From helping your four-legged friend overcome anxiety to strengthening your bond with them, there are so many reasons for dogs to follow their nose!
It’s a well-known fact that dogs have an incredible sense of smell – far more superior than humans and many other mammals. In fact, it’s 40 times more sensitive than that of humans, and it’s been put to great use. From assisting the police and military with sniffing out bombs and drugs to providing invaluable support to people with disabilities, and detecting diseases.
We approach scent work with our dogs in a way that builds their confidence and emotional welfare, while strengthening their bond with humans. And you can do the same with your canine companion!
Scent work training is incredibly fun for dogs and their owners. You’ll love seeing your four-legged friend engaged in an activity that brings them joy. And you may even develop a new appreciation for this super skill – one that can sometimes create a lot of friction in your relationship. Think about those times you’ve called your dog and they didn’t come back because of a smell that’s caught their interest! Scent work training can do wonders for behavioural difficulties including recall, reactivity (lunging and growling), prey drive issues and anxiety. What’s not to love about it?
A big part of scent work training is the “find-it” activity, so it’s good to know about this before you start. Watch our video with Woodgreen behavioural and training specialist Lindsay
Next, hide your dog’s favourite toy or treats somewhere specific. But first, make sure the area is safe and doesn’t have any objects that could potentially injure them (wires, sharp objects, electrics or things that could fall on top of your dog). You can also make the area more interesting by using cardboard boxes, bags and pots etc. Get creative with hiding spots, but initially start off easy. If possible, ask someone to keep your dog under control while they watch you hide the toy/treats. Try and keep it fun and engaging – and get your dog enthused in whatever way works for them!
Once you have positioned the toy/treats, you can release your dog and ask them to “find-it”. Keep moving around to encourage your dog to continue searching. Praise them as they search and make a big fuss when they find the item/s. If they look at you for some help, encourage them to “find-it” while guiding them with your hands and tapping on items to search. Do this one to three times, but not too much as we don’t want them to lose interest!
If you consistently pair this fun activity with the word “find-it”, you can also use this cue out and about when you want to distract your dog from wildlife or other things that catch their eye – great for improving their recall! Take some tasty treats with you or their favourite toy and hide it in interesting places such as the long grass or different surfaces, such as tree trunks or benches.
And there you have it – the basics of scent work training. Don’t forget that the most important ingredient during this activity is FUN!
To learn more activities you can teach your dog, visit our dog advice and dog training sections on Ask Woodgreen.
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