K9You

Nosework Trial opportunity! MBASWC is holding a trial on April 10th and 11th, and has classes still open for Novice level. I can attest that the trial location in Aptos is a fabulous location! MBASWC puts on the BEST trials! They have great judges and great search areas and are a welcoming group. (Disclaimer: I am a member, but it is still true!). If you have questions about whether you are ready, feel free to ask!

ORT Alert! Have you thought about trialing with NACSW Nose Work? Two Nosey Girls is hosting an ORT in Turlock next month and entries just opened! An ORT is a container search for one target odor and passing ORT's for Birch, Anise and Clove are required for participation in NACSW trials. If you have been participating in AKC Scent Work this is another trialing venue that is a lot of fun. Find the entry form under events at https://www.twonoseygirls.com/

Lockdown sucks so a chance to win some TotoPuckz! These are the cutest little foot targets by TotoFit and they come in their own little zipper pack! How do you enter a chance to win? Four steps - #1 - Like this post, #2 - Share a picture of your dog who needs a set of TotoPuckz in the comments of this post (if you are between dogs you can share a comment about your plans for your next dog, or a picture of a past dog), #3 - Like the K9You FB page (if you haven’t already), #4 - Share this post. Complete the four steps by Sunday, December 13th at 6:00 PM. Everyone who completes all four steps will have one entry. Winner will be selected by random draw and announced by December 14th. (Prize will be mailed free of charge only to an address in the continental US.)

Did someone say Handler Discrimination trial? There is still time to enter the HD trial coming December in Hollister! You can find the premium on the AKC site or let me know and I can PM you the link. All levels are offered. It’s a great opportunity for a local trial and for HD.

Just putting this out there. Back when we held the Virtual Nosework trial (I do think we were first!), I conceived of a Virtual Nosework Title program. I ordered the ribbons back in April in anticipation of introducing this opportunity. We are workin on it! Knowing there are other organizations that are planning similar things I wanted to post what has been in the works with us. We are not copycats just behind the curve in getting it done! These are the ridiculously big and beautiful title ribbons for the future program.

Today I want to honor a very special team who reached the top of the peak in AKC Scent Work recently. Royal and her owner/handler Amanda Hutchinson qualified in their tenth Detective level trial earning Royal the title of Scent Work Detective. This is a huge achievement in scent work! Each Detective level run requires perfection; no mistakes! This amazing team did this in a very short amount of time and they have become truly one of the best teams in scent work! They are... a joy to watch work! Chuck and I started working with Amanda and Royal about three years ago. By no means are we the only trainers who have worked with this incredible team, but we could not be prouder to be part of the journey of Team Royal. The biggest reason they have achieved this title has been Amanda herself who worked tirelessly to train her dog, becoming a sought after scent work judge along the way. Amanda not only trained and handled her dog, she learned and grew in scent work so she understands the sport from all the angles from handler to trainer to judge. They are truly an example of greatness in the sport that inspire others. CONGRATULATIONS AMANDA AND ROYAL!

Sometimes life bites! Unfortunately, sometimes life interferes with what we really want to do. K9You will be taking a break from group classes beginning November 8th until next year. Emails have gone out to all who have signed up for classes that were cancelled. No new classes will be posted until next year. Any special events, virtual events, etc will be posted here. Here is to hoping for better things in the new year. It is placing a lot of hopes and dreams on one ye...ar, 2021. Especially when so many of us are putting the pressure of better things to come on this next year. But we can hope, we can dream, and we can work towards making it happen. Chuck and I appreciate all of you who have trusted us with your dogs and your training. We appreciate all of you have invested in us with your hopes and dreams for your team. Here is to hoping next year will be better for us all.

These beautiful cups were given to us by a very special client and friend, Laurie Isaacson. She is Miley's handler and one of the three dogs who train with us who have achieved their AKC SWD - Scent Work Detective titles. My understanding is they are in a group of the first four dogs who achieved this title west of the Rockies with Royal and Amanda Hutchinson being first, Squish and Teresa Locatelli being third and Laurie and Miley being the fourth team in earning the titl...e in this region. We have enjoyed working with these three teams immensely, and it is an honor to have three dedicated handlers with who worked with their dogs to earn this title. Each of these dogs are unique, and have different styles and strengths, and it is a testament to their handlers that they have become their dog's ideal teammate in order to achieve such a high level of success. We are so proud of their achievement! And we love these beautiful cups in commemoration of their titles! See more

Just a reminder - there are NO classes at K9You for September due to a death in the family. I apologize for the changes in schedule. Everyone affected should have received an email from me already but there seems to be some confusion. New classes will start October 6th and the schedule will be up as soon as possible.

