Nose Work

Your dog is quite literally "led around by the nose" - her own nose, that is. As every dog owner is aware, canines have incredibly sensitive snouts. They learn about the world through their sense of smell. All that sniff-sniff-sniffing your dog does during nearly every waking minute is part of nature's design. But did you know you can channel your dog's keen sense of smell and love of sniffing into an activity you can do together? The Sport of K9 Nose Work K9 Nose Work, also called nose work, fun nose work, scent work, and search work, is a relatively new sport for pet dogs and their owners, created and sanctioned by the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW). The activity is an offshoot of the training professional scent detection dogs ("sniffer dogs") receive. Elements of the training are used in K9 nose work, but for recreational purposes only. Nose work encourages your dog to use his natural hunting drive and unique talent for picking up scents and locating the source. Nose work training teaches your dog to find one of three scents, wherever you decide to hide it. In nose work competitions, there are four locations involved in searching: interiors, exteriors, containers, and vehicles. K9 nose work isn't an obedience-based activity. Instead, it works with your dog's natural instinct to hunt and track scents. There are few commands given during the activity, and no attention to the owner is required while the dog is working. What Dogs Can Participate in Nose Work? Any dog with a nose can participate in nose work, so you don't have to have a typical sniffer dog -- like a lab, German shepherd or bloodhound -- to get your pet involved in the sport. Some dog owners have found nose work to be a great supplement to a behavior modification program. Focusing on scent detection can help reactive dogs learn to tolerate the presence of other dogs. It can help shy dogs grow more comfortable with their surroundings, and it encourages distracted dogs to stay on task. Nose work is also beneficial for senior dogs, dogs recovering from surgery or an injury, dogs with hearing loss or eyesight problems, and retired service, working or competition dogs. It can also provide a great outlet for hyperactive dogs.

For more information on K9 Nose Work, including workshops, training and competitive trials, visit the National Association of Canine Scent Work website at: http://www.nacsw.net/. #K9nosework