Nose work is an activity in which the dog is taught to use their sense of smell to locate an object. “K9 Nose Work” specifically is an organized sport in which the objects to find are hidden q-tips that have a tiny amount of essential oil on them - birch, anise, or clove. There is also “AKC Scent Work” which uses those same scents plus cypress. The organizations that run these sports (NACSW, AKC, and UKC) put on competitions in which dogs and owners get to show off their training against an objective standard. However there are many benefits to training nose work with your dog even if you have zero interest in formal competition.
Why train nose work?
There are two big reasons that I recommend this type of training for clients:
It’s a major mental workout, which is a huge help for meeting the exercise and enrichment needs of active dogs. This is particularly helpful if you have a dog who is so athletic that you can’t tire him out physically, when the weather prevents you from getting out, or if your dog can’t do much physical exercise due to injury or illness.
It’s a huge confidence booster for anxious or shy dogs. It gives them a structured, fun way to explore new surroundings and acclimate to the presence of people, noises, new surfaces, etc. There’s even a study that shows that “practicing nosework increases dogs’ positive judgment bias or ‘optimism’.” The authors also note that “behaving naturally and making active choices are two key factors in animal welfare,” and “olfaction-based activities contribute to dogs’ welfare.”
There’s also a third reason… which is that it’s fun!
What does nose work look like?
The final picture looks a lot like the work done by working detection dogs, such as those finding narcotics, explosives, forbidden foods at airports, or sea turtle nests on beaches.
You, the owner, will determine the area that your dog will be searching in - for example, one room of your house, your garage, your yard, or a particular area of the park. Your dog may be off leash if it’s safe, or on leash in public. You give them their cue, and they go off to find the “hide” using their excellent sense of smell, then indicate its location by pointing at it with their nose, staring at it, sitting and looking at you, or another signal you’ve trained.
A dog can be trained to find many different scents. In lieu of the essential oils used in competition, you could use a spice or extract (one that you don’t normally use in your kitchen, so your dog doesn’t get confused when you’re cooking), a dog toy, or an object (such as your keys!). You can even just use their kibble or treats, especially at the beginning.
Here’s a video from AKC that explains the sport and shows dogs practicing. (Note that while the video mentions that dogs must be registered with the AKC in order to compete, it is NOT limited to purebreds. AKC provides a way to register mixed breeds so that they can compete in nose work and some other AKC sports.)
Here’s another video with examples of typical of K9 Nose Work training.
Getting started on your own
You’ll need:
Kibble or treats for your dog
The essential oil or other scent that your dog will be searching for
A small vented container to hold the scented q-tip, cotton ball, etc. If you’re using something larger, like your key chain, and there’s no danger of your dog eating it, then you can skip putting it into a container.
Metal tweezers, so that you don’t touch the scented q-tip or cotton ball directly. Be careful to avoid getting the oil on your fingers.
An airtight container for you to store your scented supplies when you’re not training. Your dog should not have access to these things outside of training time.
You can purchase kits that make it easier to get started. I have purchased my supplies from Paws 4 Fun. They have a great starter kit here.
6-10 small to medium cardboard boxes, if you are starting with the box method.
Here is an article with great information on preparing, handling, and storing your supplies.
Here is another article with information on storing the essential oils.
Video tutorials
These videos can get you on the right track for this fun game!
Box method video #1: Nose Work - How to start training your dog - DreamK9.com
Box method video #2: Nosework (introduction) basic introduction to nosework using boxes and treats.
Targeting method: Teaching dogs the 'find it' scent game
(More videos will be linked as I find them!)
Classes and private lessons
I highly recommend taking a private lesson or a group class if you and your dog are enjoying the game but you’re not sure how to make it more challenging over time.
Jennie Kiefer of Nosey Goldens teaches in Dixon, Davis, Loomis, Newcastle, and surrounding areas. She is a wonderful instructor for both rambunctious and anxious dogs. She does both group classes and private lessons.
Cindy Smith of The Right Steps teaches classes in Fair Oaks.
Christa Wendlandt teaches small group classes in Vallejo.
The online Fenzi Dog Sports Academy has a whole nose work program.
Dodger’s Paws in Pleasanton offers group classes.
Tell A Tail is a training school in Livermore that does all nose work.
The East Bay SPCA sometimes has nose work classes.
Other helpful articles about nose work
Alternative scent-based games
Here are links for other scent games that don’t fall into the typical “nose work” category - more will be added as I find good videos/articles.