Imagine something that builds confidence, ​stimulates the brain, improves behaviour,​​and deepens your bond with your dog.

Imagine scent work!

Get ready for new and exciting adventures ​with your canine best friend as you explore the benefits and joys of scent work.

​Scent work is no longer the preserve of working dogs. Now pet dogs can learn scent work for fun and for sport using the same methods as real world detection dogs! 

Scent work can help all dogs, and especially reactive, fearful, and shy dogs, feel more comfortable and confident in the world. 

Serving Powell River/qathet, BC

I love learning how dogs "see" the world through their noses.
​Maggie D.

My dog is so excited to do scent work! He absolutely loves it! 
Natasha B. 

Scent work has been life changing for my reactive scared dog. 
Kathleen M. 

Read what people are saying about us  

Sandy Middleton (she/her)

After a wonderful career as an instructor at Capilano University on the Lower Sunshine Coast, I retired in 2018 and moved to Powell River to pursue a second career as a dog trainer. I am inspired by the ancient poet Rumi, who said: " Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray."  

I am multi-credentialed and proud to be accredited by the BC SPCA AnimalKind program. I continue to invest in my education to expand my skills and knowledge.

I live north of town at the edge of the forest with my dogs and best friends, Remi, Bug and Willow.  ​
With my dog TT (2009 - 2022)
Forever in my heart

The Dog Knows  
We can never experience the world of odour the way our
dogs do but we can become part of that world as their
scent work partners. 

. 
​​I love teaching scent work! The dogs are excited and ready to work and so are the people. It’s so rewarding to watch the dogs meet each new challenge and expand their skills and confidence as they do what they love to do – use their noses. Scent work classes are full of laughter and fun and camaraderie as we cheer for each dog and handler. Everyone goes home tired and happy! 
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Solving a scent puzzle can be a complex task that requires a lot of brain power. Scent work provides terrific mental stimulation for dogs and builds confidence and persistence as they progress. It also just makes dogs feel good. Research (Pankseep and Biven, 2012) tells us that stimulation of the seeking system is essential to a dog’s welfare. Dogs were born to sniff and explore the world through their nose. Like humans, when engaged in a task they enjoy, dogs experience pleasure from doing the task itself.

​If your dog can use their nose, they can learn and enjoy scent work! All breeds, ages, and sizes can participate. Dogs with different temperaments, including reactive, nervous, and shy dogs, are welcome and will benefit from structured, positive, fun exposure to new environments and people
Gracie finds the "hide" on a chair in nosework class. 
Picture
Uno gets  "fired up" prior to trailing!