Monk attempts to find his toy during a K9 Nose Work seminar in Novato, January 17, 2010.
K9 Nose Works is a popular new sport where dogs learn to utilize their impressive sense of smell to search for a hidden scent, one of three essential oils on a cotton swab. Look at it as the urban equivalent of the rural sport of tracking.
“There is no getting embarrassed. You just have fun,” said workshop presenter Amy Herot, a founder of K9 Nose Works. Herot has a background in training narcotics and explosives detection dogs for law enforcement. She realized that owners of companion dogs may enjoy the fun of teaching their dogs how to use the natural talent of scent work as a way to build a relationship and have fun.
The way the scent game works is a series of boxes and obstacles is set up around a room. One person holds the dog while the other person pretends to hide the treat bag or “hide.” The sneakier the better, because dogs are very good at getting cues from humans. The dog is then let loose in the room and encouraged to sniff. If the dog asks for help from the human, none is given. The reward for the game is the dog finds the treat, gets a reward and the chance to play the game again. Some people use food, but toy driven dogs will search and search for their favorite toy.
“This was the funnest workshop I have attended in years. I think this would be fun and exciting at any level,” said Sue Kernek of Occidental, who has been looking for ways to engage her high energy German Shepherd Dog, Arrow. Arrow did not go straight as one in finding the first hidden treat, but after as little as two runs, he had little difficulty finding the prize.
“The thing you have to remember is that misses are okay because the dog has learned where the treat is not,” said Herot.
Carey King of Santa Rosa has an energetic adolescent Boxer who will do just about anything to play ball. King used her dog’s favorite ball in the game. “Monk” bypassed food and other interesting items and searched for a solid minute for his ball, to be rewarded by playing with it. “You could let your imagination run with this,” she said.
Herot says nose work is great for dogs who are nervous because it builds their confidence. Nose work requires no formal obedience training and dogs are quickly successful, which is rewarding to the dog and the owner.
The National Association of Canine Scent Work provides a national competition for those interested in taking this urban tracking sport to the next level.
This game is a great way to engage your dog during the rainy season because it can be played indoors with nothing more than cardboard boxes and a toy or food reward. As the owner of not one but three energetic Boxers, I highly recommend giving it a whirl.
It was great new dog training ! I took seminar at Marin Humane Society , my dog loves it. Any dog can do it ! It is fun , forget it about obedience training.
I hope Marin Humane society made Nose work class soon : )
I’d like to take it again !
I use a treat bag for a scent article for my puppy. But someone questioned why I want to teach my dog to sniff out food.
Is it wrong to use a treat bag for the article?
Not at all. In fact the treat bag initially is what the dog should be searching out. Over time, the treat bag is paired with the target scent. It’s that pairing that is crucial because the dog must have a clear understanding of a paired reward. Later….much later, the dog will learn to search for the scent only and the handler presents the reward at the location of the hide.