Virtual Nose Work Camp – Winter 2026

Carolyn has been training dogs and their people professionally since 1985. In 1991 she founded Gemini Dog Training, a full-service training and daycare facility and then DOGS! Learning Center in 2007. Over the years, Carolyn focused much of her time on behavior modification through private consulting and training classes. She has educated and coached owners of fearful, aggressive, reactive, and/or socially challenged dogs. Carolyn’s teaching background includes group classes and workshops on clicker training skills, reactive dog management, and a variety of dog sports that included: agility, obedience, tracking, and earthdog. Carolyn attended the first CNWI training course on the east coast and is currently teaching nose work four days / nights a week. Her students range from those using the activity for enrichment for dogs with behavioral challenges to those that have achieved their ELTCH and Summit.

In November 2001, Carolyn made dog training history along with 117 other dog trainers in the USA, passing the first standardized professional certification test created by what is now known as the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers. For the last three decades Carolyn has trained and mentored 100’s of potential dog training instructors. Many of her previous students and staff trained through her instructor programs have gone on to become Certified Pet Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA), running their own classes and businesses.

The desire for a better understanding of the canine mind and behavior has been the motivating factor in all aspects of her dog experience. Beginning with traditional training techniques, she knew there had to be a better way. Pursuing that better way has evolved into clicker training and a more thoughtful scientific and effective use of operant and classical conditioning. Carolyn believes that training and behavior modification should be safe, enjoyable, and successful for both the dog and the humans who love them. Most importantly, she maintains an open mind to new information and what every dog has to teach the human student.
Along with her training and behavior work, Carolyn wrote Clicker Basics for Dogs and Puppies. Carolyn has 2 DVD’s from the Clean Run Instructor Conference, one on Agility Foundation and one on Scaredy Dogs. Carolyn has co-taught canine cognition/behavior courses at Harvard University Extension School with Bruce Blumberg PhD, lectures to dog trainers occasionally and worked for many years as a behavior consultant for the MSPCA, providing reactive dog training classes and behavior therapy for shelter dogs and their families. Carolyn rescued and trained service dogs for veterans full time for 8 years.
Carolyn has been training, competing, and titling dogs for 40 years in obedience, conformation, tracking, agility, earth dog, and for the last decade plus in K9 Nose Work™. Carolyn’s PRT, Steiff, earned the NW Elite title and participated in the 2014 NACSW National Invitational. Carolyn’s Border Collie, Breezy, has her ELTCH title and is a Summit competitor. She participated in the 2017 NACSW National Invitational winning one of the searches and placing in another. Her rescue dog, Sam, achieved his NW3 Elite in just 5 trials that included placements and a first overall for his NW2. Sam has his ELT2 with limited showing and is mostly retired. Carolyn’s current competition dog, Opal, is a black Labrador Retriever. Opal is 4.5 and is competing in Elite.  Opal is a consistent worker, with multiple overall and element placements.

Holly is a lifelong student of dogs.  From the very beginning, she spent every moment she could with every dog she could find.  Her childhood adventures were a goldmine of experiential learning, resulting in a magical blend of cherished memories and moments of harsh education.    Her parents refused to allow a dog in their home, so Holly trained rats and horses and dreamed of the day that she could have a dog of her own.  When she turned 18, she took in an 8-year-old dog who had spent much of her life alone in a kennel.  The magic began!

Since then, Holly has fostered over 50 dogs, worked several years in an animal shelter, and handled narcotics detections dogs as a police officer.   For the past 15 years, she has been a full-time dog trainer, coach, and NACSW and AKC judge.  In addition to nose work and scent work, Holly competes in rally, obedience, and agility and dabbles in many other dog sports.  Holly’s passion is building well-rounded teams and assisting in creating effective and authentic communication between human and canine partners.  While the scenting sports fill the bulk of Holly’s time, she prioritizes the “whole picture” of the 24/7 relationships between handlers and their dogs.

