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.
