Lena went to the first AKC Scent Work Master Nationals mostly to support the event, but she also had a couple of goals. She wanted to make it into the top 100 and have the highest-placing Australian Shepherd. A few years earlier, a trainer told her Neo didn’t have the drive to be competitive, so you can imagine how good it felt when he finished sixth overall.She talks about what the weekend was really like, the nerves, the searches, the challenges, and her advice if you're thinking about going next year. You’ll hear how she trained, what surprised her once she got there, and the mindset that helped her actually enjoy it.
--------
37:25
--------
37:25
Tracy Hill | Setbacks, Sick Dogs, and Showing Up Anyway
Scent work isn’t just about ribbons. It’s about setbacks, resilience, and the bond that makes every trip to the start line a gift.In this episode, Tracy Hill offers practical takeaways for competitors while also opening up about the challenges that rarely make it to social media. From learning to process “no” to navigating the realities of a sick dog, she reflects on how those difficult moments shaped her approach to training and competing.It’s an honest, encouraging conversation about perspective, perseverance, and the joy of working with our dogs, even when things don’t go as planned.
--------
36:04
--------
36:04
Penny Scott-Fox | Have the Balls to Call It
The first time I ran under Penny Scott Fox, she gave me a piece of feedback I still think about every time I step into a search area. We unpack what she meant by that comment — and how handlers can feel more confident calling finish when the run is actually done.A founding instructor with NACSW and one of the judges at the very first AKC scent work trial, Penny digs into why most handlers wait too long to make the call and what she believes “trust your dog” really means. We also get into how she builds drive and what makes a search fun. She shares her take on the first-ever AKC Master National, and how she’s preparing for it.
--------
32:58
--------
32:58
Donna Morgan Murray | Scent Work Beyond AKC, Reading Your Dog, and When to Excuse Yourself from a Search
Beyond her role as a judge and competitor, Donna opens the door to other ways the game is played that many handlers may not have seen before. She talks about why placing hides in training isn’t always about whether your dog can find them, a reward strategy in trial that could change how you earn a Q, and how to recognize and work around your own dog’s quirks. She also shares surprising advice for trial day: why excusing yourself from a search might sometimes be the best decision you can make for your team.It’s a conversation full of the kinds of details that make you rethink the game, from training hides to handling quirks to knowing when to walk away.
--------
38:26
--------
38:26
Jennifer Hamilton | From First Trial Struggles to All-In on Scent Work
Excused from the crate area and rattled through her novice searches, Jennifer's first scent work trial was anything but smooth. Instead of quitting, that moment lit the fire.Jennifer talks about the overlooked skill that becomes critical in higher-level searches — especially buried; the hidden power of reward rituals that go beyond food; and how “my dog lies to me” usually means the dog is giving feedback, if we’re willing to listen. She also explains the smartest way to approach a judge if you want meaningful feedback after a trial.But ultimately, it always comes back to joy, connection, and celebrating the dog, and that perspective just might change how you see your own searches.
Scent work is more than a sport. It’s a shared obsession between people and their dogs, where every search is a new adventure and every trial is a chance to learn (and probably overthink things a little). Alert! Scent Work is a podcast for anyone who’s fallen in love with the sniffing game, or is about to and doesn't know it yet.
Hosted by Scot Singpiel, who discovered scent work in 2023 and quickly got hooked, Alert! Scent Work explores the human side of the sport. Through conversations with judges, trainers, handlers, and others from across the scent work world, we dive into the stories, perspectives, and experiences that make this community what it is.
It’s not just about titles or techniques. It’s about the people behind the leash. What motivates them? What have they learned (sometimes the hard way)? What keeps them coming back? From funny trial day moments to unexpected breakthroughs, you’ll hear honest, insightful, and occasionally ridiculous tales from all levels of experience.
We feature voices from across organizations—AKC, NACSW, UKC, CWAGS, DDT, and more, because we believe there’s no one right way to play this game. The heart of the sport is the community, and this podcast is here to celebrate it.
Whether you're competing at the highest levels or just stepping into your first search area, you’ll find something here to spark your curiosity and fuel your love for the game.
Australia