What is Scent Work?
AKC Scent Work is a sport that simulates the task of working detection dogs to locate a scent and convey its location to the handler. Dogs are taught to identify essential oils such as birch, clove, anise, and cypress in the same way that detection dogs learn to find scents such as narcotics or explosives. Scent Work teaches dogs to use their sense of smell to detect these odors and alert their handler when they locate one.
Scent Work is a gratifying, demanding activity that allows dogs to use their greatest natural sense in a fun and engaging way, while also building and strengthening trust between the handler and dog. You’ll be impressed at your dog’s skill in identifying hidden odors once he’s been taught to find the target odors and you get into the habit of practicing regularly.
Although it is the dog’s responsibility to identify the odor, Scent Work is a team activity. Your position as a handler is vital. You’ll be the one who contributes to the development of a dependable indication and reward when your dog discovers the odor.
You can learn more about AKC Scent Work here. There are so many reasons to sign up for a Scent Work class with your dog. You won’t believe how much fun it is for both of you until you try it out!
Advantages of Scent Work
Here are five advantages of teaching Scent Work to your dog.
A dog’s innate talent will be used through Scent Work.
We’ve all heard about the power of a dog’s nose. Dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their nostrils, whereas humans only have roughly six million. Not only that, but a dog’s nose functions significantly different from ours. Their nostrils can differentiate scents and work independently. People smell food as a whole, such as a pot roast, but a dog can recognize the different components such as the meat, carrots, onions, and stock.
Scent Work converts a dog’s ability to detect odors into an enjoyable game. When given the cue to search, your dog will begin to play by sniffing for a certain odor. If they successfully locate the odor, you can reward them with a treat! As your dog performs more searches, their skill level and confidence will increase.
Scent Work is appropriate for all dogs.
There are some dog sports that need a lot of physical effort. Search and rescue training, for example, might involve dogs running for miles through challenging terrain. Agility courses put a dog’s physical ability to the test and can be hard on a dog’s body. Although these activities are fantastic for active dogs, they may not be appropriate for elderly dogs or those who have had injuries that impair their mobility.
Scent Work is different! Every dog can participate in this sport, regardless of their age, breed, or physical ability. It focuses on the dog’s nose rather than sprinting or jumping over obstacles. In scent work every dog can shine. Your dog can work at their own speed as they seek out the hidden odor. Scent Work can be done by dogs who are blind, deaf and even missing a limb. It’s a low-impact sport that dogs of all ages and physical abilities can enjoy, making it an excellent choice for senior dogs or those with physical limitations.
Scent Work is enriching!
Although we frequently emphasize the significance of physical exercise for our dogs, mental stimulation is equally important. Boredom can occur from a lack of mental stimulation in your dog, which can lead to unhealthy and sometimes harmful behavior.
Scent Work requires your dog to concentrate on a task. It stimulates the dog’s mind and can assist in lowering anxiety and reactivity. It takes advantage of a dog’s natural tendency to use its nose and gives an outlet for this unique ability and need. This can help a dog gain confidence and self-esteem, as well as providing a feeling of purpose.
No need for expensive equipment.
Some activities with your dog necessitate the presence of other people, other dogs, or a large amount of supplementary equipment. Not so with Scent Work! This sport can be done in a variety of settings, including indoors and outdoors, to expose the dog to new sights, sounds, and smells in a controlled context. You can try it with your dog anywhere—in your home, in the yard, in the neighborhood, or at the park—all you’ll need is the essential oil-infused hide.
Scent Work can increase your bond with your dog.
Scent Work, which involves working as a team to achieve a goal, can also be a terrific way for dogs to bond with their humans. Participating in a dog sport not only boosts your dog’s confidence but also strengthens your bond with your dog. To be successful, your dog must concentrate and demonstrate attention to detecting the odor. As your dog gains confidence in this new skill, it will begin to enjoy the Scent Work game. Together, you will establish trust in each other and begin to function as a well-oiled machine!
Overall, Scent Work can help dogs in a variety of ways, including increased confidence, less anxiety, and improved focus. It is a pleasant and engaging exercise that can assist to enhance the connection between dogs and their owners, while also giving a fun and engaging outlet for a dog’s natural abilities and talents.
How to Start Scent Work Training?
You might think you need an obedient and well-trained dog to start in Scent Work, but no, that is not required! A good Scent Work trainer will show you how to read your dog’s body language when he searches for odor and how it changes when he finds the source. This is what makes a class so valuable. Not only will you learn how to read your dog, but also other dog’s signals when they are searching, crittering or if they have found the source. So, how do you start?
Gather the necessary materials.
While you can eventually train your dog to detect almost any scent, in AKC Sent Work you will search for the odor of specific essential oils. Here are items you’ll need to get started:
- Essential oils (make sure to use the kind specifically for scent work, others can harm your dog) The K9nose is a good source.
- Cotton swabs
- Tweezers
- Glass containers with lids
- Scent carriers (containers with holes that allow the scent to escape so your dog can find them)
- Disposable gloves
- High-value treats
Prep your scent vessel.
Before you can ask your dog to detect an odor, you must first prepare one by making a scent vessel. Always prepare your vessel far enough away from where the training will take place so that your dog isn’t distracted by the lingering odor. Place a drop of oil in a glass container with Q-tips, close the container and let it stew for a bit. Once the Q-tips have absorbed enough of the scent, you can use your metal container with holes to store a few Q-tips as your scent vessel.
- This can be done either outside or in a different room. Hold a treat and the scent vessel in opposing hands to introduce your dog to the odor and give a treat on the vessel when he inspects the scent vessel.
- Repeat this cycle many times, alternating the treat and the vessel from hand to hand. Use small treats because you’ll need to pay your dog repeatedly to reinforce the behavior of seeking out the odor.
- Start practicing with easy hides in places with low distractions.
- As your dog starts getting better at finding the scent in a variety of places, advance by placing more hides or harder to find ones,
Did this article spark an interest in this fun activity for you and your best friend? Freak On A Leash offers Scent Work classes near you. Click here to see our classes!