We invite you to the English edition of the Nose Work instructor course! This edition include a special participation of guest instructors - Mr. Paul Bunker from Chiron K9 LLC, Mrs. Erkku Jussinheimo (Finland) and Dr. Lauryn DeGreeff who will enrich the course with their knowledge and experience. Please read more below in order to learn more details!
The nose work instructor course with elements of operational detection focuses primarily on explaining and working through the field of detection work, which is nose work, from scratch. It is suitable both for people who want to expand their training offer to include nose work classes, and for people who just want to learn the principles of this olfactory discipline from scratch for their own use.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Nose Work can be trained by every person and every dog, regardless of age, condition, size, breed and even physical limitations. This field is literally for everyone.
Additionally, it does not require large financial outlays or fancy training areas. Nose Work can be practiced every day and in virtually any conditions and it does not require any obedience training.
The advantages of Nose Work include:
mental effort for the dog in line with its nature - nose work burns a lot of the dog's energy
building self-confidence in shy and anxious dogs
redirecting the energy of hyperactive dogs into calming nose work activity
teaching the dog to focus
learning to communicate with a dog and read its body language
building a bond between the handler and the dog
activating owners and motivating them to spend time actively working with their dogs
an excellent way to work with aggressive and reactive dogs - Nose Work is trained individually
Nose Work – sport, work and recreation
Nose Work training gives us the opportunity to challenge others during national and international competitions and exams. However, this is not a discipline only for people with a passion for sports. Nose Work also brings a number of benefits when used recreationally in everyday life or when working with problematic dogs (fearful, aggressive) or when working with shelter dogs.
ATTENTION! The main aim of this course is to teach the dogs a nice, reliable and systematic nose work activity. It does not matter in what kind of work it will be used - on what scents, based on what regulations or if just for your own use. Students can pursue their careers in any clubs and associations of their choice.
However, we are pleased to inform you that we are working on organizing our own events and competitions, thanks to which the students will have the opportunity to meet, compete and exchange experiences also among us.
ABOUT THE COURSE:
The course starts on November 3rd, 2025 and its estimated duration is 5 months. Obligatory classes will be held online in form of webinars - a webinar will be held every 1 or 2 weeks during which subsequent exercises and current topics, questions, doubts and students' progress will be discussed. Apart form that, each month there will be at least 2 theoretical webinars that will cover topics related to the scent theory, search techniques, motivation in scent work and other aspects that are important in this kind of work.
The schedule of the online meetings will be given for 2 months in advance.
We decided to enrich our course with 2 weekend sessions in order to work on selected issues together with the students on site.
Meetings are not obligatory in order to complete the course program (you can attend online only), but they are an excellent opportunity to work through exercises under the supervision of instructors and spend time together on exercises and internal competitions.
DATES OF THE ON SITE MEETINGS IN POLAND:
TO BE SET BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE COURSE
Both meetings will be held in Poborowo (Pomeranian Voivodeship, POLAND) at the Lichnerówka Farm.
During the meetings, participants will be supervised by at least 2 instructors. Our special guest will appear at one of the meetings - Nose Work instructor from Finland - Mrs. Erkku Jussinheimo, with whom we have been cooperating for years. Erkku will conduct special classes for future instructors.
INSTRUCTORS:
--> JAGNA GILL (Poland) - head instructor that will lead you through the course - she has been training dogs for over 12 years, starting with search rescue and currently focusing primarily on scent detection and training dogs in uniformed units. She draws her knowledge and experience primarily from Scandinavian sources, learning from the best instructors and scientists in their fields around the world. Handler of two certified search and rescue dogs (now retired) and dogs trained for scent detection (EDDs), radio/camera directional sending and combat dogs. She cooperates with uniformed units in Poland and abroad, including in war-torn countries. Together with 'Junior', they regularly visit the Ukrainian troops, helping in the effective training of K9s in combat use. A graduate of many courses in Poland and abroad (including the USA, Sweden, the Netherlands and more) and an internship with a mine dog training center in Bosnia (NPA). Her training ideas combine the use of modern technologies with scientific foundations. Owner of the TWD Group - Thor Working Dogs company dealing with specialized training in the field of working dogs and founder of the NGO called IRMA Foundation - Dogs in the Service of Man, responsible for supporting working dogs and the search and rescue activities. Author of cynological articles in industry magazines, speaker at specialist conferences in Poland and abroad. In addition to the practical aspect of working with dogs, she is also an instructor of nose work and dog therapy. A lover of the Belgian Malinois breed.
--> ERKKU JUSSINHEIMO (Finland) - our special guest who not only will take part in certifying the participants and evaluating their progress throughout the course but she will also run some of the theoretical classes (webinars) and will be an instructor during one of the on site meetings. Erkku has been involved in Nose Work sport for 10 years, got training to be an instructor from Ron Gaunt (USA), one of the founders of the sport. Erkku has been also one of those people bringing the sport to Finland and has been working alot to spread the sport across Finland, training new instructors and dogteams for 9 years. Erkku is a well known person in the sport, loves dogs and nosework and it's origion as a sport for all dogs.
