Welcome to Alert! Scent Work!

Episodes

Ana Cilursu | Seeing Searches the Way Your Dog Does
March 9, 2026

Ana Cilursu | Seeing Searches the Way Your Dog Does

Many competitors have seen Ana's AKC trial debrief videos — breaking down hide placement, odor movement, and what teams were experiencing in the search area. In this episode, the judge, trainer, and competitor talks about the...
Sandra Tung | Be a Hot Date for Your Dog
Feb. 23, 2026

Sandra Tung | Be a Hot Date for Your Dog

One of the first AKC Scent Work judges and an AKC Scent Work Expert Judge, Sandra Tung is also a trainer and high-level competitor who has been in the sport since before AKC even had a scent work program. Much of our conversa...
Vicky Lovejoy | Productive Parking Lot Chatter, Fun Searches, and Inclusivity in Scent Work
Feb. 9, 2026

Vicky Lovejoy | Productive Parking Lot Chatter, Fun Searches, and Inclusivity in Scent Work

Vicky Lovejoy was there at the very beginning — before formal trials existed, before organizations formed, when a group of enthusiasts in the Los Angeles area were just figuring out what this sport could be alongside founders...
Lisa Quibell | When Scent Work Changes Both Dog and Handler
Jan. 26, 2026

Lisa Quibell | When Scent Work Changes Both Dog and Handler

For some, scent work is more than a sport and winning ribbons. It’s a shared process that can change both dog and human. Lisa Quibell is a competitor, trainer, and judge with UKC and C-WAGS. Lisa shares how scent work challen...
Jill Kovacevich | Pathways to Odor
Jan. 19, 2026

Jill Kovacevich | Pathways to Odor

In this episode, I talk with Jill Kovacevich about the idea that changed how I see scent work forever: pathways to odor. From clear, direct routes to faint odor tendrils that never quite connect to the source, Jill explains h...
Patrice Dodd | The Power of Presence and Attention in Scent Work
Jan. 5, 2026

Patrice Dodd | The Power of Presence and Attention in Scent Work

AKC scent work judge and competitor Patrice Dodd talks about why scent work is one of the few places in life where she can be fully present, and why handler attention may be the most important skill in the sport. She also ref...
Important Announcement about Alert! Scent Work
Nov. 24, 2025

Important Announcement about Alert! Scent Work

🎧 Quick Update for Apple Listeners Apple created a duplicate version of the show, and fixing it may have unsubscribed you (even if you got this episode). 👉 Please make sure you’re following the correct feed: https://podcasts....
Mary Quinn | Judging AKC Master Nationals
Nov. 17, 2025

Mary Quinn | Judging AKC Master Nationals

From the moment she got the phone call inviting her to judge AKC Master Nationals, to arriving at the Roberts Center, Mary talks about what was running through her mind, how the event was structured, and what it feels like to...
Penny Scott-Fox | Lessons from the First Master National
Nov. 10, 2025

Penny Scott-Fox | Lessons from the First Master National

At AKC Master National, Penny Scott-Fox brought every part of her scent work experience with her. She talks about the AKC Master National through three lenses: what it was like to compete, how she viewed the hide sets and sco...
Leigh and Rhubarb | From Day One Setback To Master National Champions
Nov. 3, 2025

Leigh and Rhubarb | From Day One Setback To Master National Champions

One mistake most of us have made happened in her very first run, and it dropped her to 118th place for that element. But by day three, Leigh Gelotte and Rhubarb were the first-ever AKC Master National Scent Work Champions. Le...
Lena and Neo | Proving Them Wrong at Master Nationals
Oct. 27, 2025

Lena and Neo | Proving Them Wrong at Master Nationals

Lena went to the first AKC Scent Work Master Nationals mostly to support the event, but she also had a couple of goals. She wanted to make it into the top 100 and have the highest-placing Australian Shepherd. A few years earl...
Tracy Hill | Setbacks, Sick Dogs, and Showing Up Anyway
Oct. 13, 2025

Tracy Hill | Setbacks, Sick Dogs, and Showing Up Anyway

Scent work isn’t just about ribbons. It’s about setbacks, resilience, and the bond that makes every trip to the start line a gift. In this episode, Tracy Hill offers practical takeaways for competitors while also opening up a...
Penny Scott-Fox | Have the Balls to Call It
Oct. 6, 2025

Penny Scott-Fox | Have the Balls to Call It

The first time I ran under Penny Scott Fox, she gave me a piece of feedback I still think about every time I step into a search area. We unpack what she meant by that comment — and how handlers can feel more confident calling...
Donna Morgan Murray | Scent Work Beyond AKC, Reading Your Dog, and When to Excuse Yourself from a Search
Sept. 29, 2025

Donna Morgan Murray | Scent Work Beyond AKC, Reading Your Dog, and When to Excuse Yourself from a Search

Beyond her role as a judge and competitor, Donna opens the door to other ways the game is played that many handlers may not have seen before. She talks about why placing hides in training isn’t always about whether your dog c...
Jennifer Hamilton | From First Trial Struggles to All-In on Scent Work
Sept. 22, 2025

Jennifer Hamilton | From First Trial Struggles to All-In on Scent Work

Excused from the crate area and rattled through her novice searches, Jennifer's first scent work trial was anything but smooth. Instead of quitting, that moment lit the fire. Jennifer talks about the overlooked skill that bec...
Ellen Parr | Learning Rules the Hard Way, Reading Beyond the Final Responce, and Still Getting Goosebumps
Sept. 15, 2025

Ellen Parr | Learning Rules the Hard Way, Reading Beyond the Final Responce, and Still Getting Goosebumps

The distractor rule I learned the hard way from Ellen, and it can make the difference between qualifying or not. It was awkward in the moment, but unforgettable. We came back to that story, along with something I’ve noticed i...
Aleks Woodrofe | The Most Critical Handler Skill, The Value of Volunteering, and Setting Hides with Purpose
Sept. 8, 2025

Aleks Woodrofe | The Most Critical Handler Skill, The Value of Volunteering, and Setting Hides with Purpose

Scent work wasn’t part of the plan. It started with Sam, anxious in agility but able to find his place in nose work. Then Rosie, her flat coat, lit up the moment she started searching, and her joy made the game contagious. Fi...
Hallie McMullen | Fun and Fair Searches, Funky Odor Behavior, and “My Handler’s Never Done That
Sept. 1, 2025

Hallie McMullen | Fun and Fair Searches, Funky Odor Behavior, and “My Handler’s Never Done That

From first Qs to Detective titles, Hallie McMullen has been part of the journey for countless teams. Now she shares her judging philosophy and training insights. Hallie has judged for NACSW and AKC, while also competing with ...
Laurie Schlossnagle | One of AKC’s First Judges, C-WAGS Pioneer
Aug. 25, 2025

Laurie Schlossnagle | One of AKC’s First Judges, C-WAGS Pioneer

Episode Summary Laurie Schlossnagle helped build C-WAGS scent work and went on to judge the very first AKC Scent Work trial. In this conversation, she shares how she thinks through level-appropriate searches, why stable odor ...
What is Alert! Scent Work All About?
July 23, 2025

What is Alert! Scent Work All About?

This is the trailer for Alert! Scent Work.