you to second guess your worth as an instructor and trainer! While growth can indeed be painful, even eliciting powerful emotional responses, growing as a Scent Work instructor is a GOOD thing and DOES NOT mean one was bad, unknowledgeable or worthless before said growth. One such newer resource that can help you further grow as an instructor is the book authored by Sue Sternberg and Dana Zinn: The Dog-Driven Search: Handling Our Nose Work Dogs to Promote Independence, Joy, and Enthusiasm This is the first installment for our new Scent Work instructor-focused podcast series. We look forward to sharing interviews with fellow colleagues about their training journeys, their experience as an instructor and much more. Speaker: Dianna L. Santos ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Interested in other dog sports, helping a new dog or puppy learn the ropes to be more successful at home and when out and about? Check out Pet Dog U, where we offer online dog training courses, webinars, mini-webinars, seminars as well as a regularly updated blog and podcast for all of your dog training needs! #allaboutscentworkpodcast #scentworkinstructor #noseworkinstructor #dogtraininginstructor #growthisgood #growthcanbepainful #scentwork #nosework #scentworkpodcast #noseworkpodcast #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

10 Feb 202444min

When it comes to Scent Work, we work to to ensure our dog has solid odor recognition, that they find their hides valuable and are able to competently solve odor puzzles and source their hides both efficiently and effectively. However, to truly be successful, our dogs must also master a myriad of other skills which have nothing at all to do with searching. In this episode, we delve into this topic, providing a few examples of the types of skills oftentimes brushed aside as unimportant when in truth they may be pivotal for the dog's or team's overall success. A few of the resources you may want to look into to broaden your dog's skillset include: Car Crate Crazy Webinar with Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow Harnessing Joy Webinar with Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow The Floor is Lava Webinar with Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow Worth Waiting For: Leveraging Staging Areas to Maximize Performance Webinar with Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow Elevation Elation: Build and Use Body Awareness Webinar with Vicky Lovejoy Shrinking Space = Success Webinar with Vicky Lovejoy Fitness for the Life of Your Dog Webinar with Donna Morgan Murray Keeping Your Senior Dog Fit to Work and Play Webinar with Donna Morgan Murray Fitness Exercises for Your Puppy Webinar with Donna Morgan Murray Intro to Canine Parkour Course with Lori Timberlake Intermediate Canine Parkour I Course with Lori Timberlake Conquering Competiton Stress Webinar with Michael McManus Why Stress is Good Webinar with Michael McManus and Natalie McManus Speaker: Dianna L. Santos ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Interested in other dog sports, helping a new dog or puppy learn the ropes to be more successful at home and when out and about? Check out Pet Dog U, where we offer online dog training courses, webinars, mini-webinars, seminars as well as a regularly updated blog and podcast for all of your dog training needs! #allaboutscentworkpodcast #skillsmatter #notjustabouthides #scentwork #nosework #scentworkpodcast #noseworkpodcast #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

4 Feb 202443min

In this episode, we discuss Cyber Scent Work and some of the changes, updates and new offerings including the launch of the Cyber Sniffing Games Program, the revamped Traditional Cyber Scent Work Program as well as introducing in-person assessments with the new Evaluator Program. YAY! To learn more, be certain to check out: Cyber Scent Work website Cyber Sniffing Games Program Traditional Cyber Scent Work Program Evaluator Program If you have any questions or would like to learn more, contact Dianna directly at dianna@cyberscentwork.com. Speaker: Dianna L. Santos ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Interested in other dog sports, helping a new dog or puppy learn the ropes to be more successful at home and when out and about? Check out Pet Dog U, where we offer online dog training courses, webinars, mini-webinars, seminars as well as a regularly updated blog and podcast for all of your dog training needs! #allaboutscentworkpodcast #cyberscentwork #cybersniffinggames #traditionalcyberscentwork #scentwork #nosework #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #scentworktrialing #noseworktrialing #scentworkwebinar #noseworkwebinar #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

13 Okt 202319min

For our 100th episode, we have the distinct privilege of speaking with the Co-Founders of NACSW, Amy Herot and Jill Marie O'Brien about all things odor, K9 Nose Work, training, trialing and more. ----more---- Speakers: Dianna L. Santos Amy Herot Jill Marie O'Brien Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Are you interested in competing in Scent Work? Give virtual trialing a try! Check out Cyber Scent Work, Inc. where not only may you earn qualifying scores, titles and ribbons, you may also receive training feedback from our incredibly talented and experienced Review Officials. Submit your video entry today. Interested in other dog sports, helping a new dog or puppy learn the ropes to be more successful at home and when out and about? Check out Pet Dog U, where we offer online dog training courses, webinars, mini-webinars, seminars as well as a regularly updated blog and podcast for all of your dog training needs! #allaboutscentworkpodcast #nacsw #k9nosework #amyherot #jillmarieobrien #odor #competing #training #scentworkinstructors #noseworkinstructors #scentwork #nosework #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #scentworktrialing #noseworktrialing #scentworkwebinar #noseworkwebinar #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

