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Join us for a nose work workshop with Terri Spaeth-Merrick!

Sunday, March 2, 2025 at FDSA Ranch in Petaluma

Morning Workshop: Seeing & understanding odor movement in the environment based on the clues the dog provides

• $180 - Working Spots – limited to 5 dog/handler teams
• $60 - Audit Spots

The workshop session is 8 am – 12 pm, and includes lecture with slides and video examples, and in-person searches with working spot dogs. NACSW CEUs for CNWIs.

Dog’s odor behavior shows how various "hide types" fit into discernible categories that are similar across all search elements and conditions. Hide types may include: ground, tucked, suspended, indented, and elevated hides; odor flow, channeling, pooling/trapping, lofting, pluming; along with odor ghosts and seeing hide switching.  Learn to see the minute shifts that define the edges and eddies and ghosts of odor as evidenced by the dog’s behavior. Handlers can learn how to read the hide “type" based on the dog’s odor behaviors. This goes beyond just reading COB at source, it is the pulling together of the dog's COB along with understanding the way the odor moves in the environment to create a clearer picture for confident alert calls. If you can see and understand the “whole picture” you can call alert confidently. This is the art of seeing.  

Afternoon Coaching Sessions

• $100 per dog – 2 spots per 50-minute session, times from 1pm to 5pm based upon registration.  Please don't register for a coaching session if you are registered for a working spot, to allow for more teams to get the opportunity.

BEFORE REGISTERING, PLEASE READ ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY

Working Spot Requirements:

• Dogs should be resilient to challenging environments, have strong odor obedience (Birch, Anise, and Clove), and be comfortable being watched by a large group of people.
• Dogs who have less experience or understanding of odor or who can become easily distracted by the environment would not be well suited for a working spot for this seminar.
• Additionally, dogs who are environmentally sensitive or reactive/aggressive with people or more than mildly reactive with other dogs would not be well suited for this type of event. 
• Dogs MUST be able to stay quietly in their vehicles out of sight from their handlers. Please bring whatever your dog needs to be made comfortable and cool/warm enough in between working exercises.
• Dogs must be healthy on event day and should be current on all vaccinations required by law.

Cancellation Policy:

All cancellations for this event must be emailed to ohbehave@marinhumane.org. Cancellations received before 9am pacific time on February 18, 2025 will receive a refund minus a 10% processing fee. Cancellations received after 9am on February 18, 2025 will not be refunded. No refunds will be issued for no-shows. This cancellation and refund policy applies to participants that must withdraw for any reason including but not limited to injury, illness, emergency, and personal or work-related reasons.

Video/Audio Policy:  Attending teams and auditors will receive online access within 4-5 weeks of the event via a password protected gallery to view the videos of all the participant's workshop searches, and any lectures that are videoed.  Participants will not be allowed to take their own video or post or share any videos provided in the gallery without specific written permission from the instructor.

Location: FDSA Ranch in Petaluma, CA. The specific location address will be emailed to participants before the event. Note: the property is spread out and hilly, so you may be required to walk long distances and/or up and down hills. The property contains a variety of farm buildings, livestock, and related distractions. Expect to navigate uneven terrain, dirt, mud, brick, gravel, as well as uneven surfaces, stairs, etc. Please consider whether this is feasible if you have mobility challenges. 

If you have any questions about this event or would like to be put on the waitlist, please contact calongi@marinhumane.org. More information will be emailed to registered participants a few days prior to the event.

Class Trainer(s) Private Lesson
Price: $100.00
Location: FDSA Ranch 470 Sonoma Mountain Road Petaluma, CA 94954

Event Dates:

• Sunday, March 2, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM
Duration: 1hr(s)

Notes: Coaching Spot