Dog-Driven Search Workshop

with Sue Sternberg & Dana Zinn

19th-21st of July 2025 in Canberra

Canberra Nosework Training is proudly hosting one of the greatest Scent Work event in 2025.

Many of you know how much I love the book “The Dog Driven Search” by Sue Sternberg and Dana Zinn. It‘s one of the best scent work handling books I‘ve ever come across. Well, now you have the incredible opportunity to work with Sue and Dana in person—right here in Canberra!

ABOUT THE 2 DAY WORKSHOP (19th - 20th of July 2025)
This two-day workshop will provide valuable information about how we influence the search with our body movements: direction, pathways, speed and body orientation. Sue and Dana will discuss what we are communicating to our dogs from all of our "handler actions or inactions" throughout the search, and why we may be getting certain behaviours from our canine partners in trial that baffle us.

The workshop will include video footage from other dog sports and video submissions from those attending the workshop as auditors, to demonstrate deliberate and inadvertent communication between dogs and their handlers.

Additionally, they will set up exercises to highlight handler movement and the dog’s response to better understand what our dogs are communicating “at each moment” and improve our productivity as handlers without diminishing drive and independence.

You will also be given specific handling tools to increase your ability to listen while simultaneously allowing the dog more freedom to make choices and hunt independently.

Sue and Dana deliver this workshop with humour, compassion and enthusiasm knowing that teams will leave with a new way of looking at the search and new tools to strengthen the handler/dog team through the long-term journey of this amazing game.

WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE DETAILS

Working team

We will aim to provide as many people as possible with a chance to have a working spot in the workshop. You can opt for two days of a working spot, but if there is high demand, we may allocate you one day as a working spot and the other day as an auditing spot instead.

Auditors
You may register to audit Saturday only but there is no Sunday only option.

For 2-day Auditors only – If you are not requesting a working spot, you and your dog may still be part of the discussion. 2-day auditors who do not work their dogs may submit a video of a search to Sue Sternberg. Sections of your video may be used during the workshop for Sue to analyse and share with the group. Full information on how to submit videos will be sent once your registration is received

SPECIAL Q&A SESSION FOR SCENT WORK INSTRUCTOR

Dana and Sue have offered to run a one hour Q&A session, specific for scent work instructors at the end of day 1 workshop on 19th of July 2025. This separate hour gives instructors a chance to submit questions and discuss challenges that may arise specifically from the teacher perspective.

MONDAY SMALL GROUP COACHING (21st of July 2025)

If you miss out a working spot in the workshop or simply would like some additional time to work with Sue and Dana on the concepts discussed in the workshop. Half day Small group coaching is available on Monday. There will be 5 working teams in a group.

Note: Small group coaching is only available to those who have attended the two-day weekend workshop, as Dana and Sue will continue working on the concepts discussed during the weekend.

Do not miss this chance to work with these two trainers who are experts in their craft and offer inciteful and humorous looks into the dog's world of the search.

Register your interest

Working spot on both 19th and 20th of July 2025 - $700/dog - FULL

One day working spot and the other day auditing spot - $500/dog - FULL

Auditing spot on both 19th and 20th of July 2025 with video submission - $350 - FULL

Auditing spot on both 19th and 20th of July 2025 without video submission - $300 - FULL

Q&A session for Scent Work Instructors on 19th of July 2025 - $20 - FULL

Half day small group coaching on 21st of July 2025 - $200/dog - FULL

Note: All working and auditing spots are currently taken. Use the button below to register for the waitlist if a spot becomes available.

Dana Zinn

Dana Zinn began her dog training career in 1998. She crafted her skills while volunteering, and eventually working at a shelter in Los Angeles. She then started her own dog training business where she helped clients with issues ranging from puppy training to aggression. Dana has studied under and worked with some of the top trainers and behaviourists in the country.

Her nose work career began in 2006 when she was a student| in the very first class offered by Amy Herot and Ron Gaunt in southern California. Dana eventually started assisting with classes and in 2008 became one of the first certified nose work instructors in the country. Dana moved to Colorado in the fall of 2008 and brought the sport of nose work with her. She ran the first classes, workshops, ORTs and NACSW trials in the state. Over the years, Dana has been a frequent instructor at nose work camps, a popular webinar presenter at virtual nose work events, and has taught/instructed clinics all over the United States. Her many roles in nose work included being the certifying official and judge for NACSW trials. Dana has been competing in this sport since 2010. In 2014 she won the NACSW National Invitational with her dog Kudos, and has continued competing with all of the dogs that have joined her family since.

Sue Sternberg

Sue Sternberg has traveled the world educating professionals on dog behavior, enrichment, body language and adoptability with a focus on shelter dogs. She has been working in shelters and as a dog trainer since 1981. Her humane protocols and standards for emotional care with sheiter dogs have changed the way dogs are sheltered. These protocols have been a catalyst and inspiration for all types of shelters around the world.. Since her first exposure to nose work in 2012, Sue has become a knowledgeable and avid enthusiast of the game and sport. She has trained with many of the top nose work instructors, and incorporated her knowledge from training and observing shelter dogs to educate others on the importance of human body language and understanding the impact our movements have on our dogs in the search. Sue has placed in, and won,

trials up through the highest levels.