I was introduced to scent work in 2020 when my wife Katie and I were looking for a job for Huck. They started trialing approximately a year later, and we started traveling to trials. At first I would just watch them ,and as they progressed, so did my interest in the sport. I began to volunteer and give a helping hand to the clubs that were putting on the trials, because I realized that trials don’t run themselves but also learned what worked and what didn’t work at different trials. In 2023 I was approached by members of the Bristle Nose club and asked if I would be willing to be trial chair. I decided to give back to the club and scent work community that has supported Katie, because if it wasn’t for Bristle Nose holding trials during COVID, she wouldn’t have had the opportunity to trial. I recently became the president, and my personal goal is to continue to give back to the scent work community and help it grow. This last year I have started dabbling as a handler and have run Huck in AKC and ASCA scent trials.

Nancy Brunswick has trained and competed with her dogs since bringing home her first dog, Rex, nearly 30 years ago. Now proudly owned by two Australian shepherds, she competes in scent work, obedience, and rally, with scent sports being their favorite. Since 2020, Nancy has been actively involved with Bristle Nose, participating enthusiastically from their first trial.

Kris has been part of the dog world most of her life mainly as a professional pet groomer. She has participated in a variety of dog sports since the early nineties. Kris is relatively new to scent work, with her first trial being the Camp Tracy trial in 2023. She has 3 dogs, Pogo, Monkey, and Finn. She currently trials with Pogo, while Monkey and Finn enjoy senior living. Kris looks forward to working with our scent work community.

Jessica began her scent work journey in 2021 with her Doberman, Raven, and the two entered their first trial in 2022. From that moment, she was hooked. What started as a new activity quickly grew into a passion, as Jessica discovered how scent work deepens the connection and bond between dog and handler through teamwork. She also enjoys exploring the science of odor and how it interacts with the environment, adding another layer of fascination to the sport. As Treasurer, Jessica combines her love of scent work with her professional skills to help support the growth and success of Bristle Nose Scent Work Club.

Scent work started for me as a way to keep my Australian Shepherd, Murphy, happy and busy. It didn’t take long for it to turn into something much bigger; something I could obsess over, learn from, and share with others. What I love most is the community: watching dogs work, cheering for other competitors, and sharing friendly rivalries that make trials so much fun. The ribbons and titles are great, but the real reward is the connection with my dog and the friendships I’ve built along the way. Being part of the Bristle Nose Scent Work Club gives me a chance to promote this sport I love, help others discover it, and hopefully help them find as much fulfillment in it as I have, whether that’s through competition, training, or simply enjoying the journey with their dogs.