AKC

Scent Work – what is it?

AKC (American Kennel Club) Scent Work is a sport that replicates the task performed by specialist detection dogs who locate scents such as narcotics and explosives and afterward communicate to their handlers that they have found a scent.

It can be a challenging and positive activity that allows dogs to use what can be described as their most robust natural sense, defined as engaging and fun. It also strengthens and builds the bond you share with your dog.

The process of starting scent training

Before you start scent training your dog, ensuring they know the basic commands is significant. It includes the likes of recall and sits. As a dog parent, you must know how to read their body language. It would make sure they are happy when training them and not have negative feelings. Anxiety is something you need to keep an eye out for in this context. You must house-train your pup before you get started with scent training.

Scent work competitions

If you see that your dog has developed a genuine talent for scent work, you can take them to various competitions organized by AKC. It would be the next step in their evolution in this particular respect. However, they must have been registered with the governing body to be considered eligible for the competition.

If they are of a mixed breed, they should at least have a Canine Partners number from AKC to be allowed to participate in such contests. There are two divisions in the competition – Odor Search and Handler Discrimination.

Dog hide and seek

This particular game can be called a combination of basic problem-solving and scent work. It is trial and error for some canines, but it is a fun way to get started with nose work for them. You can ask your dog to wait somewhere or ask someone else to hold them and then go and hide somewhere in the house. First, please go pretty close, as your dog will get the hang of this fun new game of puppy scent training.

How does dog scent training work?

As expected, how much training is conducted depends on why your dog would sniff – fun, sport, or work. Dogs who are professional sniffers get trained by accredited organizations such as CCPDT (Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers) and WDDO (World Detector Dog Organization).

However, since they are supposed to detect scents such as mold, cadavers, and narcotics, to name a few, they may need specialized training and accreditation from NAPWDA (North American Police Work Dog Association) and NESDCA (National Entomology Scent Detection Canine Association). As a dog parent, you would find professional trainers for your little one.