Vicky Lovejoy | Productive Parking Lot Chatter, Fun Searches, and Inclusivity in Scent Work

Vicky Lovejoy was there at the very beginning — before formal trials existed, before organizations formed, when a group of enthusiasts in the Los Angeles area were just figuring out what this sport could be alongside founders Ron Gaunt, Amy Herot, and Jill Marie O'Brien.She has been competing and judging across AKC, NACSW, UKC, NASDA, and more ever since. In this episode, Vicky brings a perspective on scent work that very few people can offer — she has seen it from just about every angle, as a competitor, a judge, a trainer, and someone who was there when the sport was invented. Her dogs, by the way, all have an aviation theme. Beryl Markham, the pilot. Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega. Bessie the Fire Horse. Gaston — said with a French accent. And Phoenix, the outlier.What we talk about:Vicky's origin story — from a shepherd with elbow dysplasia to being one of the first people to compete in what would become organized scent workWhat hooked her — and why she describes the sport as the dog teaching us rather than the other way aroundHow breed and individual tendencies shape how dogs search — including why her shepherds would catalog hides and check the perimeter before committing, and why herding dogs often go to the back of the search area firstHow judging has influenced how she competes — and a story about forcing a false alert at the end of a long trial day that she still thinks aboutWhat makes a search fun — not just technically challenging, but genuinely enjoyable for dog and handler togetherHow she thinks about setting hides and what she hopes competitors take away from her searchesThe parking lot conversation after a low Q rate — and how to turn post-search analysis into something productive instead of just ventingCherish the engagement — what she means by that and why the bond you build through scent work is unlike anything elseSeven questions with Vicky — her dog's favorite rewards, including touch games and a boing, her signature distractor, advice for her beginner self, and what she wishes more competitors understood about judgesFind Vicky:Scent Work University: https://www.scentworku.com/collections/meet-vicky-lovejoyAKC Judges Directory — search Victoria Lovejoy to bring her to your trial Based in Eastern Washington — travels nationallyAlert! 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.Listen to the podcast and find everything here:https://www.AlertScentWork.comFollow along: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlertScentWorkSubscribe to the newsletter: https://www.alertscentwork.com/newsletter/