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My brother owns horses and, when I speak with him about horse training (which I know next to nothing about), one of the things he always tells me is that a horse, especially a smart horse, needs a job to do. Having a job makes him happy and gives him a purpose in life, according to my brother. I think the same can probably be said for many dogs.
Dogs and Their Noses
As a veterinarian, I’ve been in contact with a few dogs that “make their living” using their noses. One was, until his retirement, a “bomb dog” that worked at the airport. The other is a “drug dog” who is used in police work.
Though I’ve never personally seen these dogs do their work, I’ve spoken to their handlers about their performance and, in both cases, it seems that the dogs really enjoy this type of work.
Canine Nose Work as a Sport
A relatively new sport has also sprung up that focuses on the dog’s natural ability to “follow his nose.” As a sport, canine nose work is open to any and all dogs and is not limited to specific breeds or personality types. In fact, it is a sport that even shy or fearful dogs can successfully participate in.
Nose Work for Your Own Dog
One of the really nice things about canine nose work is that it can be practiced virtually anywhere, in any environment. As a veterinarian, I can see so many benefits to this type of training for your dog.
- Canine nose work can give your dog a sense of confidence, which can be particularly useful for dogs that are a bit on the shy or nervous side. In fact, one of the fun aspects of nose work is that it encourages your dog to actively explore his environment and become comfortable doing so.
- Nose work can also provide a great deal of fun, entertainment and mental stimulation for your dog. On days when you cannot get outside to walk with your dog, nose work can be practiced even in a small apartment.
- Another attractive feature of canine nose work is the fact that it can be a great way to get your dog up and moving. Adequate exercise is something that many of our dogs don’t get nearly enough of and nose work can be a fun way to help your dog stay in shape while doing something that he enjoys.
- Though basic obedience is important and should not be ignored, nose work does not require flawless obedience training in order for your dog to participate. Your dog can successfully search for a scent without having to perform basic obedience commands.
Learn More About Canine Scent Work (AKA K9 Nose Work)
This week on Animal Cafe, Edie Jarolim welcomes our newest host, Kelly Dunbar, to the team and speaks to her about her role as a certified nose work instructor. Read more about Kelly and listen to the interview about canine nosework at the Animal Cafe site. Don’t forget to join the Animal Cafe team again next week when we bring you another information-packed interview.
Photo Courtesy of The US Army/Flickr.com
About Lorie Huston, DVM
Lorie Huston is a veterinarian, pet health and pet care expert, professional writer, blogger, social media and blogging consultant, and SEO strategist.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
RE: Posted Thank you
Nice post, Lorie! I love that nose work is for *all* dogs – fearful too;)
Yes, I love that about it too, Mary
Lorie great article! We recently made a short video featuring one of the dogs at Hartz doing nose work. We would love for you to check it out http://bit.ly/oBNGrH
Hope to see you at BlogPaws!
Thanks for the link, Alex. That’s awesome. And, yes, I’ll definitely see you at BlogPaws
Another big benefit of nose work is that it doesn’t require perfect timing or sophisticated handling skills. The handler can be pretty cumbersome and off with the timing and it can still work for the dog. It’s such a great activity for people to immediately start building bonds with their dogs.