Holly specializes in breaking down skills into their smallest parts, allowing teams to concentrate their focus on areas that need the most attention.  Creating impactful exercises that can be practiced in smaller spaces and at home allows teams to continue to play and grown in the sport even when time and weather present challenges.  Preserving the playful spirit and wonder of the magic of our dogs’ amazing olfactory talents even while practicing component parts is Holly’s top priority.

Michele has worked as a Professional Dog Trainer for over 20 years. Prior to being swept up in the Nosework craze, she worked mostly in behavior modification.  In 2009, Michele was among the first dog trainers in New England to become involved in the National Association of Canine Scent Work’s (NACSW) sport of K9 Nosework.  She currently works with the NACSW as a Certifying Official, Judge, and competitor.  It’s no secret the sport has skyrocketed, and Michele’s intense schedule of regular weekly classes, private lessons, specialty clinics, and new online virtual programs show it.  In addition to having the honor of teaching at multiple Dogs of Course K9NW Training Camps, she owns “The Dog’s PACE” out of Massachusetts, a school specializing in K9 Nosework.

Personally, Michele has taken 3 of her rescue dogs to the Elite level, and competed in the 2015 and 2017 NACSW nationals with her 12 lb Chihuahua/Terrier mix named Hemi.  Currently she is owned and loved by two dogs: Chaser, a 9 year old German Shepherd and Cannoli, a 3 year old Belgian Tervuren.  Through a carefully laid foundation, Cannoli achieved her NW1 title at just over a year old with a third place, followed by her NW2 with a first place finish, and 3 NW3 titles finishing first.   She is now beginning her ELITE career after taking a little break in competing to hone some additional skills.  Chaser is happily enjoying his time training for his Elite Champion title.  All of her dogs have enjoyed multiple placements, high in trial, and pronounced notations.

Although her professional and personal interests have led Michele to train in a variety of dog sports, Michele’s fondness for Nosework comes from the tremendous benefits it offers to all dogs.  From confidence building, bonding, mental stimulation, and pure enjoyment, this sport offers so much to both dog and handler.

Tim Lewis earned a PhD in Wildlife Ecology and approaches canine research through the lens of an ecologist. He is an award-winning teacher and a Professor of Biology at the University of St Thomas in St Paul, Minnesota. His research ranges widely over many species including: wolves, bears, deer, squirrels, turtles, and domestic dogs. He has presented findings of his research in scientific journals, at conferences, and as an invited speaker for over twenty years. His collaborative work with the Canine Sociability Initiative combines his expertise with award-winning animal behaviorist Sue Sternberg and is focused on understanding the biology of canine sociability and recognizing it quickly in dog/human encounter. He also researches canine vision for applications in dog handling and canine sports. While he does not do Nose Work himself (yet), his wife is a student of the sport and, of course, he has heard much about it from Sue Sternberg. Tim recently published Biology of Dogs: From Gonads through Guts to Ganglia, available in English and now in German. Two Border Collies allow him to cohabitate in their home. Tim is enjoying the Nose Work journey with his talented K-9 partner, Trouper.

Roberta was first introduced to nose work in 2012 with a brochure left at her veterinary office introducing the sport. At the time, Roberta’s little dog Skeeter was having major issues with anxiety and sound sensitivities, and she was hopeful that this activity would build coping skills. Not only did it help tremendously with building Skeeter’s confidence, but it also saved her when Skeeter lost her eyes to glaucoma.

Roberta has been hooked on the benefits of nose work since that time. When she first started training her younger dog, her instructor insisted that she explore the world of Nose Work competition. Chirp, an 8-year-old beagle that believes Nose Work is the best part of life, has successfully managed to “open the door” and expose Roberta to all of the many ways to become involved in the sport.

Roberta’s enthusiasm for “all-things-Nose work” has led her to travel coast-to-coast attending many Camps, continuing education workshops and seminars, and countless NACSW Nose Work trials. Since the “door opened”, Roberta is now a CNWI teaching all levels of students and is a Certifying Official and Judge for NACSW trials. She is involved in all aspects of NACSW Nose Work trials and has hosted, been Volunteer Coordinator, and volunteered at all positions. Her dog Skeeter (who is now retired from competition) achieved an NW3-ELT title. Roberta has received 4 SMT titles (with 1^st, 2^nd, and 3rd place overall placements) with her wonder dog Chirp- currently the only Beagle in the country to hold a SMT title. Being able to travel across the country to volunteer and compete at trials has allowed Roberta to observe a tremendous variety of competitor and trial host teams and how they work, thereby creating amazing opportunities for continued learning.

