Episodes
4
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 in Ellen's runs: when it looks like an alert to me, but she moves on. That led to a great discussion about the subtle signs of reading your dog and how every dog is unique. We also talk about odor when judging long trial days, how to get more out of watching and video, and ...
3
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. Finally, Tana, the dog who was supposed to do agility but didn’t love it, found her stride in scent work and pulled Aleks all the way in. That was the start of an obsession with scent work. Competing, learning everything she could, teaching, and judging all followed. Aleks s...
2
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 her own dogs and coaching teams through every stage of the sport. With more than 25 years of experience, starting in detection dog work before moving into sport, she brings a depth of knowledge shaped by thousands of searches. Hallie talks about what makes a search fair, c...
1
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 matters more than difficulty, and what handlers often overlook when competing. Laurie also reveals the personal story behind her signature distractor, and what it symbolizes beyond adding challenge. About the Guest Laurie Schlossnagle is a judge for AKC, UKC, and C-WAGS sce...
