AKc Scent work Judge, International clinician, top competitor, and FDSA Instructor

Stacy Barnett

Stacy Barnett, founder of Scentsabilities Nosework, is an avid and successful competitor as well as a talented instructor. Stacy is available both online and in person. Online classes are available through Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Stacy also holds weekly webinars and is available in person for seminars worldwide.

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Nosework

Learn with Stacy

Online Classes through Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

Classes are geared towards all levels of competitors, regardless of your venue of choice! Come see why Stacy’s FDSA classes receive consistent accolades.

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Webinars for hobbyists and competitors

Tuesday is webinar day! Topics run the gamut and are a popular augment to every Nosework handler’s education. See also for special events!

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International Seminars and Special Events

Stacy is a popular clinician and travels across the US and abroad teaching Nosework! Currently booking 2019 engagements.

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Learn about Nosework on the blog and podcast

Want access to free educational resources? Read Stacy’s blog and listen to her podcast.

Read the Blog OR Listen to the Podcast

What is Nosework?

Nosework is one of the fastest growing dog sports in the world. It’s modeled after real world detection.

In Nosework, your dog searches for essential oils, usually on cotton swab. You may search inside buildings, out in the open, boxes and luggage, on vehicles and even buried in the ground! Every search is different and exciting. This is a timed sport where the dog’s skill and handling come together.

Nosework is a sport that every dog and handler can do. It’s a great way to focus hyper dogs and calm nervous dogs. You will be surprised how Nosework can build confidence. Plus it’s FUN!

What can it do for your dog?

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Engage his brain

Did you know that 1/8th of your dog’s brain is dedicated to olfaction? Nosework engages the whole canine brain in ways that your dog loves.

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Build Confidence

Doing Nosework the right way builds confidence biologically and soothes the canine brain. It can build confidence and reduce fear-based reactivity.

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Build Your Bond

There is nothing so beautiful as a handler working lockstep with a scenting dog. Your dog will love spending time with you doing Nosework!

Upcoming Webinars

Nose vs Eyes: Challenging the Nosework Dog’s Assumptions

July 2nd, 2019 @ 9:30pm ET

Did you know that the Nosework dog searches with a lot more than his Nose? In fact every dog with the cability of sight will search with their nose AND their eyes! Depending on the dog and his preferences within the Prey Sequence, this tendency may fall along a pretty wide spectrum! Dogs search with both because it WORKS… However, in some dogs this can really cause some training challenges including object obsession and fringe alerts. Learn how to challenge your dog’s assumptions!

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The Use of Pressure in Handling the Nosework Dog Effectively

July 9th, 2019 @ 9:30pm ET

In Nosework, we are taught to “give the dog space” and “don’t crowd the dog”. Do you know why that is? Sure, the dog can source more effectively, but why? The answer is in how our dogs react to proximal pressure, applied either by the handler OR by the environment. As Nosework handlers, very often the key to a successful search is in not only being able to read the dog, but to also read the search area and handle in such a way that we enable our dogs to be as effective as possible. This is achieved by the understanding and judicial use of pressure. Learn handling techniques aimed at taking the “push” out of handling so that the dog can work effectively. Learn to spot pitfalls in handling or in search areas that might lend themselves to missed hides, or “Finely Tuned False Alerts”. The magic is in PRESSURE!

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Latest Blog Posts

Understanding the effective release of pressure while handling the Nosework dog

One of the most powerful things that a handler can learn is how to effectively use body pressure. Handling is at its core, communication. That’s all it is. And when a dog searches, he is communicating to the handler 100% of the time. A savvy and experienced handler...

The REAL Secret to Training a Nosework Dog

Do you want to know the REAL secret to training a Nosework dog? It's rather simple and easy to do. The secret is in prioritization. It's in picking long-term goals over short-term goals. What does this mean? It means that we need to think about how our training...

Starting the Sensitive Dog in Nosework

Does it really matter HOW you start your dog in Nosework? Well, it depends. I'm the first one to always say that all methods work as long as you are respecting the dog and his emotions and needs. I truly believe that. Do I have my preferences? Sure! Don't we all? Are...

“I will seek out Stacy again. I so enjoyed her teaching style and sharing her experiences really helps prepare you. I feel I have a good plan and much better understanding of what we need to succeed at the higher levels of NoseWork.”

“Stacy is so organized - works individually with each dog at the stage they are at -lots of positive feedback and helpful critiques. Love how she breaks complex ideas down into the parts and has us practice each of the parts before putting them together into the whole exercise.”

“Another phenomenal six weeks!!! Class after class Stacy brings out the best in everyone and provides detailed insight and feedback. She ensures success and encourages her students to challenge themselves while building confidence.”

Success

Training Philosophy

Stacy structures everything around her Pyramid: The Four Cornerstones of Trial Preparation. Confidence and Motivation are sacred. Emotions can be trained. Arousal is a habit. These are core concepts of what she teaches.

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