K9 Nose Work® Foundations - Goulburn

Class & Course Details

Foundations is the starting point for your K9 Nose Work® journey and introduces dogs and handlers to dog-driven searching in a calm, supportive environment. This 6-week course focuses on building confidence, curiosity, and clear communication by allowing dogs to use their nose in a way that feels safe, rewarding, and pressure-free. Rather than directing dogs how to search, we support them to work independently, make decisions, and tell us what information matters. In Foundations, your dog will: - Learn that searching is safe, fun, and rewarding - Build confidence in new environments and situations - Develop enthusiasm and motivation for using their nose - Practise searching independently without handler pressure - Begin learning how to decide what information is relevant Dogs start by searching for their favourite food or toy in simple setups and, as confidence grows, searches gradually expand to include larger spaces such as rooms and outdoor areas. The focus is always on process over outcome, allowing each dog to progress at their own pace. Environmental background odour is treated as part of the picture, and dogs are supported to explore and problem-solve rather than being guided to an answer. What handlers learn: - How to support a dog-led search - How to observe behaviour without directing or prompting - How to build trust through clarity and consistency - How to stay neutral and let the dog do the thinking Foundations lays the groundwork for all future Nose Work classes and ensures dogs and handlers share the same core skills and language. How it works - Dogs work one at a time while others rest comfortably in cars or crates between turns. This keeps sessions low-stress, focused, and supportive of thoughtful learning. What comes next? - Foundations is a prerequisite for Continuing. Most teams move into K9 Nose Work – Continuing, where skills are developed over time in mixed-level, dog-driven sessions with flexible attendance.