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Dog Sports & Behavior Series: Nosework
The Nose Work Dog and Behavior - Exploring the nexus between mind, nose & behavior K9 Nose Work, often called nose work or scent work generically, is used to talk about the competitive aspect of nose work training for our canine companions.
Many dogs are now actively participating in nose work trials and training, and behavioral improvements and emotional shifts have been observed in nosework dogs that seemed impossible before starting this activity. Research supports the overall value of dog’s involvement in some type of scent work activity. Not all dogs may enjoy or be suitable for the rigors of competition, but every dog can enjoy the many aspects of nose work.K9 Nose Work® was designed to reach the greatest number of dogs and their people, regardless of individual training backgrounds, skill sets, or physical abilities. The program was developed to be dog-focused and dog driven, eliminating the need for extensive handler involvement in the foundational phases of training. K9 Nose Work® allows individual dogs to build problem-solving skills, explore their natural and intrinsic skill sets, and develop frustration tolerance, emotional stability, and behavioral resilience.
Many dogs are now actively participating in nose work trials and training, and behavioral improvements and emotional shifts have been observed in nosework dogs that seemed impossible before starting this activity. Research supports the overall value of dog’s involvement in some type of scent work activity. Not all dogs may enjoy or be suitable for the rigors of competition, but every dog can enjoy the many aspects of nose work.K9 Nose Work® was designed to reach the greatest number of dogs and their people, regardless of individual training backgrounds, skill sets, or physical abilities. The program was developed to be dog-focused and dog driven, eliminating the need for extensive handler involvement in the foundational phases of training. K9 Nose Work® allows individual dogs to build problem-solving skills, explore their natural and intrinsic skill sets, and develop frustration tolerance, emotional stability, and behavioral resilience.
Meet the instructor
Jill Marie
Jill Marie has been working with and training dogs since 1987. As co-founder of the National Association of Canine Scent Work and K9 Nose Work, Jill Marie has focused her attention on the development of the K9 Nose Work program. Her work has taken her to almost all the States of the Union, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and most recently Sweden. K9 Nose Work is one of the fastest growing activities and sports in the world.
In 1996, Jill Marie joined spcaLA and developed the agency’s first Animal Behavior and Training Department since its inception in 1877. During her time at spcaLA she created the HEAL program (Helping Enhance Animals’ Lives) to improve and enrich the lives of the animal clients in the shelter, developed the Standards Program for enhanced assessments, performed behavior modification and placement recommendations and wrote the dog training curriculum for the TLC program designed for at-risk youth. Jill Marie’s tenure working in the shelter environment has given her a unique insight into how successful dog/human relationships are developed and sustained.
Jill Marie’s years of dog training experience includes developing a behavior assessment protocol for use in the shelter environment, agility instruction and competition, tracking, Animal Assisted Therapy, Schutzhund and canine detection training along with many hours of K9 Nose Work development and instruction. As one of the founders of the sport of K9 Nose Work and the National Association of Canine Scent Work, LLC she is a strong believer in activities that enhance and cultivate teamwork between dog and handler. Jill Marie and her dog Beckett were a nationally certified Narcotics Detection Team and in 2009, took First Place in the novice division at the Oxnard Police K9 Inaugural Trial.
Along with her involvement with the NACSW and K9 Nose Work, Jill Marie operates her own dog training and consulting business in the Los Angeles area. She shares her life with her son Aedan and husband Jim and two dogs Raven & Grip along with the newest canine family member, Stella.