Roberta has worked professionally with dogs for over 35 years in the Veterinary Medical field and received her DVM in 2000. She built a start-up Veterinary Practice in Northeastern IL from the ground-up that served a grateful community for almost 25 years. Roberta’s ability to read and understand dog behaviors helped her to become a caring, compassionate, and capable Veterinarian. This background has also given her a different perspective and education on the many applications for Nose Work for our canine companions.

Roberta is also the cofounder of S.N.A.C.K.S.^TM (Sniffing Noses Are Canine Keys to Success). (SnacksTraining.com)

Understanding the strong and beneficial connection we humans have with our canine friends- and how Nose Work beautifully complements this-motivates Roberta to enthusiastically share the joy of Nose Work with as many people as she can! Roberta lives in NE IL and shares a home with her hounds Chirp and Skeeter, and her spouse Donna Rauch (also a Score Room Lead and NACSW competitor) and Beaker “the fuzzy dog” ELT-CH (Boston/Shih Tzu mix).

Laurel has been working professionally with dogs since 1996 with roles including animal control officer, veterinary technician, dog trainer, and behavior specialist.

She has trained and titled dogs in rally obedience, agility and, of course, K9 Nose Work®. Laurel teaches K9 Nose Work® classes and workshops, has been an instructor at PA, GA, and CO Nose Work Camps, is an NACSW™ Certifying Official, Judge and Trial Coordinator, and is an AKC Scent Work Expert Judge.

Laurel and her husband are currently owned by Agnes, a 4-year-old Brittany, and Walter, a 3-year-old “Malinauzer”.

Khara is the owner of “The Doggie Spot, LLC,” a training, grooming, and retail shop in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and is a NACSW™ Certifying Official and Judge. Her love of K9 Nose Work started in 2010 at the APDT Conference in Atlanta and progressed to instructing at both Georgia and Colorado Camps.

Khara started teaching K9 Nose Work in 2011, while continuing to compete with her personal dogs in multiple trials.

Cooper, her first dog as a professional handler, got washed out of the Human Remains Detection Program at the age of 18 months due to environmental sensitivity leading to reactivity. “Super Duper Cooper” became the dog who started her career in Nose Work. In 2017 Cooper retired from  Nosework competition after earning his ELT1.

Over the years, Khara has run various dogs in K9 Nose Work. She currently has three dogs competing: Winnie, (ACD/Bassett, Dachshund, Beagle, Rottie mix), Whiskey, (Yellow Labrador), and Cinnamon & Cypher (Bavarian Mountain Hound).

Khara is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA), a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), a member of the Animal Behavior Society (ABS), and a member of the North American Police Working Dog Association (NAPWDA), United States Police Canine Association (USPCA), National Network of Canine Detection Services (NNCDS), and a lifetime member of National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). Khara’s household includes: 8 rescue dogs, 2 human remains detection dogs, three rescue cats, one donkey, chickens, a rescue paint horse, a herd of Dorper sheep, and one VERY patient husband.

Khara strongly believes that “Humans need to listen more to what the animals are telling us and learn to work with them, not against them.”

Barbara and her German Shepherd Landis (R.I.P.) were involved in K9 Nose Work since 2008. At the first sanctioned NW1 trial they earned “The Harry Award”, which is given to the most outstanding rescue dog that demonstrates extraordinary ability and spirit in nose work. They received a “Pronounced” designation for each of the three title levels: NW1, NW2, and NW3. Barbara and Landis were the 3rd team in the country to earn an NW3 Elite title. They qualified for the first four National Invitational events and competed in the first three, placing 2nd, 5th, and 12th. He earned his Elite 2 title before retiring. Landis was also part of the United States Naval Research Laboratory’s Odor Discrimination Study.

