Trial Prep Program

You are interested in competing or are already competing in Scent Work trials, how exciting! The resources offered in this program are designed to ensure you, your dog and your team are prepared to tackle the challenges posed at trial.

These training resources will be helpful across a variety of competition venues, but there are several thar are venue-specific.

Are you looking for one-on-one coaching or support for your team? Contact us and we will provide you with some customized suggestions!

CONTACT US
Trial Prep Program

Trial Prep Tips

View all
Recommended Podcasts RE: Trial Prep
Trialing Tips
Recommended Podcasts RE: Trial Prep
Trialing Tips
Latest posts
What You Need on Trial Day
Trialing Tips
What You Need on Trial Day
Trialing Tips
Remember: Odor Moves
Understanding Odor
Remember: Odor Moves
Understanding Odor
Training v. Trialing
Trialing Tips
Training v. Trialing
Trialing Tips
Explore more
110 products
Trial Prep Program
Are You Ready to Trial? eBook
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

You have been doing Scent Work with your dog for a bit. They are loving the game and doing well. Could it be time to embark on trialing in formal Scent Work trials? Find out with this eBook.
Trial Prep Program
Scent Work Training Journal
Instructor: Michelle Doram

Use this training journey to take your Scent Work training and trialing to the next level, by keeping yourself honest, noticing what may need work but also how far you and your dog have come!
NACSW Program
All-Level NACSW™ Trial Prep Course
Instructor: Lori Timberlake

Getting ready to trial is about more than simply running blind hides. Consider the entire trial picture and properly prepare with this course.
Trial Prep Program
Conquering Competition Stress Webinar
Instructor: Michael McManus

Michael McManus grants Scent Work University license to feature his courses, seminars and webinars on our online dog training platform. All of the content in this online webinar is created by, owned by, and the rights to the content, are reserved to Michael McManus.
Trial Prep
Learning, and Moving On, From Trial Mishaps Webinar
Instructor: Dana Zinn

Let’s face it, most of us have had things not go perfectly in competition. Many times, the challenge is figuring out which were preventable, and which were anomalies. Learn common issues teams experience at trial and how to learn from them.
Trial Prep Program
All About Brackets Webinar
Instructor: Michele Ellertson

In this webinar, Michele will discuss the differences between all brackets styles including how bracketing looks when a dog is working an inaccessible and elevated hide!
Trial Prep Program
Trial Prep for Reactive Dogs Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Scent Work is a unique dog sport in that it is open to reactive dogs. However, a Scent Work trial can be rather challenging for reactive dogs...triggers abound! Learn a variety of exercises, routines and tips to help your reactive dog be more successful at a Scent Work trial with this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Trial Prep for Sensitive Dogs Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Scent Work is a wonderful activity in that it can help sensitive dogs gain new confidence. Trialing may even be in these dog's future, however these events can be rather challenging environments for any dog to deal with, not to mention a sensitive dog!
Trial Prep Program
All-Level Trial Prep Webinar
Instructor: Lori Timberlake

When training for trial, there are so many skills to work on that are not just for the level you are currently trialing at!
Trial Prep Program
Scent Work Trial Realities Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

If you are interested in trialing for Scent Work, it is important to realize some of the realities that go along with doing so!
Trial Prep Program
You Can Crush Pooling Odor! Webinar
Instructor: Tony Gravley

The dreaded pooling odor has been the cause of many painful “NO”s ! Learn how to crush this odor puzzle in this webinar!
Trial Prep Program
How to Make Your Trial Official (and Instructor) Cringe Webinar
Instructor: Michele Ellertson

Our nerves can cause us to do crazy things at a Scent Work trial...some of which make trial officials cringe. Find out how to avoid these pitfalls and have smiling officials instead!
Trial Prep Program
Call Finish: Clearing Your Nosework Search Areas Webinar
Instructor: Michele Ellertson

Clearing a search area at trial can be unnerving to say the least. Learn the clues our dogs provide at the very start of the search that can help us more confidently call "Finish" with this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Develop Trial Mind: Decision Making in the Fire Webinar
Instructor: Judith Guthrie

Scent Work trials are fraught with decisions the handler must make a moment's notice. Learn how you can do this without folding under the pressure with this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Great Expectations: Creating your Scent Work Trial Experience Webinar
Instructor: Michelle Doram

This webinar will address managing expectations for Scent Work trials and will help you feel more prepared when you step to the line with your dog.
Trial Prep Program
Covering the Search Area Webinar
Instructor: Lori Timberlake

Particularly as you climb the levels in Scent Work trials, the need for you to properly cover the search area becomes more and more important. Learn tips on how you can do so in this webinar!
Trial Prep
Blast Busters! Webinar
Instructor: Holly Bushard