HANDLER DISCRIMINATION Run Throughs! Are you signed up for the HD trial coming in two weeks to Hollister? Or maybe another HD trial is on your horizon? Handler Discrimination Run Throughs are here! One day, Saturday, January 30th! Novice will begin at 9:30 AM, Advanced and Excellent at 10:30 AM, and Master HD at 11:30 AM. $20.00 per team. This event is OPEN to anyone! All the Details: Each team for Novice, Advanced and Excellent will receive three run throughs at the...ir level OR two run throughs at their chosen level and one run through at the next level. Example: A Novice team can do three Novice runs OR two Novice runs and one Advanced run (this is great if you think you will be moving up to another level soon). Each team at Master level will receive two Master level searches each with indoor/outdoor areas. There will additionally be ONE bonus Buried Hides run set up ONLY at Excellent level, but all teams can run it no matter their level. (Due to space, materials and teams at varied levels between HD and Buried we are unable to set up each level separately.) How do you sign up? Go to the Acuity scheduling link below and chose the level at which you wish to participate. If you are participating at Novice level, bring at least three socks scented with your odor to class. If you are participating in Advanced, Excellent, or Master level, bring at least three cotton balls scented with your odor, and one additional cotton ball or sock for cuing. Click below to schedule: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=17772541

Handler Discrimination trial coming to Hollister hosted by the Sacramento Valley Weimaraner Club on February 6th. Two trials in one day! Premium attached below. https://cdn.fbsbx.com//137161605_1794660854040/hd-feb.pdf

K9You is so very proud to share a great accomplishment by another great team! Laurie Isaacson and Miley achieved the highest level of AKC Scent Work on January 1st at the Monterey Bay Area Scent Work Club. Laurie and Miley earned their DETECTIVE Scent Work Title! Miley is the First Dalmatian to achieve this award, and one of less than twenty dogs in the entire country to have earned this title! (Not sure of the Detective count at this point!) The Detective title requires... the team to acquire 10 Detective q's. Each q requires a perfect run; they must find all the hides and not find any "not hides," meaning no bad calls or false alerts. There is no room for error in a successful Q. The searches are very challenging; large, complex areas, with both indoor and outdoor spaces, with 0-10 hides in challenging placements from the ground to as high as the judge chooses, accessible, inaccessible, converging, close proximity, every possibility for a hide can be in the search. To complete a Detective run the team must be seasoned, experienced, and have the endurance to complete a long and complex search. We are very proud to be part of this team's journey! We are not the only part, or even the main part. Laurie and Miley have a great working relationship. To achieve the Detective title, it takes dedication in time, emotion, and faith in your team. And, the promise of cheeseburgers along each step helps! CONGRATULATIONS Laurie and Miley!!! See more

K9You is so very proud to share a great accomplishment by a great team! Teresa Locatelli and Squish achieved the highest level of AKC Scent Work on December 31st at the Monterey Bay Area Scent Work Club. Teresa and Squish earned their DETECTIVE Scent Work Title! Squish is the First black and tan Coonhound to achieve this award, and one of less than twenty dogs in the entire country to have earned this title! (Not sure of the Detective count at this point!) The Detective ...title requires the team to acquire 10 Detective q's. Each q requires a perfect run; they must find all the hides and not find any "not hides," meaning no bad calls or false alerts. There is no room for error in a successful Q. The searches are very challenging; large, complex areas, with both indoor and outdoor spaces, with 0-10 hides. To complete a Detective run the team must be seasoned, experienced, and have the endurance to complete a long and complex search. We are very proud to be part of this team's journey! We are not the only part, or even the main part. Teresa is an excellent handler and Squish's perfect teammate! She put in the hours and the work to get her team here. There are others along the way and we are but one part of this successful team's journey. CONGRATULATIONS Teresa and Squish!!!

Our totally unscientific name draw for the TotoPuckz prize. Watch the video for the name of the winner! (The winner was the first name he picked up with his mouth.)