Barbara and her next K9 Nose Work partner, “Cassandra Sue (Cassie)”, a Labrador Retriever/Border Collie mix, have been working together since July 2015. After spending nearly a year on “primary” in literally dozens of locations, Cassie is now competing at the Elite level, having just earned her ELT 2 Title and just 95 points from her ELT 3. Cassie has also earned her L1E, L1I, L2I, L1C and L2C.

Barbara and her newest K9 Nose Work partner, a German Shepherd named Renner, have been working together since February 2022. A firm believer in building a strong foundation, Renner searched for a primary reward for a year in nearly 50 different locations before being introduced to NACSW target odors. Renner has earned her ORT, L1C, LC2, L1I and NW1. She is also a “Feisty Fido” graduate!

In addition to her role of Trial Judge and retired Certifying Official, Barbara also serves the organization as a Senior Faculty member. Barbara has been instrumental in curriculum development and education of new nose work instructors, as well as continuing education for certified instructors. In partnership with Dogs of Course, she has been a K9 Camp Instructor since the very first camp in Pennsylvania in 2010. Barbara has been invited to speak, coach, and teach seminars throughout the United States and on the east coast of Australia. Seminar topics include Trial Prep for NW1, NW2, and NW3, Converging Odor, Inaccessible Hides, Problem Solving, and the ever-popular Hide Placement. She teaches weekly K9 nose work classes for students at the NW3, Elite, and Summit levels.

By day Barbara is a full-time corporate trainer where she has been since 1990. She holds the position of Director of Education and Training for a not-for-profit property management company that serves low to moderate income senior citizens, families, and the chronically-mentally ill. She holds a BA degree in Deaf Studies with a minor in Gerontology from California State University, Northridge. She worked as a nationally certified sign-language interpreter for nearly 20 years.

She shares her dog training company, Amante’ Dog Training, with her husband’s dog-walking and pet sitting business Safe at Home Pet Care. Barbara is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), a certified member of the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT), The National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW), the Association for Talent Development (ATD), the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), Pet Sitter’s International (PSI), AIDS LifeCycle Training Ride Leaders, and Shifting Gears Cycling Club. She and her husband have fostered numerous guide dog puppies in training, primarily German Shepherds, ensuring appropriate house-manners are part of the skills they learn. 

She has been an avid distance cyclist since 2011 and has raised over $50,000 for AIDS LifeCycle, a non-profit organization in California which provides much needed services to those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Barbara is grateful to share her life with her long-time husband, Gerry, their little black Labrador Cassandra Sue, and newest member Renner, German Shepherd Dog.

Sue Sternberg has traveled the world offering her insight in dog behavior focusing on the shelter or rescue dog and determining the dog’s adoptability for rehoming. She has authored the Assess A Pet system to assist in promoting safe rehoming decisions for shelter and rescue organizations alike. While Sue has often received stark criticism (even outright physical threats) for her work, she has preserved and still remains an accomplished observer and interpreter of dog behavior. She has been described as a “visual thinker” with great insight reading dogs.

Sue began her career over thirty-five years ago as a dog control officer in rural Massachusetts. At the ASPCA in New York City, Sue counseled the public regarding pet behavior problems, taught volunteers and staff how to safely and humanely handle shelter animals, evaluated the temperaments of shelter dogs, and made recommendations for placement and euthanasia. In 1993, she founded a not-for-profit animal shelter in rural New York, where she developed many innovative programs for the welfare of shelter dogs and the people in surrounding communities. She shares her knowledge of dog behavior on radio talk shows, as a popular speaker at national humane and dog training conferences, and through books and videos available at www.dogwise.com.

Her programs, including Assess-a-Pet, have been used with positive results at shelters across the country and abroad.

It is Sue’s undaunting capacity to “read” our dogs’ (and every dog) and enlighten those of us on the end of the leash, that makes her observations of our dogs doing nose work so invaluable.

