Your Personal Scent Work Instructor
Online 1:1 Scent Work Support SessionsScent Detection Instructor • Canine behaviourist • Trial Manager & Judge Experience • Founder of Canine Scentwork Academy
Train with clarity, confidence, and trusted expertise
Personalised one-to-one Zoom sessions supporting scent work handlers training independently, from first introductions to competitive-level progression, guided by over seven years of real-world companion pet dogs’ scent work instruction.
Why this matters for you
Scent work can look simple on the surface yet feel confusing when you are practising your training on your own. You may be wondering:
- Am I reading my dog correctly?
- Is this a training issue, a handling issue, or just part of the learning process?
- What should I work on next — and why?
These sessions are designed to give you clarity, reassurance, and direction, so you are not second-guessing yourself or your dog. Together, we slow things down, look closely, and make sense of what’s really happening in your searches.
Mandy is very knowledgable
extremely detailed and very helpful feedback
really patient and gave clear advice
Who these sessions are for
- Companion pet dog handlers new to scent work
- Established teams moving forward on their scent work journey
- Independent handlers without regular access to a trainer
- Teams feeling stuck or unsure how to progress
- Handlers preparing for assessments or competition
- Anyone who values ethical, dog-centred training and a deeper understanding
What we can work on together
Each session is shaped around you and your dog. Common focus areas include:
- Troubleshooting training challenges
- Question & answer support
- Indication development and clarity
- Handling skills and timing
- Reading and interpreting canine body language
- Search strategy and problem-solving
- Planning realistic next training steps
Why 1:1 online support works so well
- Completely tailored to your dog and your goals
- Focused time without class pressure or distractions
- Learn at your own pace, in your own environment
- Support when you need it — not just when classes run
- Ideal for reflective handlers who want to truly understand their dog
How technology enhances your training
Post Session Video Appraisals allow us to:
- Pause, replay, and analyse search footage in detail
- Spot subtle changes in behaviour and indication
- Review handling choices without time pressure
- Break searches down frame by frame
- Create clear, practical training plans you can follow independently
Session options & Booking
- Single 50-minute Zoom session
- Multi-session packages for ongoing guidance and progression
Sessions are practical, supportive, and grounded in real-world scent work experience.
When booking your one-to-one Zoom session, please complete the additional questions so I am able to tailor your session to your requirements.
Why work with me
Originally a Scentwork UK–trained instructor and canine behaviourist with over seven years’ experience supporting companion pet dogs in scent work.
My work includes:
- Appraising and setting up over 1,000 searches each year
- Trial managing and judging, giving me a deep understanding of assessment and competition standards
- Running a thriving Canine Scent Work Academy in the UK
- Supporting handlers through online courses and academy programmes
- Competing experience
- Demonstrating scentwork at Crufts and Edition Dog Live
- Founding the Canine Scent Work Academy Facebook community with over 7,000 followers to date
- Writing educational scent work articles for handlers and instructors
I am committed to continuous professional development, learning in person and online from world-leading scent work professionals, including Paul Bunker, Wesley Visscher, and Simon Prins.
My approach
- Dog-centred and ethical
- Grounded in observation, not assumption
- Focused on understanding behaviour, not forcing outcomes
- Supportive, respectful, and judgement-free
Every dog and handler team deserves to feel capable, confident, and connected throughout their scent work journey.
Ready to move forward with clarity?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be competing to book a session?
Not at all. These sessions are suitable for companion pet dogs at any stage, from just starting out through to competitive-level teams. Competition is optional, understanding and confidence come first.
What if I don’t have professional-quality video?
That’s absolutely fine. Phone footage is more than sufficient. In fact, real-life training video often tells us far more than polished recordings.
Can you help even if I train completely on my own?
Yes. Many handlers I support train independently. These sessions are designed specifically to give you clarity, guidance, and direction when you don’t have regular access to a trainer.
Will you tell me exactly what to do with my dog?
My focus is on helping you understand why things are happening, so you can make informed training decisions with confidence — not just follow instructions.
Do I have to commit to multiple sessions?
No. You can book a single session or choose a package later if you feel ongoing support would be helpful.
Is this suitable for nervous or sensitive dogs?
Yes absolutely. Sessions are grounded in ethical, dog-centred training and take the whole dog into account
Reviews
Mandy is very knowledgable, knows how to break down Scentwork into its component parts, train them as skills to form solid foundations that can then be brought together to create a partnership that can progress to searching for a scent in any given scenario that is suitable for their level. At all stages of skill and search development Mandy can identify areas to work on and help partnerships progress.
Thank you so much for your extremely detailed and very helpful feedback, you really picked up on my struggles. I now feel much clearer about the two exercises, then progressing to marrying them together.
We signed up to online for beginners course to help our nervous Cockapoo. We have just finished the sessions and Mandy was great- really patient and gave clear advice. She clearly loves dogs and scent training and this comes across in her work. It’s early days but I’m hoping that by putting some of the training into our daily routine, it will help our boy with his anxiety. Thanks Mandy!