Connecting with Dogs

10/12/2026

Think your dog is the smartest nose in the room? Prove it. (There’s a leaderboard.)

Sniff Masters 2027 is coming, and it’s one slightly unhinged idea from three nose work businesses: Connecting with Dogs, See Spot Play, and EveryBody Nose.

Inspired by the delightfully weird UK game show Taskmaster, this is a mostly virtual, 12-week scent challenge for dogs with big noses and bigger ideas. Ten teams will go head-to-head on offbeat sniff-centric tasks designed by The Sniff Council, and no two tasks look the same.

There’s no gold star for doing it “the right way.” If your dog can sniff for food, a toy, essential oils, or something a little more unconventional (we don’t judge), they’re eligible. What matters is how creatively the two of you scheme, adapt, and play.

The details:
- 10 teams (Team = 1 dog + 1 human)
- Sniffy Season: January 17 to April 17, 2027
- 6-8 tasks, with about a week to complete each one
- Live leaderboard updates along the way
- An in-person finale at Mequon Nature Preserve (near Milwaukee, WI) on Saturday, April 17

Sniff Masters 2027 is by application only, and there’s no payment until you’re accepted. Applications are open November 1 to December 1. Not sure if it’s a fit? Email us at [email protected] before you apply.

Watch the Sniff Council in action and get the details at: https://www.connectingwithdogs.com/sniff-masters

09/17/2026

Coco had her first nose work lesson today! At just 4 months old, she was so confident and thoughtful! She navigated her first few searches in a brand new environment that included all sorts of new sights, sounds, smells and textures, and knocked it out of the park!

09/13/2026

👃 Private Lesson Openings - Saturday, Sept. 19th! 👃

Snag a rare Saturday opening with me to get some personalized nose work training.

🐕 Choose your lesson length: 60, 45, or 30 minutes
⚡ First come, first served - don't wait to book if you're interested!
🔗 Book your spot: https://tinyurl.com/sniff-with-laura

09/08/2026

🌈🐾Celebrating Simon - The Stoic Sherlock of Sniffing

Simon wasn't a flashy guy. He didn't work a room begging for attention from just anyone. True to his Toller roots, he was aloof and dignified with the world at large. Unless you happened to be his mom, Jody, or holding a Stella & Chewy's Wild We**ie. Then, and only then, did Simon let his guard down, making you feel like you'd won the lottery.

I met Jody and Simon back in 2023, when they signed up for one of my Sniff-n-Gos. In 2024, Team Simon landed on my group class waitlist, and after nearly a year of patiently filling in for openings, they finally snagged their spot as regulars in my Tuesday evening rotation in late 2025. Best things come to those who wait, right? Week after week, month after month, Simon showed up—steady, focused, unmistakably himself—while he and Jody nabbed their NW1 title in November 2024 and kept chipping away at NW2.

One of my favorite Team Simon memories isn't even really about Simon—it's about Jody. At the Mystery Sniffer in November 2025, she showed up in full costume, mustache and all, transformed for the day into one half of Team Sherlock Bones. Simon, ever the stoic partner, played his role exactly as he played every role: quietly, competently, and entirely devoted to his human on the other end of the leash. Iconic duo energy, honestly.

Sweet Simon, I so wish you'd gotten your paws on that NW2 title, because anyone who watched you work knew you had it locked in. A lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosis just weeks ago took you from us way too fast, and it stings for all of us, but especially for Jody, who loved you completely.

Thank you, Simon, for proving you don't have to be loud to be devoted. Thank you for the countless Tuesday evenings you shared with me and your classmates, sniffing away in quiet focus and total confidence. And thank you, Jody, for sharing your good, stoic boy with all of us—costumes and all.

Run free in odor, sweet Simon. We'll toast you with a Wild We**ie.

09/08/2026

🥳 Registration is open for the October 10th & 11th workshops hosted by the wonderful Working Dogs of North Central Wisconsin taking place in Wausau.

Working and auditing spots are available. If you are interested in registering, please send an email to [email protected] to receive an email with the registration details!

08/25/2026

🐾 The Fall/Winter Sniff Club is OPEN — but only until Monday, Aug 31st! 🐾

Looking for a fun way to build your dog's nose work skills from home, on your own schedule? The Sniff Club might be exactly what you're looking for!

What is it? A supportive online scent work community with monthly challenges you can do at your own pace — whether your pup is brand new to sniffing or a total pro.

The details:
🐾 Sept–Dec (4 months)
🐾 New challenge every 2nd Wednesday, with Foundation & Advanced levels
🐾 $120/dog per term
🐾 Want extra support? Add on Amp Lite ($50) for written feedback, or Amp Pro ($90) for feedback + a live 1:1 video call with Laura (limited spots!)
🐾 Submit qualifying videos each month and earn a Certificate of Completion at the end of the term.

No fancy gear needed — just your dog, something to search for, and a phone to record with!

⏰ Registration closes Monday, August 31st — don't miss your spot!

👉 Register here:

The Sniff Club is a fun and supportive online learning environment offering scent work challenges you can complete on your own time. Whether you’re an experienced nose work handler or new to nose work, all are welcome to join The Sniff Club to work on your dog’s nose work skills and give them so...

08/18/2026

🎉❤️🐾 Congratulations to Team Javi for snagging their birch and clove ORT tests this past weekend 🐾❤️🎉 Way to go team!

08/18/2026

🎉❤️🐾 Congratulations to Team Ruby on achieving their ORT title this past weekend 🐾❤️🎉 Way to go team!

gosniff

08/18/2026

🤩 ALERT - Registration is open for the October 3rd Sniff-n-Go 🤩

👉 Location: St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in River Hills, WI
👉 Levels: NW1, NW2, NW3 and Elite Levels offered
👉 Cost: $55.00 per dog for 3 searches (includes a commemorative ribbon!)

📝 Register at:

Join us for a fun Sniff-n-Go for all dogs on target odor. NW1 through Elite style searches will be offered.

08/06/2026

Blue, a sweet 14-week old Redbone Coonhound, had his first official sniffy lesson earlier this week! To no surprise, he was a nosey natural 👃🐾