12 years ago I walked into a room with a young Manzo. Before us was a fenced area with a lot of boxes and, to the side, a row of people. They were quietly sitting still making sure to avoid eye contact with my nervous, reactive boy. Manzo cautiously moved forward, head low as he sniffed our instructor. He let out a low growl as he moved around the room, clearly afraid of where he was.
That’s how it started for Manzo and me. Two extremely anxious beings, afraid to be out in public together but brave enough to try something new. I can’t explain to you just how grateful I am that we tried, or how grateful I am to every single one of those people who sat patiently on the sidelines while my nervous dog sniffed around and grumbled at them and, eventually, came to feel extremely safe and at home in the sport of K9 Nose Work.
If you’re familiar with Manzo’s story then you know that he is the quintessential reactive dog. A bit of an oxymoron, maybe, but who says a reactive dog cannot be both a work in progress and also, absolutely perfect? By 9 months he was barking and screaming at everything and everyone and by 1 year and a half I was so extremely frustrated by our lack of progress. We found a sanctuary in Nose Work and if you live with a sensitive dog like Manzo then I think you too may find something beautiful here. First, let me tell you what Nose Work is.
What is the sport of K9 Nose Work?
If you’re familiar with drug dogs, bomb dogs, or search and rescue dogs then you’re familiar with the idea of scent work. Teaching a dog to use their incredible sense of smell to find something we ask them to. Okay, so maybe you don’t have a Bloodhound, a Belgian Malinois, or a Beagle. Do you have a dog? Great! You have all you need to begin!
Every dog loves to smell. They ought to considering just how strong their sense of smell is. Dogs have over 200 million scent receptors compared to our measly 5 million. While we see the world through our eyes, dogs undoubtedly do through their nose. K9 Nose Work teaches a dog to hone their hunting abilities by searching for something they like,( usually food.) Once they are hooked on hunting, we shift our focus from sniffing out a snack to hunting for a few scented Q-tips. Then, the dog tells you where it is! It's a wonderful sport that any dog can do. All ages, all sizes, and dogs of all abilities can sniff their hearts out.
Confidence Through Scent Work
Many dogs are reactive because they’re afraid of dogs. In nose work, only one dog works at a time making this an ideal situation for dog-reactive dogs. When Manzo and I took classes he’d wait in the car when it wasn’t our turn so he wasn’t just hanging around getting worked up about where the next dog was. Some dogs are reactive because they’re nervous about unfamiliar items or environments. Scent work teaches a dog how to safely explore space at a rate only that the dog is comfortable with. I remember one class where the dog was afraid of boxes. We adjusted the setup so that she was sniffing flat pieces of cardboard on the ground. She loved it! Soon she was confidently navigating the biggest of boxes and moved into a new space with her nose held high.
If you're not sure why your dog is reactive- that’s okay too because nose work is still going to help their confidence. Problem solving is a great enrichment opportunity for any dog, but it’s especially important for sensitive dogs. This allows dogs opportunities to become more self-assured and resilient, making them less likely to overreact to new or uncertain situations.
A Low-Stress Way to Bond
It can be exhausting to constantly work on your dog’s reactivity. It’s stressful trying to avoid triggers and to always follow your management plan. It’s stressful running away from off-leash dogs, joggers, or even other people, when on a walk with your dog. It can also be draining to have to constantly advocate for them. As someone who has lived with reactive dogs for 13 years- I deeply understand this.
This is why nose work is such a blessing for sensitive dogs and their people. It allows you an opportunity to bond with your dog outside of their reactivity. You’ll be able to see your dog blossom into their confident selves and show you just how capable they really are!
How to Get Started
If you’re ready to take the leap then you can sign up for an introductory nose work class. Click here to see if we’re offering any nose work classes right now. The National Association of Canine Scent Work is a great place to look as well as Performance Scent Dogs. If you want to get started at home all you need is a few boxes.
Start with your dog out of sight so you can set up. Set out 5 boxes but pick one to be the box that will hold food. Place a few stinky treats inside your “hot” box and bring your dog out to investigate. The most important part is that you let your dog independently explore. Avoid pointing out where the hide is and avoid saying, “Find it, Find it” over and over. Quietly watch your dog and move around the boxes with them. Lastly, when they have found the goodies reward them by placing a few more treats in the box.
Are you feeling inspired to give nose work a try with your dog? Incorporating any form of sniffing for dogs is just so very beneficial so do your dog a favor and try it! Even if you try some sniffing enrichment games first and move on to the sport of k9 nose work later, your dog will thank you for it!
Ready to tap into your dog’s natural sniffing superpowers? Join our Virtual Scent Work Class and discover how scent work can help your reactive dog feel more confident, engaged, and relaxed. This three-week online course includes new sniffing skills, live training sessions, Q&As, and a supportive community to help you and your dog succeed—all from the comfort of home!
Sign up today and start unlocking the magic of your dog’s nose. Click Here to learn more.
Commentaires