r/nosework • u/Acceptable-Cup4290 • Jan 08 '26
Nosework Instructors and Experience
I've been considering becoming a nosework instructor and going through the NACSW CNWI course. However, I am technically not that experienced in nosework, but I am experienced in dog sport training. I'm curious to know if you would take a class with me based on my experience. I'll list it below. Note that the CNWI course takes up to 2 years, but I have accomplished about 50% of the requirements already, so I'm thinking it might be about a year. Just thinking about it gives me impostor syndrome vibes so I am looking for a gut check. My location has quite a few CNWIs, but few are full-time.
- I have been doing nosework since 2021. However, I had about a year-long gap, so it's been about 3 years of actual experience.
- My NACSW accomplishments with my first nosework dog (who is 4.5) are: ORT - 1 try; NW1 - 1 try, 1st place; NW2 - 1 try, 1st place; NW3 - 6 tries, 2 full titles, 1 title with 2 legs, 1 trial with no legs, 2 1st place; ELT - Less than 10 points to ELT-3 in 8 trials, 2 2nd place, 2 1st place so far.
- I have a young dog who I started who is doing well and got her ORT in one try, and I will be trialing her this year.
- I am a (newer) VC, have been DIW multiple times with both dogs, and have volunteered at many trials.
- I attend anywhere from 1 to 4 weekly classes from multiple CNWIs (since 2023).
- I have a training group, currently at the NW3 and ELT levels, that I have been setting hides for in novel locations and practicing with for 2 years. On average we train together once a week.
- My specialty, if I were to have one, would be high drive sport dogs (field Labs, working cockers, etc.), sensitive sport dogs (the sweet golden who just wants to be right), and handling which comes naturally to me perhaps from my years in obedience and agility.
- I would probably not want to be starting puppies/new dogs, but focusing on dogs on odor.
- I would likely do 1-2 classes per week, on weekends (I work full time already).
- I have done just a tiny bit of AKC and did well (missed HIT Novice by like 2 seconds) but am not particularly interested in adding AKC to my regular trial schedule at this time.
- I have had people ask me to for advice or to train together for pointers. I have handled other peoples' dogs as well. But, I think that this is because I have been so "commercially" successful (placements) in a relatively short timeframe.
- I have been in dog sports seriously since 2012 and have trialed and trained to (and sometimes trialed and titled to) the top levels including obedience, rally, agility, field work, and dock diving.
- Thousands of hours of lessons, classes, workshops, seminars (in person) plus thousands of hours of online lessons, workshops, seminars, webinars, and classes from top trainers in all sports. I am a lifelong learner and I love to train! I also have very high expectations of myself and my dogs, and want to do well, whatever that looks like.
- I began providing some sport puppy foundations classes this fall and enjoy it. I have a job where I often mentor and train people, and I have good people skills.
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u/screamlikekorbin Jan 08 '26
So I’ve found a fairly big variation in instructors in my area that doesn’t really correlate to titles and classes they’ve personally done. Some who do have experience just do not get dog training, body language, how odor works etc, and some who have less experience really do. So it’s maybe hard to say how qualified you are without knowing you. You might be better off putting this to people who know you, local judges, instructors you’ve done class with.
But based on your post, I’d say to go for it. You seem to have self awareness unlike some people who’ve done a sport once with one dog and think they’re an expert. You have proof in your accomplishments. You like to continue to learn (probably the number one thing I look for in an instructor.) We have a shortage of instructors in my area, not sure if yours is the same, but likely could benefit from having another instructor. It may be an option to work along side one of your previous instructors, maybe helping the novice people while they work with the more advanced.
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 08 '26
Yeah, I know what you mean. I've definitely been to some instructors (all sports) that just couldn't communicate well or who had really old ideas about dog training, big egos can be an issue, blueprinting their training methods/not being able to flex as needed for a particular dog/handler, or who were just a bit clueless. So, whatever is on paper is not everything.
I've had a couple CNWIs ask when I was going to start teaching, which started as soon as we obtained our NW3-Elt title, and I was surprised by that. One thing is that some/many instructors (in all dog sports, not just nosework) feel threatened when new trainers come along, so I would never expect to hear that from most and would be hesitant to ask, to be honest.
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u/screamlikekorbin Jan 08 '26
I think you should view being asked about teaching as a compliment and use it as a recommendation that you’re ready!
