by Julie A Symons | Jan 12, 2026 | Dog Sports
One of the most common Nosework questions I get from students is how to build more duration at source. Stronger duration and intensity make it much clearer when your dog has truly found the hide. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by using markers...
by Julie A Symons | Aug 12, 2025 | Dog Sports
It’s my opinion that our goal for handling is that we establish a communication system that creates clarity for the dog. The question isn’t whether we influence our dogs – we do, whether we realize it or not – but whether our handling fosters the outcomes...
by Julie A Symons | Jul 5, 2025 | Dog Sports
Starting a new dog in any sport is always a bit nerve-wracking! Katniss is just a year old, and aside from a few AKC Scent Work searches at a local trial, this felt like her first real test. We made the 1.5-hour drive to a fairground for a half-day of running three...
by Julie A Symons | Mar 11, 2025 | Dog Sports
Thinking outside the box is so important in dog training. A few years ago I started doing box acclimation drills for my Into to NW classes. The container search element often has the lowest pass rate – not because dogs can’t find odor in a container, but because...
by Julie A Symons | Jul 23, 2024 | Dog Sports
In all aspects of life, our behavior is driven by consequences. When we do something that results in something negative – touching a hot plate – we will avoid doing that in the future. When a behavior results in something positive – a dog catching a...
