A dog’s nose is amazing thing. We all know that dogs have a keen sense of smell, but did you know that dogs actually can smell about 100,000 times better than a human? Dogs have a special organ called the vomeronasal organ that boosts their sense of smell. This is what makes canines essential members of any search and rescue team. But what does this have to do with dog agility? Well, what once was an activity for specially trained dogs is now a fun activity that all dogs can enjoy.
Canine nose work was developed in the early 2000s by three professional detection dog handlers and they happily refer to the sport as “the best smelling dog sport ever.” After establishing the sport, the created the National Association of Canine Scent Work®. The United Kennel Club also hosts nose work events throughout the United States.
Just as any dog, mutt or purebred, can compete in dog agility, all dogs are welcome to compete in dog nose work competitions. In fact, blind and deaf dogs, as well as dogs missing a limb or limbs, can compete in these competitions, which makes it perhaps the most inclusive of all dog sports. Nose work is an excellent option for just about any dog, and it can be an excellent way to boost the confidence of a shy or fearful dog, such as a recent rescue from the local pound.
To begin with nose work, one usually uses a favorite toy or a small treat bag and a cardboard box with a lid and that’s all the dog training equipment you will need, aside from a harness or collar and a non-retractable leash.
Place the collar and leash on the dog and then show the dog the item that they are to hunt and allow them to smell it. Then hide the toy or treat in a box (in plain view of your dog), close the lid and then encourage your dog to find the treat. It is recommended that you do these first searches inside in a closed room, so that there are not many other scents distracting your dog. You want to make the first “hunts” as easy as possible to help your pooch gain confidence and enjoy success. As your canine companion advances, you can make the game more difficult and even begin to hide treats or toys outside.
As you advance in nose work training, your furry friend will learn to identify and track a number of unique scents. Typically, these scents include birch, anise and clove, although occasionally aniseed and myrrh are used. These are the scents used during competition, and you can place a cotton swab dipped in these scents inside a device known as a detection canister. These canisters can be placed anywhere outside or inside, and as you progress, you can simply make the hiding places more complex.
Unlike dog agility, where dogs are led by a handler, your dog and his or her nose will be leading the charge to locate the hidden scent. Competitions are divided into four categories: Container Search, Interiors, Exteriors and Vehicles.
During the Container Search, your dog will be placed in a room with many containers and they must locate the container with the target scent or odor. Interior searches are similar, as they also take place inside, but the scent could be hidden anywhere in the room. For Exterior searches, the scent will be placed somewhere outside. Vehicle searches are just what they sound like, and the scent will be hidden somewhere in a car, truck or van.
Dog nose work can be a fantastic activity for any dog, even if you never plan to compete. It is an excellent way to keep your dog occupied and provide exercise. Dogs love challenging games and there’s no reason why you cannot expand your repertoire beyond dog agility and using dog training equipment to include some fun nose work.
At Carlson Agility, in addition to our vast selection of agility dog training equipment, we now sell nose work equipment. Our detection canisters are easy to use and include training instructions. We sell a set of three detection canisters as well as a set of six detection canisters, depending on your needs.
Check out our selection, and don’t hesitate to send us an email if you have any questions.