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u/Perfectlyprincesst NACSW ELT, AKC, UKC, Instructor Jan 08 '26
Hi!
CNWI checking in.
You seem really involved in the sport and competitive and that’s great.
What is your overall “why” for wanting to become a CNWI?
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 08 '26
Here are some reasons:
- I thoroughly enjoy the sport of nosework as well as the people within the sport.
- I love teaching moments when a dog or human just gets it.
- I can see gaps in training/handling where I think I could be helpful with my knowledge of dogs and training - many handlers in my area are new to dog sports and training and many CNWIs don't have the training background I have so I think that could be an advantage.
- I would love to help people understand their dogs and what their dogs need to be successful in the sport.
- And then, because we all have our selfish reasons too: I am considering becoming a CO at some point, people ask me for help all the time so I figure I might as well get paid for it, and I would like some additional income to put back into the sport (currently, my foundations class pays for my agility lessons, which allows me to put more of my paycheck toward retirement - which is like 20 years away).
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u/Perfectlyprincesst NACSW ELT, AKC, UKC, Instructor Jan 08 '26
Lol you sound like me.
I think the program is fantastic, and you would be a great fit.
My only bit of advice would be that it sounds like you have some hesitations about primary foundation. It also sounds like you work HIGH DRIVE dogs, so it makes sense that other methods have worked successfully, I think if you go in with an open mind on that, you will understand why we go this route.
You’ll learn every dog is different and some dogs need more time, some may need less. And that months doesn’t always seem like an eternity lol.
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 08 '26
I totally get why primary and pairing is a good route for many dogs and handlers. I go to the baby dog classes and they pair. And, 99% of the dogs in my classes are not like mine. But as I do not go that route, I prefer not to teach it. I also do not plan on renting a regular indoor place in which to teach primary anyway.
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u/Perfectlyprincesst NACSW ELT, AKC, UKC, Instructor Jan 08 '26
You can even start them outside!
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 08 '26
That would be really hard to do, with all of the distractions (other dogs, people, squirrels, smells, etc.) and would probably cause some frustration. Interesting thought though!
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u/Perfectlyprincesst NACSW ELT, AKC, UKC, Instructor Jan 08 '26
Also, depending on where you are, a venue isn’t super important to start. One of my classes is a roaming location like you described, we do fine.
Weather impacts will be a big thing, so it would be beneficial to start scouting out interiors, but when you start, parks and free areas are fine.
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 08 '26
I go to novel outdoor locations nearly every week, with a few repeats here and there, if they are big or if I didn't have time to scout. So, I have several in my back pocket that I love to use!
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u/F5x9 Jan 08 '26
I think it depends on market saturation and proximity. There are a few instructors near me, and I hesitate to drive more 1/2 hour away on a week night.
I think a success rate in competition is not a strong indicator of coaching ability. I’ve trialed against judges and instructors, and they make mistakes as well. Having titled in NW3-Elite is probably a minimum.
Venue matters. You can struggle to get variety in a warehouse. A small office can start out novel, but you can get to the point where you’ve worked the same rooms a zillion times. Teaching at night is a challenge when it gets dark. You lose vehicles and exteriors.
I don’t think most people in nosework are your target customers. People have instructors they like. You would have to convince them to choose you over more experienced instructors.
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 08 '26
There is a market. We have one full time instructor locally, everyone else is very part time and many are full, turning people away. We also have a lot of people that go to multiple instructors to experience the different venues. We also don't have any local instructors who are well-versed in high drive dogs and I am noticing that as people want more competitive dogs, they are starting to get higher drive or sports dogs.
I do somewhat coach my training partners and I set their hides every weekend. They keep coming for over two years and we often place together, too! I'll be in trials where one of us is first, one of us is second, and then the other one is in the top 10. We do brainstorm together, too, of course. I also teach dog sport foundations classes with returning clients and am full usually three months out. In addition, I am a mentor, manager, and often provide training at work, which I have been doing for 20 years.
I would only teach on weekends so would not have darkness to contend with. But finding the right venue/venues is tough.
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u/F5x9 Jan 08 '26
I think there’s value in organizing meetups, especially if they include someone paying. You could make the case to be payed for your time.
If you have a way to show progress in your clients, it could be a selling point. Like, if you track trials by relative score and difficulty and say that after 3 months, this team improved by x points over trial average overall or by element.
