Have you ever taken your dog on a sniffari? What will you find out in the wilds? Is your dog led entirely by their nose?
Here at Antinol HQ, we have a Springer Spaniel called Rosie, and if we’re honest, her nose has total control! How can we harness her crazy olfactory skills? Let’s give scentwork a go!
What is Scentwork for dogs?
It's a game of hide and seek that taps into your dog’s most powerful sense, their sense of smell. Scentwork (also known as nose work, or scent training) harnesses your dog's nose power to follow or find an odour. It might be that you're trailing a particular smell, or you're searching for an item; either way, your dog engages their brain and heads out on the hunt.
Whether you're looking for something competitive for you and your dog, or you want to keep their brain busy and enjoy some bonding together, scentwork is rewarding and super fun for both you and your dog.
Who can do scent work training for dogs?
Anyone, it's super accessible and you can start training your dog from very early puppyhood right through to teaching an old dog new tricks and keeping that senior brain busy!
Scent work is great for:
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Young puppies who need focus
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Reactive dogs that need distracting
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Super excitable dogs that need direction
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Senior dogs who are slowing down physically
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Ex-sports dogs who need stimulation at a slower pace
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Working dogs who can’t switch off
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Anyone else who fancies it!
What are the benefits of scentwork for dogs?
Your dog’s nose might be the leader when you’re taking part in scent training, but it's really about you and your dog working as a team and having fun together! You’ll see a whole host of benefits of scent work once you get started, such as:
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Building a strong bond with your dog.
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Keeping your dog focused on you and less distracted by what's going on around them.
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Giving them mental stimulation, no matter where you are.
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Keeping them busy, even if they can’t walk far.
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Calming reactive or anxious dogs by distracting them.
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Taps into their natural instincts to sniff and follow trails.
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It's been shown in behavioural studies to improve dogs’ optimism and overall well-being.
How to start scent work training with your dog
You can learn the basics and start your nose work training at home, or find a trainer or club and enjoy the social aspect, as well as the focused training.
How to start scent training at home
You can start teaching your dog the basics of scent work even when they’re a young puppy. Start with a game of “find it” with some high-value treats. Hide them in your hand first, and when they show interest, say “yes” and let them have it. Gradually, make it more difficult—hiding the treats in pots or somewhere in the room.
Once you’ve worked out “find it”, you can introduce a scent. This can be trickier as you need to prevent the scent from getting on you. A common scent used in trials is clove oil, truffle oil or gun oil.
How to start scent training with a trainer or club
You’ll need to find a trainer or club that suits you. There are a variety of organisations that run scentwork training, as well as local clubs. Scentwork UK offer courses and trials, and The National Nosework Association offer interesting trials in challenging environments to keep the competitions exciting and engaging for both you and your dog. Once you’ve found your club, it’s time to get out there and start sniffing!
Scentwork Competitions – What’s the sniff?
Think your dog’s nose is perfectly tuned and ready to test their sniff skills? It’s time to compete.
Scentwork gets progressively harder for you and your dog as you work through the levels.
In the initial levels, your dog will be searching for scents in a variety of environments, both inside and outside, including perhaps around vehicles. Your dog will need to correctly “alert” to 4 out of 6 hidden items across four search areas. As you progress up the levels, the number of items to find increases, and you often have to do it in a quicker and quicker time.
How scent training can help dogs with joint stiffness
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It’s not high intensity
Unlike other canine sports like agility or flyball, scentwork is taken at a slower pace. It’s not intense on your dog’s joints; the stimulation is in their brains, not their bodies. So it’s perfect for dogs who can’t reach those top speeds anymore.
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It’s perfect for those recovering from injury or illness
Scentwork is a great way to keep those dogs who can’t do much physically busy. It’s incredible for dogs on crate rest, as it keeps their brain stimulated and wears them out without much physical exertion.
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It keeps them moving—gently
For those dogs with joint stiffness, keeping moving is vital to maintain a comfortable level of mobility, and although they won’t be able to do intensive running, gentle exercise is very important to maintain their mobility. Scentwork is the perfect outlet; they have a stroll around the course at whatever pace works for them, so it keeps them moving while stimulating their brain.
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It wears them out
Even 10-15 minutes of brain stimulation is enough to wear your dog out. So even if they can’t run for hours, you can still tire them out with scentwork.
So, grab something smelly and head out on a sniffari with your dog. We promise, you’ll both love it!
Not sure Scentwork is for you? Check out our Canine Sports 101 and pick something else to try! Maybe Rally Obedience, or Field Trials?
