Ep. 35: Let Them Sniff!

What is scent enrichment? And why is it important? 

• Providing opportunities for the dog to engage his super power, his nose, in a variety of ways.
• Olfaction is the dog’s primary scent. Sometimes we forget that since that is not the case for us humans. 
• Mental enrichment can be more tiring!
• Great for dogs who are worried about the world.
• Excellent for crappy weather.

What are some different types of scent enrichment:

• Essential oils, perfumes, and spices on a towel. Use very little oil! 
• Animal scents on a towel, tug toy, flirt pole, and/or buried item.
• Scents inside PVC pipes (with drilled holes).
• Tossing treats in the yard and letting your dog hunt for them.
• Sniffing on walks.

What is Nose Work? 

• AKC Nose Work: https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-scent-work/ 
• Fenzi Dog Sports Academy: https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/

How do you teach your dog to play Nose Work?

Variables to consider when increasing difficulty:

• Location of the search
• Search size
• Inside the boxes vs. outside the boxes
• Hide placement
• Wind speed/direction
• Temperature

Common mistakes we make:

• Making it too hard too quickly.
• Engaging with dog, open and close treat bags, talking to them.
• Rewarding the dog for engaging w/ you.
• Staring at the dog.
• When they make a mistake, help them out and take a step near the odor.
• Making it too scary and moving too quickly for fearful dogs.

Other Resources:

• Nosework article JDT
• K9s Talking Scents Podcast
  • Ep 004: Science of Odor
  • Ep 007: Canine Cognition
• Canine Enrichment for the Real World Book by Allie Bender & Emily Strong
• Emily Strong’s Canine Conversations podcast episode: EP08: Mechanics Matter with Emily Strong
• Mental Stimulation Options:
  • West Paw Toppl
  • Lick Mat
  • Snuffle Mat