Initiating nose training for your dog at a young age is a great way to harness their powerful sense of smell. To help you get started, we have compiled a helpful guide and some valuable advice on scent training your furry companion.
Dog hide and seek
Combining scent work and problem-solving, nose training is an enjoyable activity for your dog. It's a great starting point for engaging their sense of smell and stimulating their mind. Here's how you can begin nose work with your puppy:
Have someone hold your dog or ask them to wait while you go and hide somewhere in the house. Start with easy hiding spots nearby until your dog becomes familiar with the game. To make it simpler, leave a trail of kibble or treats leading to your hiding spot.
Once you're ready, have your friend release your puppy, allowing them to use their nose to follow the scent trail and find you.
When your puppy successfully locates you, reward them with their favorite treat or engage in an exciting game with their preferred toy.
Repeat the process in different locations where there are no lingering scents of treats or yourself, making the game more challenging each time.
This basic nose work exercise can be adapted and played outdoors in your garden or other environments, keeping your puppy on a long line if their recall isn't reliable yet. Here's another variation to try:
Get your puppy excited about their favorite toy, then have someone hold them while you walk away. Place the toy down a short distance away, making sure it's not too difficult to find.
Retrace your steps precisely back to your puppy, leaving only one scent trail, and release them to search for the toy.
As you progress, gradually increase the distance and difficulty, always choosing new hiding spots.
Starting with puppy scent training, your dog may rely on more than just their nose initially. However, as you advance and make the game more challenging, you'll witness your pup using their incredible sense of smell to follow your scent trail, creating a fascinating and enjoyable experience for both of you.
Find the treats
There are several other ways to engage in scent training with your puppy. Treat-based games are a fantastic starting point. Here's a simple game where you hide treats around a room for your dog to find using their nose:
Begin by placing treats in obvious locations, allowing your puppy to easily locate them.
Gradually progress to more challenging hiding spots such as under a sheet of newspaper, inside a plastic plant pot, in an old cardboard toilet roll, or under a towel. Get creative with your hiding spots, but avoid placing treats on sofas or chairs to prevent your dog from digging into furniture. Keep the game at ground level for both chewy dogs and house-proud owners.
Another variation is to create a trail of treats that leads to a delicious reward, such as a stuffed Kong toy. Hide the toy in a more challenging spot, like in a handle-less bucket. Always prioritize safety and supervise your puppy during the game. You can offer encouragement and participate together, making it an enjoyable nose work activity.
In the garden, you can use a snuffle mat or simply scatter a handful of kibble in the grass, allowing your dog to sniff them out in a fun and straightforward scent training game.
It's fascinating how many household items can be repurposed into scent-training dog toys. Some dogs, especially terrier breeds, find as much joy in tearing open cardboard tubes, wrapping paper, or lightweight boxes to access treats as they do in using their noses. Keep an eye out for such items that can stimulate your puppy and create interactive dog toys.
Engaging in these simple nose work games with your puppy will deepen your appreciation for their incredible sense of smell. For certain breeds and individuals, these activities can become the most enjoyable and interactive experiences for both you and your pup. It opens up a whole new way of interacting and bonding with your furry companion.
When venturing outdoors, always remember the remarkable capabilities of a dog's nose and the vital role it plays.