What is scent work?Scent Work is a relatively new ANKC sport, however, it has been around for quite a few years under other banners. The sport is based on the work of detection dogs (like those who search for drugs or explosives), who need to find and indicate, usually by staring, pawing, barking, sitting or laying down, when they have found a specific odour.
The sport asks dogs to find one of four odours (birch, anise, clove and cypress), in different environments and while the sport is challenging, it is especially good for dogs who may not be able to handle the conditions asked of them in other dog sports, either because they are reactive to other dogs or because they are unsure in trial settings. The sport encourages owners to learn to "read" their dog's signals and is fun end engaging for the dog, who get to use their strongest natural sense, scent to find the source of the odour. Scent Work encourages the handler and dog to work as a team - while the dog is the one doing the searching, the handler uses their body language to encourage the dog to search different areas, and letting the judge know when they have found the scent. |
Training level required: ☆☆ (moderate)
Training type: private trainer/at home Equipment cost: $$$ (relatively expensive) |
Overseeing body: Australian National Kennel Council
Minimum age for competition: 6 months Breed restrictions: None! Open to all breeds |
What equipment do I need?While dogs can search with only a flat collar and long lead (5m or 10m is encouraged), most handlers use a harness while working to indicate to the dog when their job begins and ends. To train at home, you will need this equipment, as well as a set of odours, available from multiple sources online. Our favourite is Seek Dogs Australia.
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How much training is needed?Unlike many sports, which have classes run by affiliate clubs, Scent Work is mostly taught by private trainers. Most dogs will need to go through several terms of training or progressively more difficult training courses to get up to trialling level but there is also quite a lot of handling for pet parents to learn so they can help their dog to search the whole area in a trial. To get to the highest levels, dogs will need to know several different scents and be able to search the interior of a room, an exterior area and the outside of a vehicle, as well as doing a container (box) search.
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NSW Breeder Identification Number: B000685661 | Victoria Source Number: EE102260
Dogs NSW Member Number: 2100088743 |
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