The Scent Lab with Tiffany
Join us for a small, hands-on scent work training session with Tiffany, owner of For the Love of Dog Training, experienced detection dog handler, and competitive scent work enthusiast!
With only five working teams, this two-hour session is designed to give handlers the opportunity to work their dogs, ask questions, troubleshoot challenges, and continue developing their skills in a supportive training environment.
Whether you're brand new to scent work or already competing, the goal is to meet each team where they are, build confidence, encourage independent problem-solving, and help both dogs and handlers continue progressing.
A Little About Your Instructor
I'm Tiffany, the owner and trainer behind For the Love of Dog Training, and scent detection has been a huge part of my journey working with dogs.
My experience includes training and certifying narcotics detection dogs, cadaver detection, search-and-rescue work, and competing in multiple scent work venues.
My Belgian Malinois, Ryu, spent time doing operational detection work before retiring and transitioning into competitive civilian scent work. Since retiring, he's continued to prove just how much he loves putting his nose to work, earning High in Trial honors in AKC Scent Work and placing third at the 2026 US Detection Championships.
And because I firmly believe scent work isn't just for traditional working breeds, I've also competed with my French Bulldog through the Advanced level, consistently placing in the top three. Turns out, you don't need long legs or a serious working-dog résumé to have a pretty impressive nose!
Between operational detection, certification work, and competitive scent work, I've had the opportunity to see how differently dogs approach odor, solve problems, and develop their own searching styles.
One of my favorite things about teaching scent work is helping handlers understand what their dogs are communicating, recognize changes in behavior around odor, and learn when to offer guidance and when to simply get out of the way.
What Will We Be Working On?
Depending on the experience and needs of the participating teams, training may include:
Building and developing hunt drive
Introducing or strengthening odor recognition
Developing Trained Final Responses (TFR)
Different hide types and search scenarios
Problem-solving and reading your dog during searches
Building confidence and independent searching skills
Improving handler mechanics and teamwork
This is a working training session, not just a lecture! Dogs will have multiple opportunities to work on odor throughout the session, with breaks in between. Keeping our groups small allows for individualized feedback, questions, and opportunities to learn by watching other teams.
Does My Dog Need Prior Training?
Nope!
In fact, one of the things I love about scent work is that dogs don't need polished obedience skills to be successful. Sometimes dogs with less formal obedience training are more willing to explore and problem-solve independently, rather than looking to their handlers for direction.
We're encouraging dogs to use their natural abilities, develop confidence, and learn that searching is both rewarding and fun.
Whether you're interested in competition, looking for a mentally engaging activity, or simply curious about what your dog's nose is capable of, you're welcome here!
Event Details
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: For the Love of Dog Training Warehouse
2628 Lincoln Street, Oroville, CA
Cost: $80 per working team
Availability: Limited to five working teams
Please bring a crate or have a safe, comfortable setup for your dog to rest between turns. Dogs will work individually to minimize unnecessary distractions and allow everyone to focus on their training.
Advance registration is required. All participants must complete the registration questionnaire and liability agreement before attending.
Cancellation Policy: All registrations are nonrefundable. If you're unable to attend, you're welcome to sell or transfer your spot to another handler, provided they complete the required registration and liability paperwork before the event.
We're looking forward to a fun morning of searching, problem-solving, learning, and giving our dogs an opportunity to show us what those noses can do!