--> PAUL BUNKER (USA) - our second special guest who will go through some theoretical aspects of the nose work activity in a form of a webinar.
Mr. Bunker is the owner and Principal of Chiron K9 LLC, a canine consultancy company specializing in detection. He served over 22 years in the British Army as a Canine Trainer/Instructor/Assessor deploying on high-threat counter-terrorist operations worldwide. During his time in the British Army, he was the Senior Instructor and Trainer of Specialized Search Dog and Explosive Detection Dog/Handler Training for both the UK and US Military. More:
https://chiron-k9.com/
--> DR. LAURYN E. DEGREEFF has worked in the field of analytical chemistry in support of canine detection for more than 13 years. She is currently employed as a research chemist at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and is on faculty of the Florida International University, Chemistry Department. Dr. DeGreeff received her Ph.D. in Chemistry with an emphasis in Forensic Science from Florida International University in 2010. Her research focused on the sampling, characterization, and delivery of human odor, living and deceased, for the purpose of canine detection. Following the completion of her doctorate, she worked as a research fellow at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit. Her research focus was detection and determination of human scent and odor and human blood for the development / improvement of canine training aids and training methods. Dr. DeGreeff began her research at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in 2012 with focus on the characterization of explosives for instrumental and canine detection. She has since developed and patented a canine training tool for training on mixed odors, which has recently been brought to commercial market. Additional research has included a chemistry-based approach to studying canine olfaction for the purpose of improving canine training and informing field vapor sampling practices. Dr. DeGreeff has published numerous journal articles, holds three patents, has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences, and frequently gives educational seminars law enforcement officers and military personnel.
--> Dr. NATHAN HALL: Dr. Hall is an Assistant Professor of Companion Animal Science at Texas Tech University and the Director of the Canine Olfaction Research and Education Laboratory in the Department of Animal Science. Dr. Hall earned his PhD at the University of Florida, specializing in the study of Behavior Analysis and canine olfaction. As a post-doc, he continued his studies at Arizona State University investigating the optimization of training to enhance canine’s detection of Homemade Explosives. At Texas Tech, his work continues to explore canine olfactory perception and how experience influences odor perception. His lab also investigates predictors and correlates of problem behavior, behavioral predictors of working aptitude, and canine health. Throughout his career, Dr. Hall has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and book chapters on canine olfaction and detection abilities.
We are very happy and proud to have Dr. Nathan Hall as our guest instructor, it's an honour!
--> FLORIAN SCHNEIDER (KYNOTEC)
Florian is a dogtrainer and operational doghandler focusing on detection and SAR and on all the all the associated
subjects such as functional obedience, laser directionals, selection of dogs, puppy raising, helper, handler and
instructor training. In his company he works with different law enforcement agencies and several fully professional and
voluntary SAR organisations in Europe. Also he runs his own podcast called „Kynotalk“ in English and German.
Before becoming a full time dogtrainer, Florian worked several years as a paramedic (Notfallsanitäter in Austria) and was
part of a command staff of a disaster relief unit.
During this course Flo will cover such topics as reward structure, problem solving algorithms, play as rewards and benefits from playing with dogs.
--> --> MARIE FOGELQUIST has worked with dogs and course activities since the early 1980s and has had her own course since 1985.
Marie is a trained instructor (Anders Hallgren's training and SBK's B-instr.)
Marie is a trained Dog Psychologist (Anders Hallgren's training).
Marie is a trained Agility instructor and Agility instructor teacher.
Marie has trained in Operant learning with Bob Bailey, USA.
Marie is a trained instructor in Bird Dog Training.
Marie has attended many trainings in addition to this in the subject of dogs and
learning both in Sweden and abroad.
Marie trained (together with Anders Hallgren and Marie Hanssson) the first service dog in Sweden, Lajban, a border collie (1989).
Marie brought the Klicker to Sweden in 1995, to make training with the Assistance Dogs easier. She was project manager for assistance dog training (1993-1998) and still trains assistance dogs.
Marie worked with the mold dog Barry Moore (1985-1988) at VIAK in Skåne.
Marie worked as a dog handler at Securitas with Bianca (Australian cattledog) 1988-1991.
Marie has been an Agility judge from Agility's start (1987) in Sweden until 2000.
Marie has attended all of Bob Bailey's Chicken Camps (Parts 1-5) both in Hot Springs, AR, USA and in Sweden. From 2002 to 2012, Marie arranged Chicken Camps with Bob Bailey in Sweden (a total of 35 courses). Marie has Chicken Camp courses in Swedish and English.
Marie's first company called Hund-Biten was established in 1984. In 2002 it was renamed House of Learning but now the company is closed since 2013.
