About Sunshine K9s

Sunshine K9s is a scent work specialist at 11102 Kingston Pike in Farragut. It carries a 5-star Google rating from 11 reviews.

What they publish

This is a single-discipline business, and that is the point of it. Classes are K9 Nose Work and scent work, run through what they call Sniffer School, and they host K9 Scent Games, a competition venue with "four levels of difficulty and five types of searches". A nose work calendar, prerequisites, directions and a cancellations and make-ups policy are all published, along with trial results.

Who runs it

Classes are taught by Rosana Cortes Dropkin, whose published credentials are Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA); Certified K9 Nose Work Instructor (CNWI); Certified Bio-Detection Dog Trainer (CBDT); Canine Good Citizen Evaluator; Fear Free Certified Trainer; and Separation Anxiety Specialist. The site describes her as "the most experienced Certified K9 Nose Work Instructor in East TN" and says she competes in NACSW and KSG sanctioned events with a team of three rescue dogs.

How the classes run

The sport is described as "developed for the pet dog" and "based on professional detection dog training", which is the useful distinction – this is detection work adapted for pets, not protection or working-dog training. Classes need 5 dog and handler teams to start and take a maximum of 7, with places filled in order of registration form and deposit, and dates finalized once the minimum is met.

Who it suits

Owners wanting a sport that uses a dog's nose rather than its obedience, including anxious or reactive dogs who do better working at distance. It is not a general obedience or behavior service.