About River Poodles Training, LLC

River Poodles Training is a scent-work specialist based in New Bloomfield, in Callaway County between Jefferson City and Fulton. It is owned and operated by Judy Harris, who travels extensively teaching nose work classes at all levels and running workshops and clinics.

What it teaches

The core offering is K9 Nose Work, and the site explains the progression rather than just naming it. The sport starts with getting a dog excited about using its nose to find a favorite toy or treat hidden in one of several boxes, then expands the game to whole rooms, exterior areas and vehicles. Only once a dog is confident are target odors introduced and competition skills taught. The site makes a point that the sport is easy to learn, builds confidence and focus, and is a safe way to keep a dog fit through mental as well as physical exercise, which matters for dogs that cannot do high-impact sports. Hunt test workshops also appear on the calendar.

Credentials and record

The site lists the owner as a Certified Nose Work Instructor through the National Association of Canine Scent Work, a NACSW Certifying Official, a NACSW Supervising CO and a NACSW ORT Coordinator. It also records over 20 years training and competing across dog sports, with handled dogs holding AKC Champion Tracker, NACSW K9 Nose Work Elite Champion, AKC MACH agility, AKC and UKC Open Obedience, UKC HRCH, AKC Master Hunter and Barn Hunt Senior titles. None of these is in the six registries this directory checks, so they are recorded as the site's own statements.

One practical caution

The published trial and workshop calendar is heavily out of state, with dates in Florida through 2027 and one Missouri workshop listed. Local classes, private lessons and clinics are arranged by contacting the owner directly rather than booked from a schedule.