K9 Nose Work^® Training

K9 Nose Work® is a game created by the NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work). The game is also known as scent work. Nose Work is structured sniffing; We set up environments where your dog uses their nose to find treats. As the game progresses, we introduce target odors: the essential oils of birch, anise and clove. Sounds simple… To quote Will Bangura from his book *Sniff to Soothe*: “The simplicity is deceptive. What is happening in the moment, the neurological cascade, the emotional regulation, and the confidence building, is far more profound than it might look on the surface.”

The act of sniffing can change a dog’s emotional and physiological state, this makes the game a must for dogs with anxiety, reactivity and fearful pups. Also fabulous for dogs without worries and big feelings. The emotional change in dogs has been studied and shown that Nose Work promotes behavioral calm and creates a more optimistic internal state. Read the Applied Animal Behaviour Science study here. 

Sniffing games help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, this is important for dogs that can have reactive and anxious type behaviors, by bringing down the stress chemistry.

Will Bangura says it best: “Olfactory enrichment, giving dogs structures, scent-based tasks or experiences, is not just a fin activity. It is a form of sensory rehabilitation. And for dogs struggling with chronic stress, anxiety or behavioral fallout from over-arousal, it may be the most accessible and underutilized forms of interventions we have.”

The structured nose work games activate more than the dogs’ sense of smell; it helps them develop coping mechanisms.

Nose work is fun for dogs without worries and anxiety also, it takes their natural olfactory abilities and provides an outlet for those skills, while enriching their lives and enhancing the bond between you and your dog.

I have been involved with Nose Work as a CNWI (Certified Nose Work Instructor) for 15 years and I include the games in most of my behavior work. The activity helps dogs in all the ways I have shared, and it is easy for dog parents to replicate at home. The games are perfect for all breeds, sizes and ages. We have a series called Silver Sniffers just for senior pups to keep them active and engaged to live their best life. Also, it’s never too early to start reaping the benefits of nose work.