Book Review: Nose Work Handler: Foundation to Finesse (again!)

Nose Work Handler: Foundation to Finesse, by Fred Helfers (Fred Helfers?, 2017, 142 pp, $29.95) Reviewed by Skye Anderson.

Not a DIY Manual or Personal Workbook

This reviewer was excited to see Nose Work Handler come out, one of the first books about the new dog sport of nose work, a smelling activity (odor detection). As a matter of fact, this reviewer even started the instructor certification program in nose work until it became too expensive, requiring travel to out of state workshops.

Remember Who Has the Nose: Trust the Dog

Nose Work Handler has a lot going for it, from an excellent (too detailed?) explanation (anatomy and physiology) of a dog's nose and how it works to leash handling to search strategies to training programs and handler errors. Self-published, author Fred Helfers has started with an outline and merely filled it in, along with a few anecdotes. He finishes with plenty of references and even a glossary as well as an index in this little book.

I was hoping this book would be the one I could use to help my private clients get started having fun with their dog or even purchase it and use it with their dog. Instead, it is useful for knowledge about the canine nose and perhaps for review if one and one's dog already do some nose work - or if the team wants to advance.

Helfers also gives workshops around the world and has previously worked with his dogs in police narcotics detection. His website, FredHelfers.com, has plenty of material, including some free webinars on leash handling during detection activities (with a long leash)(though whether the webinar itself is free or just the preview is hard to tell at first glance).

And, would you believe, DogEvals reviewed Nose Work Handler just a month ago! How did that happen? It certainly is embarrassing and would be more believable (but still not professional) had we reviewed it when it first came out and then forgotten, but, last month. . . . ?

So, to read another review and compare, go here. Or, check out other books and materials about nose work at www.Dogwise.com! Author Fred Helfers also has perfected a record-keeping system with a log and instructions to help make it easier to improve performance and develop training goals - useful in just about any field of endeavor.

And remember: it's all just a game. Have fun!