Scent work is a dog sport where dogs use their noses to locate a target odour and communicate to their human where the source odour is.

Have you seen the sniffer dogs on Border Security? Those dogs are using scent work skills! There are so many amazing practical uses for scent work, from police dogs searching for substances, conservation dogs sniffing out animal faeces in the bush, to medical assistance dogs who can smell high/low blood sugar, oncoming seizures or migraines, and even trace amount of ingredients in food that their handler may be allergic to.

What are the benefits:

Training in scent work in amazing for your dog's brain! Using their noses provides dogs with mental stimulation, releases chemicals in their brain that makes them happy, and can often be a great way to reduce stress and anxiety.

How do I get started:

With the popularity in scent work on the rise, there are many private trainers and local obedience clubs that offer introduction to scent work workshops, as well as ongoing scent work classes. Depending on your location its work checking whats available near you to get the best start to your training.

Is this suitable for my dog:

The great part about training scent works is that its great for dogs of all shapes, sizes, and abilities. Unlike many other sports, scent work is considered physically low impact and can be easily adapted to suit any dogs needs from tri-pawds to dogs on bed rest. Even deaf and blind dogs can learn scent work, as long as they have a love for using their nose!