Who

Nose work does not require any “obedience” behaviors (like come, stay, or heel), so your dog does not need to have any previous training! Any age and breed of dog is able to enjoy nose work, even if they have special needs such as being blind, deaf, or missing a leg.

Safety prerequisites are:

• Dog is comfortable in their owner’s car, and do not panic when the owner leaves them for a few minutes.

• Dog is not aggressive toward strangers - some fear or wariness can be easily accommodated, but dog should not be lunging toward bystanders.

• Dog is up to date on vaccinations per their vet’s recommended schedule.

What

What to expect

• This intro class will teach your dog to hunt for the target scent (birch oil), using treats and/or toys as a reward. We will start with the box method so that the dog and owner have a clear structure that supports fast learning. From there you will learn how to add challenges using the boxes, and then start the transition away from boxes to searching an entire room or a small outdoor area.

  • You will need to acquire a collection of 6-10 containers - typically cardboard boxes approximately the size of a shoe box, or a small to medium Amazon box. You can also use large tupperware or other reusable containers as long as they are not see-through. They do not need to all be identical. I recommend starting to collect your containers before class starts, so that you’ll be ready to go after our first session.

• Each owner will be given a starter nose work kit with scented q-tips (with birch oil), a metal tin with a magnet inside (which is used to enclose the q-tip so dogs don’t eat it), and metal tweezers for handling the q-tips.

• Only one dog will be searching at a time, so the rest of the dogs will be waiting in their owners’ cars for their turn. Owners are encouraged to watch and learn from the dog currently having their turn.

  • Classes take place in the evening to avoid extreme heat. If you are still concerned, I recommend purchasing an aluminet shade cloth to cover your car and reflect sunlight.

  • The shade cloth can also be used to cover your windows if your dog is reactive while in the car.

What to bring

• A large quantity of treats that your dog LOVES (such as cooked chicken, hot dogs, string cheese, beef liver, freeze dried minnows). These treats should be already cut into small pieces, and not crumble as you hand them to your dog.

• A six foot leash - no retractable leashes.

• Your dog should be wearing a plain buckle collar, martingale, or harness. No prong collars, choke chains, or slip leads, as we want the dog driving ahead of you to get to the odor.

• Your dog’s most recent vaccinations (DHPP/DA2PP and rabies) - these can be emailed to me ahead of time instead.

Where

The location is a private residence in northern Vacaville, off the Midway Rd exit of I-505. The address will be emailed to you after you sign up and pay for class.

Why

There are two big reasons that I recommend nose work training for clients:

1. It’s a major mental workout, which is a huge help for meeting the exercise and enrichment needs of active dogs. This is particularly helpful if you have a dog who is so athletic that you can’t tire him out physically, when the weather prevents you from getting out, or if your dog can’t do much physical exercise due to injury or illness.

2. It’s a huge confidence booster for anxious or shy dogs. It gives them a structured, fun way to explore new surroundings and acclimate to the presence of people, noises, new surfaces, etc. There’s even a study that shows that “practicing nosework increases dogs’ positive judgment bias or ‘optimism’.” The authors also note that “behaving naturally and making active choices are two key factors in animal welfare,” and “olfaction-based activities contribute to dogs’ welfare.”

There’s also a third reason… which is that it’s fun!

How

Simply click the button below, select a date, and then follow the prompts to create a new account in my client portal. You will receive an email with the address for the class within 24 hours. Email me if you have any questions about registration or the class itself.