A little about me...
Aleks Woodroffe BSc CCMT ACMT CPCFT
AKC Scent Work Judge, NACSW CO, NACSW Judge, ASCA Scent Work Judge
Nosework Competitor, Trainer, Seminar Presenter,
and Online Teacher (at Release Canine, Scent Work University, and Fenzi Dog Sports Academy)
Certified in Canine bodywork - from Fitness to Massage
"Our relationship with our dogs has to be one of trust and respect. When these are given from both dog and human, an incredible bond can be built."
After finishing my Bachelor of Science at the University of Alberta in 2006 and moving down to Arizona to start working with the State of Arizona, my husband and I got our first dog as adults. Rosey was an energetic Flat-Coated Retriever and she led me to discover agility. I quickly learned I loved the sport and after absorbing as much as I could, I began teaching in 2014 at Top Notch Canines. Adopting Samantha in 2011 gave me a whole new set of skills to learn, she is a lovely people dog, but had anxiety and was uncomfortable around other dogs. It was through Samantha that I learned about behavioral rehabilitation, Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, and Scent Work! I was able to start in NACSW in 2016 with both Samantha and Rosey. Rosey went on and earned our NW1 in 2016. Tana came into our lives in spring of 2016, and her baby Georges in 2021, and we have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our scent work journey!
Shortly after starting to teach agility, Rosey had an iliopsoas injury that pulled her from competition. It was through her injury that she taught me about rehabilitation, sports injuries, canine massage, canine fitness, and ultimately the love of competing in Scent Work. I attended the Rocky Mountain School of Animal Acupressure and Massage in Spring 2016 and became certified as a Canine Therapeutic Massage Therapist (CTMT), and Advanced Canine Massage Therapist (ACMT). I worked through my Canine Fitness program with Debbie Torraca (Gross) and Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, and received my CPCFT certification May 2023.
I grew up at a dressage training facility and listened to my mother patiently teach her students and helped her with the bodywork needed to keep the warmblood dressage horses in prime condition. My teaching style is very similar and I often hear her voice in my head as I mark a moment of brilliance in my own students. Learning from my father, a small-town physician, I learned the value of rational thought and scientific justification for my actions and beliefs. His example helped me through school and is a foundation that I value every day in my adult life. I think the patient teacher and thoughtful bodyworker I am today is a big part based on the lessons I've learned from them both.
It seems that life has a way to come back in circles; it seems to have for me. While in school, I studied and worked in a moth pheromone research lab, so spent my days studying how moths follow pheromones back to the source. I now use this knowledge every day during canine scent work teaching and competition. I'm always excited to share my knowledge with my scent work students and am so happy to celebrate all their successes! Teaching in person and online is something I really look forward to every day.
I love also to be able to share my knowledge and ability to support the sport through being a judge and hide setter. I became a fully approved AKC Scent Work Judge in 2021, ASCA Scent Work Judge in 2023, and NACSW CO (levels 1/2/3) in 2025. I am also active in hosting and supporting trials in AKC (president of Copper State Scent Work Club) and NACSW.
I live in Phoenix, Arizona, with my husband and our two dogs, Georges & Vespa.
Tana
Prairielight Pincian NAJ SWD SWME2 SHDM TKA RATN
NACSW Elite-CH & Summit Title
3/10/2016 - 6/27/2026
Tana played in Agility and Barnhunt, but her true love was nose work. Her joy of the sport helped me learn this sport and pushed me way beyond my wildest dreams!
We started in AKC:
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23 High in Trial AKC (all levels, 4 were combined HIT)
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SWME3, SWD"3", SHDM
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1st FCR to earn Scent Work Detective title
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1st FCR to earn Scent Work Master Elite Titles 1, 2, and 3
Her NACSW career has been just as thrilling and our journey had us traveling across USA, building strong friendships and amazing moments. As a team, we earned titles all the way up with excellence:
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NW1 - 1st place overall
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NW2 - 1st place overall & Pronounced overall
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NW3-elite - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place overall
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Elite - 1st place (x4), 2nd place (x2) and 3rd (x1) overall
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Summit - 1st place overall (x1) (2nd FCR to earn this title)
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Premier - 2nd place overall
In the winter 2024 (at almost 8 years old), Tana was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. We were able to catch it early enough for surgery and after her surgery, she has still managed to sparkle with her summit title, high in trials, and many search placements in Summit and AKC. She sadly passed away from complications from the thyroid cancer in June 2026, only a few qualifying runs away from her SWME4 and SHDME. Her legacy is one that affected many, leading the way and building an amazing community of nose work in Arizona. She will be greatly missed.
Georges
Desertfire Svarozic RI NF SIEE SEEE SWM SHDA CGC TKI FTN
NACSW Elite-2
d.o.b. 7.9.2021
Tana had a litter of puppies in the summer of 2021 and from that litter Georges found us. Georges is a fun guy that is everything I didn't know I wanted in a dog.
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AKC - Georges has stepped up in his role and although struggles sometimes with the smaller spaces (we love to RUN), he can get the job done in style. With 2024-2026 being focused on Tana, he was in her shadow and growing up. Turning 5 is a big milestone mentally and I'm looking forward to his future!
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NACSW - A bit of a late bloomer, he started to place competitively as he moved up in levels, 3rd overall in NW2 and NW3. He managed his 2nd Elite trial with a 1st overall and finding all the hides for 97 points! With a few more overall placements in his elite, looking forward to the rest of our journey to Elite-Champion!
We are also working on our conformation championship & working on skills for our Junior Hunter, Obedience Novice, and Rally. Finally getting started in agility and having a blast!
Vespa
Juggernaut Vespa Vivax SWN SCA SIA SBA SHDA TKN
d.o.b. 6/30/2025
Vespa is an English Cocker Spaniel, a breed I have been wanting to own for a long time after growing up with a spaniel. When Tana was diagnosed with cancer, we didn't know how long we'd have and it seemed like a great time to introduce a new member to the family to help bridge the gap with Georges.
With incredible breeding, this little one is a ton of fun and fits right into my energetic home! Luckily, she's similar to Georges and has an amazing off switch as well.
She started her AKC sniffy journey at 6 months old, earning two high in trials and two high combined within that first month! She is doing a lot of learning and having a blast at this sport.
Her first NACSW trial is in July at just over 1 year old. Although she's small, her confidence and commitment for source routinely blows me away. Looking forward to a fantastic journey ahead of us!