Nosework
The more intense the sniffing, the greater the benefit to your dog.
When dogs engage in sniffing, searching, or foraging, it’s more than just a fun activity—they are experiencing a world of benefits! As they take in both oxygen and scents, they find a sense of relaxation and calm. This nose work demands energy, making just ten minutes of scented exploration as invigorating as an hour of regular exercise. The deeper their sniffing, the more rewards they reap. Isn’t that inspiring?
Nose work offers numerous benefits for dogs of all backgrounds, including:
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Mental Stimulation: Engaging a dog's sense of smell, which is their dominant sense, can be mentally exhausting and stimulating.
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Confidence Building: Nose work encourages dogs to trust their instincts and solve problems independently, boosting their confidence.
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Anxiety Reduction: The act of sniffing can be calming and help lower a dog's anxiety. Nose work also distracts dogs from their worries, allowing them to focus on the enjoyable task of searching for scents.
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A Positive Outlet for Energy: Nose work provides a productive way for dogs to expend their energy.
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Bonding: This activity fosters teamwork, strengthening the bond between a dog and their owner.
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Behavior Improvement: Dogs that participate in nose work often exhibit better behavior at home.
"Given the high number of reactive and anxious dogs, a misunderstanding of socialization, and limited choices available to American dogs, Nosework activities are a great solution." - Luis
Different Ways to Try Nosework Today
Scentwork
Tracking
Mantrailing
Who Can Take Part?
Your dog and you!
We can adapt our training to suit any breed, regardless of size, age, or temperament. This includes dogs that are deaf, blind, or three-legged.
Puppies can also benefit from our sessions, as it's a great way to meet new people in a calm environment. Reactive dogs are also welcome; all dogs are worked with on leash, and only one dog is out at a time.
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Your dog engages with you far more on walks
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You will get a focused dog
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Nosework empowers dogs by giving them choices, providing a much-needed outlet for their instincts in a world shaped by human demands
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Search areas to find items, big and small
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Our #1 socialization strategy as your dog can find humans -- or pets -- in different environments
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Track human scent to locate missing articles
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It can be done anywhere!
How to Get Started
Take one of our Introductory Courses or Workshops
For those eager to explore the art and science of nose work, our courses are the perfect starting point. From all-day workshops to comprehensive multi-week courses, we bring knowledge from the best trainers into practical handling.
We can adapt our training to suit any breed, regardless of size, age, or temperament. This includes dogs that are deaf, blind, or three-legged.
Transition Sessions
These are individualized training sessions for dogs that aren't used to being in a crate or alone in a vehicle waiting for their turn.
The focus of these shorter sessions is on oil scent recognition, searches, and indication training.
Location: the Rose Barn in North Park (Pittsburgh) on Wednesdays.
And Then?
Drop-in Sessions
After completing an Introduction Class, you are welcome to book into any of our regular drop-in sessions. These sessions operate on a ‘pay as you go’ basis and are held at various locations. You can expect to encounter dog teams with varied experience levels, and you can attend as infrequently or as often as you like.