How to train your dog to be a sniffer dog?

Show your dog that you have a piece of food/treat in your hand Say ‘find it!’ and then throw the piece of food/treat across the floor When your dog finds the piece of food, say a clear ‘yes!’ so they know they’ve followed through on the action that you wanted from them. You can also make your dog’s meals more interesting by scattering the entire contents of their food in the garden. Keep it interesting by mixing it up with a bit of cheese sprinkled here and there for extra reward when using their nose. If your dog does this, then you have a dog that is toy-orientated. Ask them to sit and stay or clip them on their lead while they are sat/on lead, throw the ball and wait for it to land release your dog from their sit/lead and ask them to ‘find it!’ reward and praise them heavily when they find the ball. With your dog either sitting or on lead, you can show your dog their favourite toy and hide it in front of them, so they know where you’re putting it Once you’ve hidden it somewhere that’s easy for them to get to, you can release them from their sit/lead and ask them to ‘find it!’. At home: Your dog will use a combination of wind scenting and tracking. You might need someone to hold your dog or wait until your dog is in another room then hide behind a door or sofa and call them. When you first start this game you may need to call your dog more than once. As soon as your dog finds you, praise and give a food treat.

To improve dog's lives through nosework. By applying our knowledge as dog trainers and scent instructors, we have developed a program that will enable owners to give their dogs positive scent experiences, not only teaching them to work and play with scent, but using scent to rectify problems in pet dogs when it comes to behaviour. The Power of Nosework is endless!

I’ve taught her “find it” which is a game where I hide treats around the house and she searches for them. So I figured I could make it more challenging by doing different scents and then rewarding her when she alerts to finding the scent. This community is geared towards modern, force-free, science based methods and recommendations. Make sure you check out our WIKI for recommended resources and articles about common problems.