22 Sep 202350min

Are you going a million miles a minute when it comes to Scent Work? Doing all the training, learning, trialing possible, essentially all the things all the time? Or, do you feel as though MUST do all the things all the time to be a "good" Scent Work handler, instructor, trainer or trial official? In this episode, we discuss the potential issues of doing too much for too long, lacking balance in your life and how it is NOT necessary to meet some arbitrary metric when it comes to playing Scent Work. Speaker: Dianna L. Santos ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Are you interested in competing in Scent Work? Give virtual trialing a try! Check out Cyber Scent Work, Inc. where not only may you earn qualifying scores, titles and ribbons, you may also receive training feedback from our incredibly talented and experienced Review Officials. Submit your video entry today. Interested in other dog sports, helping a new dog or puppy learn the ropes to be more successful at home and when out and about? Check out Pet Dog U, where we offer online dog training courses, webinars, mini-webinars, seminars as well as a regularly updated blog and podcast for all of your dog training needs! #allaboutscentworkpodcast #scentworkinstructors #noseworkinstructors #instructorfeedback #scentwork #nosework #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #scentworktrialing #noseworktrialing #scentworkwebinar #noseworkwebinar #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

19 Aug 202329min

As Scent Work Instructors, given our learning, background and expertise, we oftentimes have a fairly solid grasp for how a sniffy journey may go, common pitfalls teams may fall into and ways to avoid those pitfalls. Our desire is to help guide our clients to have the smoothest and most successful journey possible. However, some learning can only be obtained by doing. In this episode, Dianna discusses how challenging it can be for instructors to thread this needle. While we want to guide our clients along their journey, we must simultaenously recognize it may be necessary for our client to experience something firsthand to truly absorb the information or obtain the requisite skills. Essentially, while instructors may have the best of intentions, placing clients into bubbles is oftentimes not the best option and could actually hinder their progression and growth. Speaker: Dianna L. Santos ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Are you interested in competing in Scent Work? Give virtual trialing a try! Check out Cyber Scent Work, Inc. where not only may you earn qualifying scores, titles and ribbons, you may also receive training feedback from our incredibly talented and experienced Review Officials. Submit your video entry today. Interested in other dog sports, helping a new dog or puppy learn the ropes to be more successful at home and when out and about? Check out Pet Dog U, where we offer online dog training courses, webinars, mini-webinars, seminars as well as a regularly updated blog and podcast for all of your dog training needs! #allaboutscentworkpodcast #scentworkinstructors #noseworkinstructors #instructorfeedback #scentwork #nosework #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #scentworktrialing #noseworktrialing #scentworkwebinar #noseworkwebinar #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

19 Aug 202336min

"It depends", one of the most common responses Scent Work instructors will give regarding what to do when a dog misses a hide in training. While this may be met with frustration and consternation from our clients, there is good reason for it. Solutions are NOT one-size-fits all. There are a multitude of factors which may result in drastically different approaches being implemented for the best outcome. In this episode, we discuss a few scenarios where a dog missed a hide in training in an attempt to illustrate why "It depends" actually makes sense and how handlers can reframe how they think, and emotionally react to, their dog missing a hide. ----more---- Speaker: Dianna L. Santos   Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Are you interested in competing in Scent Work? Give virtual trialing a try! Check out Cyber Scent Work, Inc. where not only may you earn qualifying scores, titles and ribbons, you may also receive training feedback from our incredibly talented and experienced Review Officials. Submit your video entry today. Interested in other dog sports, helping a new dog or puppy learn the ropes to be more successful at home and when out and about? Check out Pet Dog U, where we offer online dog training courses, webinars, mini-webinars, seminars as well as a regularly updated blog and podcast for all of your dog training needs! #allaboutscentworkpodcast #missedahide #missedatraininghide #itdepends #instructorfeedback #scentwork #nosework #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #scentworktrialing #noseworktrialing #scentworkwebinar #noseworkwebinar #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

14 Aug 202330min

Watching baby puppies tackle a Scent Work search is endearing to say the very least. We can easily get swept away by how amazing these tiny little babies are at solving their searches. Before we know it, we are offering more and more challenging searches for them to tackle. However, we must remember that they are indeed babies, not simply small adult dogs.  In this episode, we discuss how it is fantastic to play Scent Work with our puppies. However, doing so requires that we set appropriate challenges for them. Thus, we must take our time and avoid the allure the rush. We also discus how crucial it is to take into account their age and stage of development. The key message with this episode is to relish the time with our puppies and ensure whatever we are doing with them is FUN! Are you looking to get your puppy started in Scent Work? Check out our Puppy Sniffing Program today! Speaker: Dianna L. Santos ----more---- Scent Work University is an online dog training platform focused on all things Scent Work. Our online courses, seminars, webinars and eBooks are not only for those who are interested in competition, but also for those dog owners who are simply looking for something fun and engaging to do with their dogs. Check out Scent Work University today! Are you interested in competing in Scent Work? Give virtual trialing a try! Check out Cyber Scent Work, Inc. where not only may you earn qualifying scores, titles and ribbons, you may also receive training feedback from our incredibly talented and experienced Review Officials. Submit your video entry today. Interested in other dog sports, helping a new dog or puppy learn the ropes to be more successful at home and when out and about? Check out Pet Dog U, where we offer online dog training courses, webinars, mini-webinars, seminars as well as a regularly updated blog and podcast for all of your dog training needs! #allaboutscentworkpodcast #puppyscentwork #sniffingpuppies #puppies #puppy #scentwork #nosework #scentworktraining #noseworktraining #scentworktrialing #noseworktrialing #scentworkwebinar #noseworkwebinar #onlinescentwork #onlinenosework #virtualscentwork #virtualnosework #scentworku #scentworkuniversity

5 Aug 202316min