A Beginner’s Guide to Scentwork Bert
“Hi, Bert here from Skellywags Dog Training. Some of you may have noticed that I am taking a bit more of a LEAD role at Skellywags these days, did you see what I did there, LEAD role! I obviously got my bad sense of humour from Dad, so lets move on and get to the point! You might think your daily dog walk is all about stretching legs and fetching tennis balls, but let me tell you something, it is our nose that really needs the workout. Don’t get me wrong I love a good game of retrieve as I also get to use my nose to find it and search, rather than just chasing a ball!
Scentwork is one of the best gifts you can give your dog and trust me, we appreciate gifts that aren’t silly outfits. So what’s scentwork all about? Well, let me guide you through it.
What is Scentwork?
Scentwork is basically our version of a treasure hunt except instead of maps and compasses, we’ve got one of the most powerful noses on the planet and we use scent to find our treasure. We dogs have up to 300 million scent receptors compared to your measly 5 million, so sniffing isn’t just a hobby it’s a superpower. Can you believe how few scent receptors you humans have, no wonder you don’t know your feet stink!
In scentwork, you teach us to search for a specific scent/odour, treat or even a favourite toy and reward us when we find it. Sounds simple? It is, and the beauty is, we dogs absolutely LOVE doing it.
Why is it so brilliant?
Glad you asked. Scentwork is more than just a fun game, it’s brilliant for our wellbeing.
- Mental stimulation: A good sniff session tires us out just as much as a run and we don’t even have to get muddy (unless we fancy it).
- Stress reduction: Sniffing lowers heart rate and calms the nervous system. If your dog’s a bit anxious or reactive, scentwork can work wonders.
- Confidence boost: Nothing beats that smug feeling of finding the hidden toy. It helps us feel clever and capable because we are, obviously.
How does it work?
Right, let’s get practical. Here’s how you can get started with scentwork at home no special kit needed (though if you want to splash out, go ahead, I’ll graciously accept new sniffy toys).
Pick a scent: Choose something safe and distinctive. A favourite treat or a toy with a familiar smell is perfect to begin with.
Introduce the scent: Let us sniff it properly this is us learning what we’re looking for.
Hide the scent: Start easy behind a chair leg, under a cushion. Make it simple at first so we get hooked on winning.
Reward us generously: When we find it, act like we’ve won the lottery because in our minds, we have! Treats, play, praise, fuss, we’ll lap it up. Remember the reward should be what is rewarding for us dogs and we like different things just like you humans do.
Progress gradually: As we get better, make the hiding spots trickier. Remember, we love a challenge, but keep it fun, not frustrating.
Final bit of Sniffdom, again I am sorry but I learnt my humour from Dad!
So next time you wonder why I’ve got my nose buried in a hedge, remember sniffing is what we were made for. It keeps us happy, fulfilled and content. Scentwork isn’t just a quirky activity or latest trend in dog training, it’s one of the best ways to bond with your dog and tap into what makes us tick or should I say sniff.
Go on then let the sniffing games begin. Just don’t expect me to share all my finds, a collie’s got to have some secrets. Happy Searching.
Rover and out.”
Bert
P.S That is my mate Eddie in the photo, he is awesome!
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