The Nose Knows: Introduction to Nosework

Graduates of our Introduction to Nosework class, April 2022
From left to right: Natasha and Uno, Heather and Bree, Brenda and Tucker 
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​"I recently adopted a young dog named Uno and was looking for various ways to tire him out and learn new skills. Sandy's Introduction to Nosework class was great! She is knowledgeable, thorough and enthusiastic. She is good at reading the dogs in order to tailor problems to each individual dog to help them learn and build confidence.  It was satisfying to see Uno learning new skills in a way that he clearly enjoyed. He was excited each time we came to class and couldn't wait to get started. In spite of being a young, active dog, he was tired after many of the classes. I'm glad I have something to build on that can tire him out. I would recommend Sandy's class to anyone who wants to learn something new and fun with their dog!'  Natasha Broznitsky
Nosework is a rapidly growing dog sport that is modeled after real world detection and employs the dazzling canine nose.
Did you know that:
  • Dogs can detect some odours in parts per trillion? For example, a dog could detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water, or two Olympic-sized pools worth. Or a dog could catch a whiff of one rotten apple in two million barrels!
  • The US Pentagon spent billions of dollars trying to replicate the dog’s nose only to admit that the dog’s nose is superior?
  • A dog can scent in 3D and is able to determine the direction and source of a smell?
In nosework your dog searches for essential oils. These oils are placed on cotton swabs and hidden. This is called the “hide”. Your dog searches for the “hide” and lets you know when he finds it – the “alert”. Searches take place inside buildings, out in the open, in containers such as boxes and luggage, on vehicles, and even buried in the ground.

Nosework is wonderful for building a bond with your dog, and for creating focus and confidence in your dog. After all, your dog already has a Ph.D. in sniffing!  When you do nosework with your dog, she is doing what she loves to do and does best – use her amazing nose!

Even dogs who are uncomfortable with or reactive to other dogs, can participate in nosework. In nosework classes, the dogs take turns coming into the search area and wait in the car between turns. Dogs must be comfortable being left unattended in your car between their searches.

If you want to try something different with your dog, and have a lot of fun, try our beginning nosework class!
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