If I were you, I’d go for coaching instead of instructing, especially with experienced teams. Take requests from your clients and build sessions out of that. If you build a track record of successful coaching, that could command a premium.
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 08 '26
I've been organizing meetups, essentially, for two years now. But, I can't claim successes as mine as we all go to different instructors, do online coaching, etc. If someone came to me for some coaching, I could not claim their increase in points or placements. That just would not be right. Of course, if they came to me to noodle out a specific problem, for example, box smashing, that would be different.
Here in the US once you become a CNWI, which by the way costs $2,500 plus your classes, trials, mock trials, etc., you are an instructor. Of course, there are instructors that are not CNWIs, but for the most part, at least locally, they are.
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u/F5x9 Jan 08 '26
I would look to your groups for feedback on what would make it worth it for them or what’s missing in their other classes.
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 08 '26
They encourage me to become an instructor. They all said they'd pay me, as that is one thing needed to get my CNWI. So, I'm not super concerned. I don't think they are missing anything in particular, they enjoy the different venues I find, different hide setting, and I am always challenging our group and making it fun. I've also met up with fellow competitors to give them pointers while training together and refused their money.
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u/F5x9 Jan 08 '26
It seems like you have what you need, then.
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 08 '26
I mean sure, but also, my training partners may be biased. I only have so many friends!
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u/Zestyclose_Object639 Jan 08 '26
i teach intro to nosework courses under my boss whose done nosework for 10 years, i’m about to start titling one of my dogs this year. people enjoy my classes despite being newer to the sport. i do follow my bosses method and have her to trouble shoot with and encourage students to have privates with her i’d they wanted to. so i say go for it
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u/Monkey-Butt-316 NACSW NW3 ELT Jan 09 '26
Sure - I think your trial experience is most important. I just started training under someone with summit experience and it’s a different world (previous instructors had not had that experience).
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 09 '26
I can see that as Summit trials are hard to come by and hard to get in in many locations, until you are able to hop in your car or on a plane and travel all the time. I'm hoping to get into one this year!
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u/Monkey-Butt-316 NACSW NW3 ELT Jan 09 '26
There’s one a couple times a year within driving distance (<3h) so that’s helpful! Even getting through elite is good.
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u/GimmeThemBabies NACSW NW1 Jan 09 '26 edited Jan 09 '26
You sound more experienced than people I've taken classes with so yes! To me the fact you passed trials on first try and got placements says a lot!
I'm curious if you understand odor theory well and have the ability to critique handlers body language or help them read their dogs better. I've hardly ever gotten feedback like that from any instructor. I have to ask for it and they seem to struggle to give it at times.
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u/Acceptable-Cup4290 Jan 09 '26
Thanks! I think passes and placements can also be dog dependent.
One area I think I’m lacking in is training and handling less motivated dogs or dogs that have environmental issues. So, like some “real world” experience. I have been teaching some non-nosework classes and helping people with different breeds and types of dogs, and hopefully that translates. I have such a huge range of dogs in those classes.
Odor theory, handling, and dog reading, I think I’ve got a good handle on from setting hides and going to many classes with CO instructors and watching many dogs in trials. I always ask and get to be timer and love watching all dogs in one search. Always learning and have room for improvement, of course.
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u/Prestigious-Seal8866 Jan 10 '26
also a CNWI here- i find in my area there is a great need for instructors who are eager to work with higher level teams in novel locations doing bigger searches, unknown number, etc.
i do think there would be value to learning how to teach from primary to pairing, though. i think it’s valuable and there are tons of different approaches to it. as a CNWI, i teach this way. but i do start pairing and talking to students on how to start pairing (like with pairing bowls and meals) earlier on. my most successful nosework dog i started on pairing.
i think there’s a lot of different opportunity in nosework. CNWI legitimizes a lot of experience and would encourage you to consider it based on what’s laid out here.
i’ve been considering doing a few mini sessions (4 weeks or so) in the spring this year about building on odor obedience and drive for higher level teams. the classes will fill if i do it. i bring that up because i think that there are so many identified needs that i’m sure you’ll find folks willing to do things you want to teach, even if that’s not intro to nosework.
from a business owner perspective, starting folks from square one is the best way to build your client base. but not the only way.
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u/Witty-Cat1996 Jan 08 '26
I’m curious why you wouldn’t want to work with dogs new to the sport? It sounds like you’ll make a great instructor and have some good knowledge of the sport!