Top Dog Training Center-Boerne
Dog Sport Sampler Class
Ever wondered which dog sport your dog would actually enjoy? The Dog Sport Sampler class is designed to introduce handlers and dogs to a variety of popular canine sports in a fun, low-pressure group setting. This class is perfect for newcomers who are curious about dog sports, as well as puppies and young dogs who would benefit from safe exposure to new environments, equipment, and skills.
Over the course of six weeks, teams will rotate through different dog sports, giving you the opportunity to explore what excites your dog most while building confidence, engagement, and teamwork. Each week focuses on a different sport, taught at an introductory level with an emphasis on positive experiences and foundational skills rather than competition readiness.
Sports We’ll Explore
Week 1: Scent Work
Week 2: Agility
Week 3: Rally
Week 4: Ratters / Barn Hunt
Week 5: FAST CAT / Lure Coursing
Week 6: Shed Hunt & Fetch
This class is educational, enriching, and fun — but it also provides valuable insight. Handlers will receive feedback from a trainer experienced across multiple venues to help identify which sports may be the best fit for their dog moving forward.
Who Is This Class For?
- Dogs and handlers brand new to dog sports
- Puppies and young dogs needing positive exposure
- Pet dog owners looking for a fun bonding activity
- Anyone unsure which sport to pursue long-term
Prerequisites
- Completion of Basic Manners or Puppy Kindergarten
Important Notes:
- This is a progressive 6-week course
- No make-up classes are available
- Drop-ins may be allowed if the class does not fill
Cost: $195 per dog
Whether you’re looking to dip your toes into the dog sport world or simply want a fun, enriching class for your dog, the Dog Sport Sampler offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to try it all and discover what makes your dog light up!
Introduction to Scent Work
6-Week Class | $195
Instructor: Melinda Invergo
Discover just how powerful your dog’s nose really is!
Introduction to Scent Work is a six-week beginner course designed for dogs and handlers who are brand new to scent work or who want to build a stronger foundation before introducing competition odors.
Unlike traditional obedience classes, scent work is all about allowing your dog to take the lead. Dogs naturally experience the world through their noses, and this class teaches you how to turn that natural ability into a fun, structured activity while learning how to recognize and trust your dog’s searching behavior.
What Will We Work On?
This class focuses on developing your dog’s desire and confidence to hunt. We will begin with food-based searches rather than introducing competition odors right away. This allows dogs to learn that searching is fun and rewarding before adding more complicated scent concepts.
Throughout the six weeks, teams will be introduced to several types of searches, including:
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Interior Searches – Learning to confidently search rooms and indoor environments.
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Container Searches – Searching boxes and other containers while developing independent problem-solving skills.
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Exterior Searches – Learning how environmental factors such as wind, surfaces, and distractions can influence a search.
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Vehicle Searches – Introducing dogs to searching around vehicles and other large exterior objects.
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Handler Skills – Learning how to read your dog’s body language, avoid interfering with the search, and recognize changes in behavior when your dog finds what they are looking for.
Why Don’t We Start With Odor?
A strong scent work dog needs more than the ability to recognize a particular scent—they need to love the hunt.
For that reason, this introductory course does not immediately put dogs on competition odor. Instead, we focus on creating independent, enthusiastic searchers first. Once a dog understands the game and has developed confidence using their nose, transitioning to odor can become much easier.
This class is an excellent first step for anyone interested in eventually competing in scent work, but competition is absolutely not required. Scent work can also be a fantastic enrichment activity for pet dogs.
Great for Many Different Dogs
One of the best things about scent work is that almost any dog can participate. Young dogs, older dogs, energetic dogs, and dogs that may not enjoy traditional group activities can all benefit from learning to search.
Because dogs generally work individually during searches, scent work can also provide a structured activity for dogs that need additional space from other dogs or people.
Scent work can help build:
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Confidence and independence
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Mental enrichment
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Problem-solving skills
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Handler observation skills
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A productive outlet for natural hunting and sniffing behaviors
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Stronger communication between dog and handler
About Your Instructor
This class is taught by Melinda Invergo, a trainer at Top Dog Training Center who actively trains and competes in canine sports, including scent work.
Melinda currently competes in scent work with two of her own dogs: Drift, her Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, and Dicey, her Jack Russell Terrier. Working with two very different breeds and searching styles has helped shape her approach to teaching handlers how to recognize the individual ways their own dogs hunt, problem-solve, and communicate during a search.
Melinda continues to expand her own education and experience in the sport while helping new teams discover just how much fun scent work can be.
No Experience Necessary
You don’t need any previous scent work experience to join. This course is specifically designed to start at the beginning and build a solid foundation over six weeks.
Whether your goal is to eventually step into the competition ring or simply find an exciting new activity to enjoy with your dog, Introduction to Scent Work is the perfect place to start.
Class Length: 6 Weeks
Cost: $195
Instructor: Melinda Invergo
Experience Level: Beginner / No Previous Scent Work Experience Required