When: Tuesday July 28, 2026 at 6:45pm

Cost: 5-week class is $150.00 

Instructors: Valerie Brand and Molly Taylor

Valerie Brand and Molly Taylor are Certified Nose Work Instructors (CNWIs) through NACSW® [National Association of Canine Scent Work] and bring a shared 20+ year commitment to helping teams develop confidence, skills, and partnership through scent work.

Their classes are grounded in the K9 Nose Work® methodology developed by the founders of NACSW®, which emphasizes building a dog's natural hunting and problem-solving abilities while teaching handlers to observe, support, and better understand their canine partners. Through this approach, dogs are encouraged to work independently and confidently, while handlers learn the skills needed to recognize search behavior and odor recognition, navigate search environments, manage rewards and leash handling, and become effective teammates.

As experienced CNWIs, Valerie and Molly create a welcoming and supportive learning environment that values the individual strengths, goals, and learning styles of every team. They provide a space where teams can build skills, strengthen their partnership, connect with a community of fellow dog enthusiasts, and enjoy the learning process.

Guided by the principles of K9 Nose Work®, the foundational skills taught supports teams interested in AKC Scent Work, as well as NACSW®, US Scent Work Sports (USSWS), ASCA Scent Detection, UKC Nose Work, etc., competitions, and/or enrichment-focused training. Whether students are pursuing competition goals or simply looking for an engaging activity to share with their dogs, the curriculum in class provides a strong basis for long-term success.