The Canny Canine

The Canny Canine offers flexible dog training programs in Bozeman, including ongoing Drop-In Obedience and K9 Nose Work classes. Basic Obedience classes will resume in September 2025. They provide individualized attention in small classes, focusing on reward-based/marker training.

Obedience opportunities include Canine Etiquette, a 4-week basic class appropriate for puppies over 12 weeks old, “new to you” dogs, or teams wanting to revisit basic foundations. The AKC Canine Good Citizen Class is a 6-week program focusing on the 10 behaviors required to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluation. Drop-In Obedience is an ongoing class for self-driven handlers with specific goals, where an instructor is available for the first 30 minutes to assist, and equipment is available for setup.

K9 Nose Work is a deeply established program serving the Bozeman area, consistently producing high-level competitors in Montana and across the Pacific Northwest. Carolyn is skilled in training both food and toy reward dogs. While the program focuses on competition through the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW), participants can utilize their training in any sport detection venue, including AKC and American Schutzhund. K9 Nose Work provides a critical mental outlet for active dogs and can be played in any safe location. New teams already on odor will require a private consultation to ensure they are matched to the correct class.

Pricing Summary

ORT entry cost is $30 per test. Class registration requires a minimum of 6 classes.

Policies

For ORT cancellations, a full refund less a $5 processing fee is available if canceled on or before April 25th. No refunds are offered after this date. All cancellations must be emailed to Carolyn Murray. Entry fees are not refunded if a dog or handler is absent, disqualified, or excused by the NACSW official or judge.

This cancellation and refund policy applies to handlers who must withdraw for any reason, including but not limited to injury, illness, emergency, and personal or work-related reasons. If an event cannot take place or be completed due to fire, civil disturbances, an Act of God, public emergency, or any other cause beyond the control of the event organizers, the event host will make their best effort to provide partial refunds after recouping their expenses.

Carolyn Murray has owned and operated The Canny Canine dog training in Bozeman since 2013. The business focuses on motivational methods to create thinking dogs that are eager to perform, emphasizing handler accountability and building a working and willing team between dog and handler. They believe in rewarding dogs with “high salaries” in the form of food, toys, or play.

The Canny Canine offers a boutique-style dog training environment, working with clients to create and achieve goals specific to individual needs. They specialize in K9 Nose Work® classes, obedience classes, and offer AKC Certificate/Title program testing. All programs are developed for the average family pet that just wants to have some fun.

They also cater to working and performance dogs, providing training solutions through K9 Nose Work and Obedience. The Canny Canine welcomes all teams and breeds regardless of experience. Dogs with human or dog reactivity will require assessment, and all dogs must be under control at all times.

Accomplishments

Carolyn Murray has owned and operated The Canny Canine since 2013. Since 2015, she has successfully trained, trialed, and titled multiple dogs in various sport venues. Her students have also achieved multiple titles, trial placements, and high in trial designations in K9 Nose Work.

Carolyn is the first Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI™) with the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW™) in Montana. She is qualified as a Certifying Official for NW1/2/3 Trials and completed her training to serve as a trial judge in 2022. She has worked privately with senior NACSW faculty and professional detection trainers, regularly attending workshops and conferences.

Her certifications include AKC STAR Puppy/CGC/Trick Dog Evaluator (#82732), AKC Scent Work Judge (#102425), AKC Farm Dog Judge (#102425), and Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI) – Bronze Medal Trainer with Do More With Your Dog. She is also an NACSW Odor Recognition Test Certifying Official & Judge and a K9 Nose Work Trial Certifying Official & Trial Judge.

How to Get Started!

To register for classes, clients need to select a class and a date. If a date is unavailable, it means there is no class or it is fully booked. Clients must create an account or sign into an existing one and continue to select dates for a minimum of 6 classes.

For Drop-In Obedience, instructor approval is required, and clients should email Carolyn to join. For K9 Nose Work classes, new teams that are already on odor will require a private consultation to ensure they are matched to the correct class.