I am sure you have noticed that whilst out on a walk your dogs stop to sniff frequently (usually every blade of grass when your in a hurry!) Why you might ask yourself? Well for a dog it is like reading the newspaper. It tells them who has been past, how long ago, what they were doing, have they dropped any tasty (or undesirable) treats, is there any new perfume for them to roll in etc. It is a natural and instinctive thing for a dog to do.
The dogs nose is an amazing organ. It has around 222 million olfactory receptors compared to around the 6 million the human nose has enabling them to smell more variation of scent and the tiniest of scent particles. It can inhale and exhale at the same time enabled by its shape – the exhaled air being expelled through the slits (nares) at the side of the nose thus allowing the scent to be continuously inhaled through the nostrils. This amazing ability has been harnessed by organisations including medical, armed forces, police, search and rescue and many others.
This natural ability is a great way of helping you bond with your dog as they take great pleasure in rooting around searching for treats or their favourite toy that you have hidden around the house or garden.
If you would like to take this further there are now many organisations growing up around this dog “sport”
Scentwork UK – run trials throughout the country and have many levels that you can progress through. They use clove odour in their lower levels adding in gun oil and truffle oil as you progress up the levels. The lower levels consist of simple searches of boxes and luggage, table and chairs, vehicle and exterior search gradually progressing to room and outside searches.
- Take a dog from complete novice to scent expert
- Learn how to teach using the most effective & efficient methods
- Understand how to build this knowledge into classes, workshops and behaviour modification
To improve dog’s lives through nosework. By applying our knowledge as dog trainers and scent instructors, we have developed a program that will enable owners to give their dogs positive scent experiences, not only teaching them to work and play with scent, but using scent to rectify problems in pet dogs when it comes to behaviour.
The College of Scent Dogs offer scent-dog training to all, from beginner to expert. We are an elite scent-dog training establishment providing a truly unique mix of proven operational search-dog experience and academic qualifications that are unparalleled within the worldwide scent detection dog training community.
‘Sniffer-dog’ training is no longer the preserve of the specialist dog handler, it is for everyone to enjoy and to give their dogs the most enjoyable experience. Scentwork taps into the dogs natural behaviour and is the means of providing a rewarding occupation with a very special feel good factor, it’s simply a wonderful pastime for our dogs!
National Nosework Association – run trials throughout uk. They differ from Scentwork uk in that they use a variety of venues ie farms, stations, playgrounds etc Their odours consist of kong, clove and gun oil.
Nosework Games – new on the scene this is exactly what it says. A variety of scentwork games. There are 10 different games to play. The organiser will pick which games will be played at the trial and publish which ones they are so you can choose if you want to go. There is no set format allowing the organiser to use their own creativity to setup the games.
If you are not of the competitive ilk there are plenty of Scentwork instructors who run workshops to assist you in how to train your indication (your dogs recognition of the odour and you to recognise they have found it) and who run fun “sniff aways” at locations such as boatyards, museums etc.
The greatest thing about Scentwork that ANY dog can take part wether they be reactive, timid, old or young or disabled- it is all inclusive, a natural activity for a dog and great fun. Happy sniffing
