K9 Nose Work™

K9 Nose Work Competition Information:

Please click the link below to find all upcoming and past trial information.


K9 Nose Work Class Information:
 If you are interested in finding out general information about classes and being notified when there are new sessions, drop-in sessions, or other offerings please sign-up on the General Class Information Sign-Up form. I will contact you shortly after you sign-up for Information. 

General Class Information:
General Information Sign-Up

If you want to sign up for a specific ongoing current class choose the Current Classes Sign-Up link.

Current Class Sign-Up:

 Locations: 
Classes will be held at various locations, generally in the inner NE/SE Portland area, but may on occasion range as far as Oregon City, West Linn, Lake Oswego, Vancouver, Clackamas, Gresham, PDX Airport area or St Johns and N Portland.  More varied locations means a broader experience for your dog!  Location addresses are usually announced 12-24 hours before class.

Class Options:

Introduction to K9 Nose Work™ "Primary"

• This class is for dogs who have not had any nose work classes, or for those who may want to re-introduce a dog to nose work, or for those who want to work on building drive in a dog who is struggling by re-starting at the beginning.
• This class is worked on Primary only (food or toy search/reward). Odor is not introduced at this level, this class is for building a strong foundation for introduction to odor in the future at the next level of classes.
• You must get instructor approval to sign-up for this class, it is only offered on an occasional basis, generally once per quarter.  The Intro class is typically 5-6 weeks long and you must be able to attend all sessions in the series.  
• This class will meet in various locations, classes will be held in both the NE/SE Portland area and occasionally in Oregon City, West Linn or other areas around Portland. This allows lots of variation in search environments.
• Videos of searches may be recorded and made available from various class sessions, only class participants will be able to view the videos. If you do not want your searches recorded you will need to remind me at each session. Students may at times be asked to take turns video recording the dog searching while I am instructing. Videos may be used for other training purposes, if your video is to be used permission for use will be requested from you first. 

Intro to Odor/Beginning Odor

• This class is for dogs who have already been in Intro to K9 Nose Work™ classes, or for those who may want to re-introduce a dog to nose work, or for those who want to work on building drive in a dog who is struggling by re-starting near the beginning.
• Dogs should already be on Birch odor, Anise and Clove will be introduced to dogs that are not already on those odors.
• This class will meet in various locations, classes will be held in both the NE/SE Portland area and occasionally in Oregon City, West Linn or other areas around Portland. This allows lots of variation in search environments.
• Videos of searches may be recorded and made available from various class sessions, only class participants will be able to view the videos. If you do not want your searches recorded you will need to remind me at each session. Students may at times be asked to take turns video recording the dog searching while I am instructing. Videos may be used for other training purposes, if your video is to be used permission for use will be requested from you first. 

Intermediate Odor

• This class is for dogs that have already been introduced to odor and confidently working searches, and are working towards their NACSW NW1, NW2, NW3 levels or other nose work organization titles such as AKC, UKC, SDDA, USCSS, etc.
• Dogs should be on Birch, Anise and Clove.
• This class will meet in various locations, classes will be held in both the NE/SE Portland area and occasionally in Oregon City, West Linn or other areas around Portland. This allows lots of variation in search environments.
• Videos of searches may be recorded and made available from various class sessions, only class participants will be able to view the videos. If you do not want your searches recorded you will need to remind me at each session. Students may at times be asked to take turns video recording the dog searching while I am instructing. Videos may be used for other training purposes, if your video is to be used permission for use will be requested from you first. 

Advanced Odor

• This class is for dogs that have at competed at least once at the NW3 it is geared more towards the advanced dog and handler, it will include NW3 and Elite level searches along with skill building exercises for both the dog and the handler.
• This class will meet in various locations, classes will be held in both the NE/SE Portland area and occasionally in Oregon City, West Linn or other areas around Portland. This allows lots of variation in search environments.
• Videos of searches may be recorded and made available from various class sessions, only class participants will be able to view the videos. If you do not want your searches recorded you will need to remind me at each session. Students may at times be asked to take turns video recording the dog searching while I am instructing. Videos may be used for other training purposes, if your video is to be used permission for use will be requested from you first. 

Various Drop-In Sessions

Special Sessions:
Topics: Hide Setting/Scent Theory, Building Odor Obedience, Gadgets/Motivation, Trial Preparation/Strategy, Time/Space Management, Pooling/Blowing Odor, Vehicles in Depth.

 Traveling Sessions:
Drop-in sessions at interesting locations are offered throughout the year so keep an eye out for announcement postings. Each session will be described as to the appropriate level of dog/handler when announced.

Video Review Sessions

Throughout The Year
Review trial or training videos with a small group or privately.  Videos offer a wealth of information and learning and should be used and reviewed regularly within your training plan.


Class Fees:

• Classes are $35 per dog per session if signed up and paid in monthly groups of 4 or 5 consecutive classes.  All classes must be paid at the first session unless other arrangements have been made in advance, please contact me beforehand if you need to make other payment arrangements. 

 • If you have two or more dogs you want to run in the same class please contact me before signing up as there are a number of issues to consider, including multiple dog discounts.

• Drop-in and Special sessions run $40 and up per session depending on the event, price will be clearly noted on each session sign-up form.

• Payment is by Zelle, Venmo, PayPal (+fee), cash or check. Checks should be made out to Terri Spaeth-Merrick. I will provide you with payment details after sign-up.

• There are limited make-up options/refunds if you miss a class you signed up for, so please be sure you can attend all dates you signed up for. If you have to miss a class there might be options to drop-in to a different class as a make-up class, but that will be on a case-by-case basis and not guaranteed.

• You will be required to sign a liability waiver at the first class, and check yourself in each week. If one of your classes is held at a particular location in Portland you may also be required by that location to sign one of their liability waivers in addition to mine.

• Video may be taken during class searches, videos may be used for other training purposes, by signing up for classes you agree to limited use of class videos for educational or other purposes.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)