Sue is an avid fan of K9 Nose Work® and NACSW™ and we are fortunate to have her expertise shared in webinars and workshops.  Since her nose work journey began, she has competed in all trial levels and is currently working at the Summit with her dog Chappy and preparing for competition with Nog.  With her broad background in the handling and training of dogs, this additionally makes her a valued coach in Nose Work teamwork.  She focuses on how our handling (on and off leash) affects our dog’s behavior and can help or hinder our success as a nose work search team.

Dorothy is a professional, full-time dog trainer in the Olympia, Washington area. Her business, Let’s Talk Dogs, specializes in K9 Nose Work®. She began dog training as a hobby in 1995 and quickly became involved with rescue and education work as a volunteer. She eventually transitioned to training others and quit her day job in 2002 to pursue dog training as a full-time professional. 

Dorothy teaches classes, private lessons and hosts educational seminars and workshops, trials and ORTs. She has traveled as the working assistant to Kathy Sdao, MS, CAAB (Bright Spot Dog Training). She is a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) and continues her education by attending and hosting seminars and workshops. She has graduated from the Dogs of Course Instructor Training Course, CNWI instructor training and three sessions of Bob Bailey’s “Chicken Camp.” Over the years, she has also volunteered and worked at her local shelters and various rescue groups.

In early 2010 Dorothy attended her first K9 Nose Work® seminar with Ron Gaunt. She was hooked. She knew this was a great activity that she wanted to share it with her clients. She began working with her dog and car reactive dog, Zoey, and never looked back. She had no plans to compete with this particular “problem” dog so was thrilled when Zoey not only earned her NW1 title but also took first place. Dorothy and Zoey had the honor of attending the National Invitational in November 2017. Dorothy is now a Supervising/Elite Certifying Official for the NACSW™. She is also an experienced trial and ORT host, National Trial Coordinator, Trial Representative and Score Room Lead for the NACSW™. 

She shares her life with her husband and 2 dogs (all mutts) in Rochester, Washington. She is currently trialing with her Chihuahua mix, Brigette, at the Elite level.

Dana Zinn has been working with and training dogs since 1999. Her many years of dog training experience include working at the spcaLA as an Animal Behavior & Training Specialist. It was the time working with dogs in the shelter that drew her to the sport of K9 Nose Work®; not only for her own dogs, but for the many dogs in need of a “job” to do.

Dana was involved in the first publicly offered Nose Work class in Long Beach, CA. She not only participated but eventually assisted in instruction. From there Dana became involved in the development of the K9 Nose Work® instructor certification program. Dana was one of the first participants to be certified as an instructor for the K9 Nose Work® curriculum approved by the National Association of Canine Scent Work, LLC. Over the years, she had many jobs with NACSW including certifying official, supervising certifying official, and trial judge.   

Her learning never stops as she continues to teach classes, instruct at camps, compete in trials, create webinars, and teach workshops. She recently co-authored a book with Sue Sternberg, The Dog-Driven Search, Handling Our Nose Work Dogs to Promote Independence, Joy and Enthusiasm.

Dana has participated in a variety of canine activities such as obedience, herding, agility and of course Nose Work. One of her proudest moments was placing first in the 2014 NACSW National Invitational. Dana moved from California with her family to Golden, Colorado in 2008 and brought the sport of K9 Nose Work® with her.  She hosted the first trials in Colorado and has absolutely loved watching nose work flourish there.  Dana is honored to be a part of the amazing community that has grown around the game and sport in Colorado and surrounding areas.  

Dana strives to increase her knowledge about canine behavior and instruction. She has attended and helped coordinate many seminars featuring some of the world’s most sought-after speakers. One of her most memorable educational experiences was working with and learning from the renowned dog behavior expert and trainer John Rogerson. She has traveled to England and Washington state to work with and assist him on many courses including his 21-day Instructors’ Course.  

Dana is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a member of the Colorado Trainers’ Networking Group. Dana was certified as a professional dog training in 2005 by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).

Dana currently shares her life with her wonderful husband Ken, two beautiful children Jessica & Ben, and her two Labrador Retrievers, Winnie and Sunny.