Bob discovers the benefits of canine scent work classes
Ready for action
Since we lost our precious Norfolk Terrier Reg there’s no doubt Bob - his half brother felt the loss too. It’s hardly surprising as Bob has always had his older brother in his life and with their sisters living nearby he’s always had company.
It took a few days for Bob to realise Reg wasn’t coming back and suddenly his whole behaviour changed. His tail was always down and he only livened up when going out or if his sisters came over - he mainly ignored them but it seemed having them in the house was a comfort.
I hope I’m not over humanising this because we all felt the loss yet at least we could understand - whereas Bob couldn’t.
Bob indicating the Kong
So when someone said Bob ‘needed a hobby’ and suggested taking him to a scent work class, I jumped on the idea. Bob walks with his nose to the ground so there’s no doubt he has an active sense of smell -what dog hasn’t, but what fun to put it to the test.
So off we headed to Wandsworth to meet up with our friend Diane from Super hounds dog training who runs weekly scent classes in a local school
Diane started by explaining some of the benefits of scent work firstly - mental stimulation and problem solving.
As natural hunters dogs must be problem solvers -searching for a scent requires focus, concentration and problem-solving skills. When a dog follows a trail or locates a hidden object, they’re using their mental faculties in a way that really challenges them, so helps prevent boredom and reduces anxiety. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise for dogs and scent work provides a healthy balance of both.
As Bob has arthritis and an issue with his right shoulder it was also important to know that scent work provides physical exercise without high impact
On the search
Most dogs need a certain level of physical activity to stay healthy but with Bob’s recent diagnosis he’s not suited to intense running or jumping. Scent work is a low-impact activity which still provides a good workout.
So I was pleased to hear that scent work is equally ideal for: older dogs that may not have the stamina or joint strength for more rigorous exercise, dogs recovering from injury that need a gentler form of exercise and also puppies who are still growing and need to avoid strain on their developing joints.
Waiting his turn
The scent trail
We started the class laden with treats - as Bob is highly motivated by food these were to be his reward - for other dogs, toys may be their motivator. I reduced Bob’s food allowance before the class knowing he would be full of treats after two hours. Each dog has his own mat and we bought an extra one to prevent Bob slipping in his excitement. He wore his Reg&Bob harness to prevent any pulling on his neck and multi length lead which extends to give him freedom to search.
It's hidden here somewhere
Diane started by doing super simple food searches to build his confidence and get him used to different surfaces and textures. The dogs aren’t shown where the food is - they have to search it out.
Then Diane demonstrated some specific scent tasks using Kong. These are great because they’re cut up to create a top and a chunk of Kong. Bob had to learn passive indication - to "freeze" and stare at the Kong before being rewarded. Despite my initial (huge) cynicism Bob was happy to indicate his find with a sit and stare in order to gain his reward - rather than his usual grab .
Before you know it, he was confidently enjoying testing treat searches building up to searching for chunks of Kong hidden in smaller (low to the ground) spaces.
The most extraordinary thing was Bob’s focus during these activities and his enjoyment was obvious - in fact he was keen to get involved when it wasn’t his turn but he soon got the idea.
Bob absolutely loved his session - he's such a snuffler and it gave him a great outlet for natural seeking and keep him moving with a purpose. And he was exhausted afterwards!
We’ve been to two of Diane’s classes and they’re a great success. They’re perfect to dip into as and when it suits, so there’s no need to commit to every week if it’s not feasible. I’ve loved the opportunity for us to bond within our new set up and he’s definitely been a lot happier at home - and of course the homework is great fun too.
Scent work is a great stress relief and confidence builder. Sniffing is natural behaviour for dogs, and research shows that it helps reduce stress. For dogs that are nervous, shy, or easily overwhelmed scent work can be an excellent confidence booster. Successfully finding a hidden object and being rewarded for it creates positive reinforcement and helps dogs feel more capable and in control of their environment. It’s a winner for us.
Diane's dog Billy who's progressed to truffles
If you’re looking for activities for you and your dog - I highly recommend scent work and you can take it to what ever level you and your dog would like - there’s no end to the possibilities. If Bob can turn his new found talents to truffle hunting in Fulham we’d be terribly pleased!!
Have you tried scent work classes? Let us know in the comments.
As a result of the classes we’re introducing a 3 metre long trailing/scent detection lines into the Reg&Bob range - sign up here if you’d like to find out more.
More information
Diane’s classes at Superhounds include scent work, man trailing as well as a range of classes and 1:1 training for puppies to adult dogs.