Scent Training

Dogs use their nose for so much more than we think; it is a skill that comes extremely naturally to them. Scent work can mentally stimulate your dog and it also enhances their instinctive ability to sniff lots of thing out, all whilst having a blast!

If your dog is very food orientated, there are a great many games you can play to keep their minds busy and alert.

A snuffle mat is a fun way to engage your dog to solve a puzzle whilst using their amazing sense of smell.

Also a game of “find” is a great activity for your dog and it can be entertaining for the whole of the family. Watching your dog discover all of the hidden treats is a very rewarding, especially for your dog!

Firstly you need to show your dog that you have a treat in your hand. Then use the command ‘find it!’ (or a command of your choosing), and then throw the piece of treat across the floor. When your dog finds the treat, clearly say ‘yes!’ that way they’ll know they’ve completed the task that you wanted from them. Once they have mastered the “find it” command you could challenge your dog a little more, and you can make the ‘find it’ game more advanced by telling your dog to stay while you hide the treat behind pieces of furniture. Then graduate to placing treats in different rooms whilst your dog is in another room. Hide all of the treats in a different room and then open the door for your dog and say ‘find it’.

Scatter games can make your dog’s meals a bit more interesting by scattering the entire contents of their food in the garden, or maybe a rolled up towel with knots in to make it a little more interesting. Keep it motivating by mixing it up with a little bit of cheese sprinkled here and there for extra reward when using their nose.

Scent work with toys for some dogs which are motivated by toys and not food and there are many fun ways that you can get them to search for their toys using their sense of smell.

We all know how fetch works; you throw the ball and your dog runs after it to collect and bring it back to you. Yes, well we’ve all seen this in action, but you may have noticed that when the ball lands and your dog looses sight of it, they usually put their nose to the ground to try and find it. If your dog does do this, then you have a dog that is toy-orientated.

To harness your dog’s drive to find their ball, you can try various ways maybe ask them to sit and stay (if they are able to) or if needed then clip them on their lead whilst they are sat/on lead, throw the ball and wait for it to land. Release your dog from their sit/lead or use a long training lead and ask them to ‘find it!’. Reward and praise them heavily when they do find the ball, even if they may not find it straight away, but don’t give up and let them work it out by giving them praise when they get close to it, even if the first few times you have to point it out to them. These types of games are also perfect for older dogs because they provide them with the ability to play fetch at a slower pace.

“ Find it”
This is a nice, gentle game which involves hiding a toy and asking your dog to find it using the same principles just swapping out food for a favorite toy.

You can up the anti by joining a scent trailing class and there are loads available all over the country now.

If your dog has a good sit and stay then you can start by asking them to do this. If your dog is too excited to sit and stay, then you can pop them on the lead and ask someone to hold them for you.

With your dog either sitting or on lead, you can show your dog their favorite toy and hide it in front of them, so they know where you’re putting it. Once you’ve hidden it somewhere that’s easy for them to get to, you can release them from their sit/lead and ask them to ‘find it!’

After a few attempts at this, your dog will begin to understand the game. Once they have grasped the idea, you can make this harder by pretending to hide the toy in one place but then moving it elsewhere so your dog starts to really use their nose to seek it out
As you progress, you can start hiding a toy before your dog’s walk and releasing them to find it afterwards. This can help to calm them after a long walk and is a fun game to come home to.

Name that toy
Dogs remember the look and smell of different objects which is why you can teach them the names of their toys. Starting with one of their favourite toys, you will need to give it a name. Once you have a name for that toy, you just have to say it every time you pick it up and begin play with your dog. Then, using the ‘find it!’ cue, ask your dog to find said toy and praise them for it when they bring it back. After practicing this, your dog will learn the name of that toy and you can test them by asking them to find it among their other toys.

Hide and Seek
Dogs will know their owner’s scent more than anyone else’s. The following two games, hide and seek and searching, make use of your dog's connection to you.

At home:
Your dog will use a combination of wind scenting (sniffing the air to locate you) and tracking (sniffing along the ground to follow where you have walked). You might need someone to hold your dog or wait until your dog is in another room then hide behind a door or sofa and call them. When you first start this game you may need to call your dog more than once. As soon as your dog finds you, praise and give a food treat.

Out and about:
You can play the same game in the garden or in safe areas while out for a walk. When your dog is sniffing and not watching you, crouch down in long grass or hide behind a tree and call them. Remember to be very excited when they find you.