Becoming a nosework instructor? Would you take lessons from me?
I am considering becoming a nosework instructor, as the title says. But I am having some imposter syndrome feelings about it. How about a reality check? Would you take lessons or classes from me?
The good, I think:
Background in dog sports (competition obedience, rally, agility, nosework, light field work) since 2010-ish and was a very involved pet person (pet classes, all dogs had CGCs) prior to that since about 1998. Background before that in training and showing horses.
My dog has multiple placements and high in trials in NACSW. We don’t have much time for AKC at the moment. Also we got a Summit title our first time out a couple weeks after getting our ELT3 and turning 5. I have an up and comer dog who is doing well but no competitions yet.
People, and by people I mean experienced people, mostly complement me on my leash handling skills, staying calm under pressure, patience, managing drive and arousal, and general handling skills.
I train often and with multiple COs as well as some online coaching. I’ve been setting hides for my ELT and Summit friends (who were all NW2/3 when we started) in novel locations for going on 3 years now. Time flies!
I started teaching agility/sports pre-foundations classes about a year ago at my agility coach’s place. Mostly puppies. I’m not a great agility handler but my dogs are always trained really well. In fact my coach paid me a really nice but backhanded complement the other day that if my dog had a world team handler with the training I’ve put on her she could be a world team dog. 😂 Anyway, my class now are repeats and threepeats. People come back. They are all ready to move on from me now and they look great!
The bad, I think:
I’ve had just one nosework dog (not including my up and comer) and I won’t lie when I say she’s a one in a million dog. She’s also not an “off breed”. That said, a lot of people could not handle her and it’s not like she didn’t require work because she did and still does but she never required work on her motivation. We’ve dealt with things like box smashing, arousal and blinking hides, thresholds, close hides, distractions.
I live in an area with a lot of CNWI instructors who are also COs and judges and who have more nosework experience than me. But not with dogs like mine, they tell me. They are also much older than me and some are threatening retirement. I don’t plan on getting a CNWI at this time.
I have a full time job and plan to keep it. I would not go full time as a nosework instructor unless I was retired and that won’t happen for at least 15 years. So classes or lessons would need to be in the evenings, one or twice a week. I also won’t be giving up my weekends.
My interest is in high drive dogs and handling—the people side. My style is dog driven with strong foundations. I’ve had soft dogs and know a lot about pressure. It feels a little niche to me.