Are you struggling with your dog blasting off from the start line as if a rocket were strapped to them? Learn how to help our over-the-top dogs come off of the start-line focused on odor in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Start Lines: From Beginning to End Webinar
Instructor: Lori Timberlake

Your start lines matter and can shape the entirety of your search! Learn how and the ways to ensure your start line routine is as good as possible in this webinar.
NACSW Program
Tackling NW3 Head-On: Conquering the Mind Game Webinar
Instructor: Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow

NW3 is notoriously challenging for dog and handler teams. In this webinar, Kayla and Samantha will discuss ways to improve your mental game so that you and your dog can rise to the challenge.
Trial Prep Program
Why Stress is Good Webinar
Instructor: Michael McManus and Natalie McManus

Dogs and handlers encounter stress both within and outside their searches. Learn how to better cope with this stress using targeted exercises meant for both ends of leash in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Power of Semi-Blind Hides Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

While it is true that all your hides will be blind when trialing, training is a entirely different animal! In this webinar, we discuss the benefits of using semi-blind searches in your training setups.
Trial Prep Program
Working Blind Hides Webinar
Instructor: Judith Guthrie

Blind hides are oftentimes stress-inducing for handlers, who dread hearing a "No". Learn how to effectively use blind searches in training.
Trial Prep Program
Working Under Pressure Webinar
Instructor: Judith Guthrie

Trialing in Scent Work oftentimes turns into a battle against the clock. Why not do fast searches in training to prepare?
Trial Prep Program
Worth Waiting For: Leveraging Staging Areas to Maximize Performance Webinar
Instructor: Kayla Dever and Samantha Winslow

When trialing, the staging areas can be an excellent way to ensure you and your dog are ready to tackle your next search. Learn how to more fully leverage your staging areas in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Cause and Cure for False Alerts: Buried Hides Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Do you struggle in the AKC Buried Class, calling false alerts left and right!? Find out why and ways to work on it in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Cause and Cure for False Alerts: Container Searches Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Do you struggle with blind Container searches? Find out why false alerts occur and possible training solutions in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Cause and Cure for False Alerts: Exterior Searches Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Do you struggle with blind Exterior searches? Find out why false alerts occur and possible training solutions in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Cause and Cure for False Alerts: Handler Discrimination Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Are you calling false alerts when tackling the AKC Handler Discrimination class? Find out why and what to work on to avoid those false alerts in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Cause and Cure for False Alerts: Interior Searches Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Do you struggle with blind Interior searches? Find out why false alerts occur and possible training solutions in this webinar.
Trial Prep Program
Cause and Cure for False Alerts: Vehicle Searches Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Do you struggle with blind Vehicle searches? Find out why false alerts occur and possible training solutions in this webinar.
Common Issues
Conquering the Environment in Scent Work Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Does it feel as though it is you and your dog v. the environment in your searches? Learn how to better help your dog cope with what the environment throws at them.
Proofing
Find Your Hide - Proofing for Crittering Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Does crittering in your searches get you down? It is understandable, critters are super interesting to our dogs! Learn how you to help them value finding their target hides more than the potential critter activity within their search areas.
Proofing
Find Your Hide - Proofing for Dog Odor Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Do you dread it when there is a possibility of dog odor in your search area? Does it seem as though your dog become obsessed and forgets about hunting for target odor? This webinar is for you!
Proofing
Find Your Hide - Proofing for Food and Toys Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

The most common planned distractors found within Scent Work search areas are food and toy distractors. Proofing our dogs off these distractors is a key element to any training program. Learn how to do just that in this webinar.
Proofing
Find Your Hide - Proofing for Messy Odor Profile Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Our goal is for our dogs to go into a space and locate all of the hides...but do they REALLY know that they are hunting for? Providing clarity should be a cornerstone of our training program. Learn how to provide this clarity in this webinar.
Common Issues
What's the Issue: Containers Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Is your dog struggling with their Container searches? Learn how to identify potential causes and create a flexible training plan in this webinar.
Common Issues
What's the Issue: Exteriors Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Are you and your dog struggling with Exterior searches and you do not know why?! In this webinar, we will outline ways you can assess the WHY and come up with the HOW in terms of a flexible training plan solution.
Common Issues
What's the Issue: Interiors Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

You and your dog have an issue with Interiors, resulting in false alerts, a diminishing of the dog's motivation and a general sense of frustration. What is the root cause? How can you go about fixing it? Learn how to better identify both in this webinar.
Common Issues
What's the Issue: Vehicles Webinar
Instructor: Dianna L. Santos

Do you and your dog find Vehicle searches challenging and frustrating? Figuring out WHY will help you better devise a training solution. We discuss how you can do just that in this webinar.
Advanced Topics Program
Building an Effective Nosework Training Plan for Dog Owners Webinar
Instructor: Michele Ellertson

Breaking down complex ideas into smaller pieces helps our dogs better understand. Learn how you can do this in Nosework, designing effective training plans, with this webinar!
Recently viewed