Scratch & Sniff Scentwork hosts K9 Nose Work® and truffle hunting classes and workshops in Eugene, Oregon taught by Julia Back, a NACSW™ Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) and Certifying Official, and truffle dog trainer/handler.

What is K9 Nose Work®?

Nose work is a fun and fascinating activity inspired by professional detection dogs that virtually all dogs and handlers can enjoy.  Dogs get to put their noses to work in a way that builds a strong bond between a dog and their person.

Does your dog need a job to keep them out of trouble or from bouncing off the walls? Nose work provides both mental and physical stimulation and can be done just about anywhere — including indoors during foul weather.

Is your dog timid or fearful of strangers or new places?  Nose work builds confidence and exposes dogs to new environments in a positive way. Because only one dog works at a time, reactive dogs are also welcome to come play!

Classes

 

Sniffing 101: Intro to K9 Nose Work® (Beginner Scent Class)

This 6-week class teaches dogs and handlers important foundation search skills, whether your goal is mental enrichment, participating in sports like scentwork or barn hunt, finding truffles or shed antlers, or simply learning about building a working relationship with your dog.

New classes starting in April 2026! Please complete this interest form and/or email Julia for information.

OPENING SOON:
When: Tuesdays at 6:30pm starting April 14th
Location: South Eugene, near LCC
Duration: 6 weeks, 1.5 hours/week (times may vary for classes with fewer than 6 dogs)
Cost: $150/dog
Spaces: 6-8 dog/handler teams

DETAILS COMING SOON:
When: Tuesdays at 5:00pm
Start date: TBA, May 2026
Location: South Eugene, near LCC
Duration: 6 weeks, 1.5 hours/week (times may vary for classes with fewer than 6 dogs)
Cost: $150/dog
Spaces: 6-8 dog/handler teams

When: Thursdays at 4:45pm
Start date: TBA
Location: South Eugene
Duration: 6 weeks, 1.5 hours/week (times may vary for classes with fewer than 6 dogs)
Cost: $150/dog
Spaces: 6-8 dog/handler teams

 

Sniffing 102: Exterior and Vehicle Search Foundations (Beginner II)

In this series, we will continue exploring nose work search elements by adding vehicle and exterior searches, as well as interiors and containers of increasing complexity. Dogs will search for primary (food or toys) to continue building drive, independent searching, and problem solving skills, the foundations of nose work success. Handlers will learn the leash handling, teamwork, and observation techniques essential to scent detection.

Please be prepared to work outside in mildly inclement weather.

Duration: 6 weeks per session, 1.5 hours/week (times may vary for classes with fewer than 6 dogs)
When: Thursday evenings in March/April 2026
Cost: $150/dog
Spaces: 6-8 dog/handler teams
Prerequisites: Intro to K9 Nose Work or instructor approval.

 

Sniffing 201: Fundamentals of Odor

Intro to Odor focuses on teaching your dog to seek out the birch odor used in nose work competition in container, interior, vehicle, and exterior search areas of growing complexity. Handlers will continue working on leash handling, behavior observation, and learning how scent moves in the environment.

Duration: 6 weeks
When: Thursday evenings in April/May 2026
Cost: $—/dog
Spaces: 6-8 dog/handler teams
Prerequisites: Dogs must have completed the 101-102 Intro to Nose Work series *or* have other search foundations (instructor approval required).

 

Sniffing 202: Odor Obedience

In this 6-week class we will continue to build your dog’s search skills and obedience to birch odor, as well as introducing anise and clove (two additional competition odors). Handlers will continue learning the skills needed to work a competition scenting dog, with the goal of preparing you and your dog to pass an Odor Recognition Test. Note: Teams area welcome to attend classes whether or not they ever intend to compete.

Duration: 6 weeks/session, 1.5 hours/week
When: TBA
Cost: TBA
Spaces: 5-8 dog/handler teams
Prerequisites: 201. Odor Fundamentals (dogs must be imprinted on birch odor).

 

Sniffing 301 and 302: Competition Skill Building

This class focuses on building dog and handler skills in all four elements on birch, anise, and clove odor. Handlers continue to prepare for their Odor Recognition Title (achieved by completing all three odor recognition tests) and  for NW1/Level 1 Element trial competition. Note: Teams area welcome to attend classes whether or not they ever intend to compete.

Duration: 6 weeks/session, 1.5 hours/week
When: TBA
Cost: TBA
Spaces: 5-8 dog/handler teams
Prerequisites: Dogs must be on all three odors.

 

Sniffing 401: Advanced Trial Prep

One-off drop-in classes for teams looking to build skills for nose work/scentwork trials or just continue having fun with with their canine partners. Classes are at various locations around Eugene on various topics (interiors, exteriors, vehicles, containers, and more) with the goal of improving our dogs’ odor obedience, focus, and resilience to distraction in real-life search environments.

Schedule and sign-ups: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B084BABAC2CA5F49-62580116-march#/

Prerequisites: Dogs must be on all three odors
Duration: 1.5 hours for 6-8 dogs (smaller classes may vary in length)
Cost: $25/dog/session
Spaces: 6-8 dog/handler teams
Dates: Mondays and Tuesdays in 2026

 

Truffle Hunting Foundations

This 6-week class will introduce you and your dog to scent detection work by building your dog’s natural drive to hunt, fostering independent and confident searching, and honing handler observation skills. Note: This class will take place at a training center and will involve indoor/outdoor training with dogs hunting for primary (food/toy rewards).

Duration: 6 weeks, 1.5 hours/week
When: TBA
Cost: TBA
Spaces: 5-8 dog/handler teams

 

Private Sessions

Private sessions may be scheduled based on training space availability; in-home sessions or classes outside of the Eugene area can also be arranged. Please send inquiries by email to julia@scentwork.net.

About

Scratch & Sniff Scentwork hosts K9 Nose Work® classes and events in Eugene, Oregon taught by Julia Back, a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) with the NACSW™

Julia is a NACSW Certifying Official, Trial Judge, CNWI, and truffle dog handler who came to K9 Nose Work® in 2013 from a background in animal behavior and veterinary care. She first began volunteering with shelter dogs in the Galapagos Islands in 2006, where she developed a passion for rescue and rehabilitation. As a Fulbright scholar, Julia later obtained her Master’s degree in animal ecology and behavior from Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia). 

She has competed in nose work since 2014 with her own dogs, Willow, a border collie trialing at the Elite level; Tornado, a shepherd/heeler mix (NW1); Brody, a malamute-shepherd mix (2011-2024), who earned his ELT-CH title and competed in Summit; and CJ, a border collie-lab cross (2001-2018) who entered her first trial at 14 years old. 

Julia and her dogs also train and compete in barn hunt, NASDA, FastCAT, and agility when they aren’t out hunting truffles.  Seeing the remarkable changes K9 Nose Work® inspired in the lives of her own dogs, Julia seeks to bring that same sense of purpose, confidence, and fun to both dogs and their handlers. 

No photo description available.

Events

The best way to learn about nose work competition is to volunteer at trials. For more information, go to: http://www.noseworkdetectives.com/volunteer.html

NACSW ORT Calendar: http://nacsw.net/ort-calendar-information

NACSW Trial Calendar: http://nacsw.net/trial-calendar-information

If you are a current NACSW member and wish to receive emails about upcoming events, you can send your name, email, and NACSW member ID to membership@nacsw.net with a request to be invited to the nacswmembership updates group.

Contact

julia@scentwork.net