Dogs have powerful noses and they can detect various scents, which can be put to good use by teaching your dog to search and find the odor. So, if you are considering scent training your dog and want to learn all about it, we are here for you.
The article serves as a guide to the technique and benefits of scent training for dogs to help you learn how to teach your dog scent work at home.
What Is Scent Training for Dogs?
Scent training or nose work is a dog sport where dogs can use their powerful noses to detect the scent. Also called scent work, it teaches a dog to search for different scents and then show you they have found a smell.
Scent work exercises are a great way to enrich your dog’s activities. It is a fun and challenging practice that lets your dog use their natural sense in an engaging way that also helps strengthen your relationship with them.
What Are the Benefits of Scent Training for Dogs?
Scent work for dogs is a sport that benefits both the dog and their owner.
Mental stimulation you can provide to your dog anywhere
Enhanced dog’s desire to stay close to you outdoors
Improved bond between dog and owner
Enhanced focus and ability to step away from distractions
Relaxing and calming for nervous or reactive dogs
What Is a Dog Scent Training Kit?
You will only need a few things to get started with scent training for dogs - most of these things are usually available at home. The supplies you will need in a dog scent training kit include the following:
Scent Source
Essential oils can be used for scent training; birch is one of the most common oils used in scent work, but you can even use olive or anise. Keep in mind that the majority of essential oils could irritate or cause harm to dogs, be sure the oil you choose is safe for your dog and use only a small quantity.
Cotton Swabs
You can use cotton swabs to carry the oil.
Disposable Gloves
Disposable gloves help keep your scent from getting mixed with the training scent.
Plastic Sealable Bags
You can use them to keep unused supplies separate from the smell you have selected for the training.
A Scent Box
You can use a plastic container with holes in its lid when training your dog to find the scent.
A Reward
A bag full of your dog’s favorite high-value treats or toys.
How to Scent Train Your Dog in Steps
You can scent train your dog at home in a few simple steps.
Introduce your dog to the scent of the oil (birch, olive, or anise) by dabbing a little quantity on a cotton swab. Now, place the cotton swab in the scent box, hold it in one of the hands, and a treat in the other.
Once your dog sniffs the scent, verbally praise them and offer treats. Make sure to give a reward at the source of the smell. It helps the dog to understand that they are getting rewards for sniffing the scent box.
At this point, you can add a cue word like “search” before holding out the scent box. Continue rewarding your dog whenever they successfully find the source of the scent.
Now, if your dog keeps recognizing the scent consistently on cue, you can place the scent box on the floor and see if they find it when you ask them to search.
3 Easy Scent Games
You can also introduce scent work to your dog by playing a scent locating game with them where you need a handful of treats and a place to hide them. When a dog plays a game, scent locating becomes much more fun.
Box Search
It is a fun game to play with your dog if you want to introduce them to scent work. You must set the game while your dog is out of sight. Get some empty boxes (about shoe box size) and place them on the floor where your dog can reach them. Put treats in some of the boxes and keep others empty. Also, ensure the boxes are open and your dog can access the treats.
Now, take your dog to the room and ask them to search for the treats. When they locate the treats, praise them and let them munch on treats as a reward. To reinforce the actions, offer more treats from your hands, and keep doing this multiple times with your dog before moving forward. This way, you can make sure they understand the game.
Muffin Tin Puzzle
In a muffin tin puzzle, you hide some treats in a few holes of a muffin tin, then place tennis balls in all the holes. Now, let your dog scour the tin, and take away the tennis balls to look for treats. When they succeed, praise them and let them enjoy the treats they found.
Shell Game
This is another interesting game to get started with nose work for dogs. It involves putting a treat under one of three cups, shuffling the cups, and letting your dog sniff and find the treat. But first, you need to teach your dog how it works. Let your dog see you place a treat under the cup. Once your dog sniffs it or paws at it, praise them, and pick up the cup so they can savor the treat.
Now, add two empty cups and do it again, if the dog noses or paws at the empty cup, lift it and show them that it is empty. Then, raise the cup with a treat, but don’t let them eat it. This way, the dog will understand that there is only one cup with a treat, and you can start shuffling the cups to see if they can locate the right cup.
Conclusion
According to the American Kennel Club, scent work is a sport similar to the job of working detection dogs, trained to look for different scents, such as explosives, and indicate them to their owners. Practically, any dog can learn how to do it. If you plan on scent training your dog at home, it may take time, but you can accelerate the process with valuable treats. Keep the training sessions short and fun (10 to 15 minutes) and end them on a positive and happy note.