Dala Hundservice AB was started in 2006. Since then, many different dog courses have been held. Everything from Instructor training in Nose Work and Assistance dog instructor/trainer training to dog owner courses, weekend courses and camps.
Marie brought Nose Work to Sweden already in 2011.
In 2013, the first instructor training in Nose Work was carried out
In 2014, the Swedish Nose Work club was started by Marie and several instructors.
In 2014, Ron Gaunt was also invited for courses in Sweden, Marie has arranged several weekend courses and instructor camps for Ron in Sweden. She has also been to Colorado for a Nose Work camp with NASCW instructors.
In 2013, ACT for Mission - the kennel was formed with Labrador Retrievers for assistance dogs and search dogs.
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ABOUT THE COURSE:
Course goal: Participants will be able to independently conduct training and courses for dog owners in the field of the Nose Work activity.
Attention! Completing this course allows you to work according to any regulations and with any scents. We teach the odor detection system, subsequent imprinting other odors will not be a problem. Our system is based on the experience and knowledge gained from the best instructors from the USA (Mr. Ron Gaunt, K9 Nose Work®) and Sweden ( Mrs. Marie Fogelquist and Mr. Mats Hedlund, Svenska Nose Work Klubben).
In our classes we use the scents of eucalyptus, bay leaf and lavender hydrolates and we follow the Scandinavian standards of the Nose Work sport. The course will end with an examination and certification by an external examiner from Finland (Erkku Jussinheimo) who is working according to the same standards.
Participants of the instructor course can attend without a dog of their own but they must be able to train a minimum of 2 dog teams. Since this is an instructor course we put impact on showing you and teaching you how to transfer the knowledge to others and how to train another dog team, rather than just your own dog.
TRAINING PLAN:
A large number of theoretical and practical classes for students and 13 practical homework tasks. During the course, participants are expected to do homework tasks and share their progress in a form of short videos on a dedicated platform and in a closed FB group, that will remain available to participants after the course ends.
The homework tasks will be evaluated by the instructor on the dedicated platform and the full feedback will be given to each of the videos.
Students will be provided a constant instructor supervision and the possibility of direct consultations. Additionally, the course will cover some aspects of professional scent detection and scent theory.
The course ends with an exam (fully online) and certification conducted by an international examination committee.
THE SCOPE OF MATERIAL:
The course will include elements of History of Nose Work, regulations on currently used scents, competitions and examinations, training planning and data colletion, jury protocols, imprinting of scent (advantages and disadvantages of different methods), scents combinations, contaminations, scent composition, handling of training aids, scent theory, handling distractions, search strategies, scent location (different altitudes), reward techniques, false alerts, canine body language and dog communication, on-leash and off-leash work, human body language, reactive dogs vs. Nose Work, classical and conditional learning, motivation in olfactory work, elementary pedagogy, training protocols, sample preparations and more.
The practical part will include everything from switching the dog's nose on to the ORT (odor recognition test). That means we will go through topics and tasks such as line ups, low and high hides, handler's performance (starting position, leash handling, rewarding), imprinting of the scent, interior search, exterior search, vehicle search, basic indication techniques,
Scope of the exam and certification:
The certification will consist of a theoretical (written) and a practical part. The practical exam will verify an ability to teach beginners correctly and effectively according to the curriculum of the course.
The ability to spot errors and solve problems that occur in a training will be also tested.
ATTENTION!
--> The exam takes place entirely ONLINE! Details regarding the form of assessment will be discussed with students at the beginning of the course. There is no need travel in order to complete the course and take the exam.
--> ALL WEBINARS WILL BE RECORDED! You don't have to attend live if you can't due to any reasons, everything will be recorded and uploaded in the group for rewatching.
--> ALL WEBINARS will be conducted live and not as a prerecorded lectures.
--> The course will use video, photo and multimedia presentations. The course includes theoretical and practical classes with two external dog teams and the work of these two dog teams will be evaluated. Nose Work is a cynological sport based on the dog's olfactory work. It mainly involves detecting odors and can be trained by all dogs - regardless of breed, age, experience or character traits.
--> This course will be held in English. Graduates will receive a diploma of completing the course and a Nose Work Instructor Certificate issued by TWD GROUP.
PRICING AND REGISTRATION:
--> 2300 EUR (INCLUDING TWO ON SITE MEETINGS - dates will be set at the beginning of the training, accommodation and meals on your own)
--> 2100 EUR (INCLUDING ONE ON SITE MEETING - date will be set at the beginning of the training, accommodation and meals on your own)
--> 1900 EUR (EXCLUDING ON SITE MEETINGS, ONLINE EDUCATION ONLY)
Possibility to divide payments into 2 or 4 instalments.
REGISTRATION FORM:
https://forms.gle/D48SQfY1B4MrQ6r68
For more information, please contact us!
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