Introducing Scent Work to a Protection Trained Dog | Kevin Sheldahl

In this clip from our Foundations of Scent Work Training course, Kevin Sheldahl works with a protection-trained dog who has been taught a bark and hold. The dog, previously trained in Schutzhund, initially views Kevin as a helper/decoy and attempts the familiar bark and hold behavior that has been rewarded in protection training.

Watch as Kevin introduces scent work foundations by carefully redirecting the dog's focus. Rather than rewarding the bark and hold directed at Kevin as the "helper," Kevin rewards the dog's attention and engagement with the odor itself. The goal is to establish that the scent source — the "rabbit" — is what earns the reward in this new context, not the handler or a decoy.

This session demonstrates the challenge of introducing new behaviors to dogs with established alert patterns, and highlights the flexibility of Kevin's training approach — adapting methods to fit the dog in front of you, whether they're starting from scratch or bringing prior training into the scent work arena.

FOUNDATIONS OF SCENT WORK TRAINING ONLINE COURSE:
Learn the complete foundation system Kevin taught during his November 2025 seminar at Leerburg.
https://university.leerburg.com/Catalog/viewCourse/cid/243

DETECTOR DOG TRAINING – PROGRESSING SCENT WORK SEMINAR:
Kevin returns to Leerburg May 15–17, 2026 for Part 2 of his detection training seminar. This hands-on workshop is now open to ALL LEVELS — from beginners just starting out to advanced handlers refining complex skills. Working spots and audit spots available.

May 15–17, 2026 | Menomonie, WI
Registration closes May 1, 2026
https://leerburg.com/detector-dog-next-steps-seminar.php