We offer an assortment of Nose Work Events and Special Classes. Click on the class title below to view the class description, requirements and fees. Let us know if there’s a special class you’re interested in that isn’t on the schedule.
Your Instructors
Nose Work Trainer
Devin Turk
Devin has been involved in dog sports since 2008 and began specializing in nosework in 2017 alongside his Great Dane, Gemma. What started as a partnership in scent detection developed into an accomplished journey that has helped establish new milestones for Great Danes in competitive nosework.Together, Devin and Gemma made breed history, with Gemma becoming the first Great Dane to earn the United Kennel Club (UKC) Elite Nosework Title and Nosework Championship. She also became the third Great Dane to earn the American Kennel Club (AKC) Detective Title, demonstrating the remarkable scenting abilities and potential of the breed.
Building on years of hands-on experience in training and competition, Devin expanded his involvement in the sport by becoming an AKC Scent Work judge in 2025. This role reflects his continued commitment to the sport and his dedication to recognizing and supporting the work of dogs and their handlers.
As a Nosework Instructor at What a Great Dog, Devin brings his experience, enthusiasm, and passion for canine scent work to the training environment. He enjoys being part of a sport that challenges dogs mentally, builds confidence, and strengthens the partnership between dogs and their handlers.
Devin believes nosework offers dogs of all breeds and backgrounds an opportunity to use their natural abilities, build skills, and enjoy the process of learning together.
Ellen Heavner
Ellen is Director of the nosework program at WAGD, and joined the team in 2020. She
teaches at all levels of nosework/scentwork. She designed the curricula used by the
other nosework instructors at WAGD.She has been teaching scent work for the last 12 years, competes in many venues, and
is a judge for many scent work organizations, including: AKC, UKC, ASCA and USCSS.
In addition to judging, Ellen is a member of the AKC Scent Work Advisory Committee,
and writes a monthly blog about scent work (sniffingaroundscentwork.com).Ellen currently has two Lagotto Romagnolos: Astra, who is retired from competitions
and Yeti, who is competing at the Detective level in AKC.
Julie Morton
Julie is a self-described nosework and dog training nerd. She began nosework
instruction in 2018 and began working as an AKC Scent Work Judge in 2022.
Julie’s love of nosework began while working with her reactive Australian
Cattle Dog mix, Eleanor Frisbee. Julie and Ellie began their nosework
competition career in 2016 and competed until Ellie’s retirement in early
2024. Together they earned titles in UKC, AKC, NACSW, and USCSS.As a dog training nerd, Julie is interested in interspecies communication
through training and enjoys incorporating best practices from successful
trainers such as Bob Bailey, Sue Sternberg and Denise Fenzi into her training
toolbox.Julie has experienced first-hand the benefits of teaching a dog to use his or
her nose and the partnership created in the process. She sees nosework as a
dance and loves watching the dog/trainer team learn the steps.
Julie Prigmore
Julie Prigmore teaches Nose Work classes at What a Great Dog! She has enjoyed all forms of dog sports for over 37 years, competing and titling in conformation, obedience, agility, fast cat competitions and coursing. She has also achieved certifications in working aptitude, CGC, and Nose Work. Julie has handled and finished multiple champions, Doberman Pinschers, Alaskan
Malamutes and Tibetan Spaniels in the breed classes, but to her, the most rewarding moments involve training with and working beside a dog to achieve its peak performance at sporting abilities.
She admires a structurally sound dog and loves to see dogs of every breed achieve success in whatever job they were bred to do.Julie began scent work with her own dogs in 2021 and fell in love with the sport. It thrills her to see dogs performing with different techniques, and even more importantly, watching the exciting aspects of the communication between dog and handler, and the ever-evolving bond that develops and grows as each team works together. She has been competing in nose work since 2022 with her Dobermans, Shine and Charlie and trains under Ellen Heavner. Julie is an AKC Judge and competes in AKC, UKC, and NACSW.
Nose Work Trainer
Mickey Schufman
Mickey has been involved with dogs for over 40 years and has competed in conformation, obedience, rally and agility. She started an in-home training business (Four Paws Training School) in 2002 and worked with owners using reward based training. Some of the trainers who have influenced her most are: Susan Garrett, Bob Bailey, Pat Miller, Kathy Sdao, Jean Donaldson, and Ken Ramirez.
An owner and fan of big dogs for most of her life, she has now downsized to a couple of little guys: Micah (terrier mix), and Harper Lee (Papillon). In 2012 she went to a seminar to learn about K9 Nose Work, a new dog sport, and it quickly became her passion. She has been teaching nosework at What A Great Dog! in Frisco since opening in 2012, and has several classes each week. Her favorite venues to compete in are NACSW (National Assoc of Canine Scent Work) and USCSS (United States Canine Scent Sports). Above all, she believes that competition needs to be a great experience between you and your dog, and that success is completely secondary.