Saturday 8/1/2026

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Being in the Moment: Being Present in the Search

 

Every search presents its own challenges—and at the NW3 level and beyond, those
challenges are often as much handler-based as they are dog-based.
This workshop focuses on the handler’s ability to stay mentally present, clear-headed,
and actively engaged in the search. Seeing what is happening is very different from
understanding what is happening—and that difference can be a game changer for your
team.
In Being in the Moment, Tony Gravley dives into the most common odor puzzles and
handler challenges encountered at NW3 and above. Through structured verbal
narration, handlers will learn how to build awareness, improve mental processing, and
accurately interpret what their dog is communicating in real time.
This is a hands-on working workshop. Teams will receive on-the-spot coaching as
dogs and handlers work through complex Nose Work challenges, allowing handlers to
practice supporting their dog effectively without interfering with the search.
If you are competing at NW3 or higher and find that your trial searches feel like a
whirlwind—where it’s hard to recall how many hides you found, let alone how you
supported your dog—this workshop offers a powerful opportunity to slow the moment
down, gain clarity, and handle with intention.
Designed for serious competitors ready to elevate their handling and truly be
present in the search.

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​Sunday 8/2/2026

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​Understanding the Communication

Have you ever watched your dog work and wondered:
* What exactly is my dog telling me?

* Why did my dog slow down here?
* What changed when they encountered odor?
* How does my dog actually find source?

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In this in-depth workshop, Tony Gravley breaks down the communication system that
occurs between dog and handler during every search.
Drawing from years of experience as a trainer, instructor, judge, and former bomb dog
handler, Tony will explain his Four Stages of Searching model and show how dogs
process odor from their very first encounter all the way to source.

Topics Covered
The Four Stages of Searching
Stage 1: Cursory Searching
Stage 2: Investigative Behavior
Stage 3: The Decision Zone
Stage 4: Source Commitment or Move On

Understanding Changes in Behavior
Learn how and why dogs transition between stages and what those changes mean to
the handler.

The Decision Zone
One of the most misunderstood parts of detection work. Tony will explain what occurs
when the dog's brain evaluates odor information and decides whether it has
encountered target odor or not.

How the Dog Does the Math
A signature Tony Gravley concept.
Discover how dogs gather odor information, build confidence through accumulation of
evidence, and create a picture of where source is located. Learn how recognizing these
"math problems" can dramatically improve your ability to interpret your dog's
communication and pinpoint source locations.

From First Odor Encounter to Source
Follow the complete journey:
*Initial odor encounter
*Information gathering
*Building odor confidence
*Decision making
*Source commitment

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is designed for Nose Work and Scent Work handlers of all levels who
want to better understand what their dogs are communicating during a search and
improve their ability to read changes in behavior.
Whether you are training, trialing, or simply looking to deepen your understanding of
detection work, this workshop will give you a clearer picture of the search process and
the powerful communication happening between dog and handler.
Stop guessing. Start understanding.
Learn to recognize the stages, understand the communication, and see the search
through your dogs eyes.