One of the first AKC Scent Work judges and an AKC Scent Work Expert Judge, Sandra Tung is also a trainer and high-level competitor who has been in the sport since before AKC even had a scent work program.
Much of our conversation revolves around the job of the handler in scent work — which Sandra reinforces with t-shirt-worthy sayings like "be a hot date to your dog," "pay a dog a CEO salary for flipping burgers," and "your dog is the subject matter expert, and you are the manager."
If you've ever watched a Sandra Tung student at a trial, you already know these sayings. Her reputation precedes her. We also dig into how to balance honoring your dog's choices with being a good partner, her lazy trainer philosophy for building drive and confidence, and what she actually looks for when she's judging a team — whether they Q or not.
What we talk about:
Sandra's origin story — from her first Shiba Inu and rally obedience to becoming one of AKC's first scent work judges
Why the dog is the subject matter expert and the handler is the manager — and what that actually means in a search
Be a hot date — what it means, where it came from, and why it matters more than finding the perfect high-value treat *The difference between a good team and a top team — and why it almost always comes down to the handler
How to read whether your dog is in a productive area versus an unproductive one
Why odor doesn't care about boundaries — and what Sandra tells her students about letting their dogs go outside the search area
Her lazy trainer philosophy — training with purpose, keeping sessions short, and why simple hides in new environments will take you further than complicated puzzles
How running Shiba Inus made her a better handler and trainer
Teaching dogs to move on from a hide on their own — and why she didn't realize that was a skill until dog number five
Memory systems for remembering where you found your hides at higher levels
What Sandra looks for when she places hides — and why she loves testing teams on things they don't expect
Seven questions with Sandra — her dog's favorite reward, advice for her beginner scent work self, how she bounces back from a tough trial day, and the best compliment she ever received at a trial
Find Sandra:
AKC Judges Directory — search Sandra Tung to bring her to your trial
Alert! Scent Work is a podcast for competitors — the parking lot conversations you'd never get to have at a trial, with the judges and community members you wish you had more time with.
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