Your Dog Is More Capable Than You Think

Sometimes we just need to give them the opportunity to show us.

I first discovered scent detection because I had a dog I was struggling with.

Koda was a shepherd cross. He wasn't reactive or aggressive, but he was certainly hard work. He was easily overexcited, pulled on the lead, had terrible recall and struggled to settle when there was nothing happening. Like many owners in that position, I was trying to find ways to manage his behaviour and make everyday life a little easier.

Someone suggested scent detection as a way of giving him an outlet for his need to work.

I couldn't point to one particular session when everything changed. There wasn't a magical moment when Koda suddenly became a different dog. But gradually, things started to fall into place. Our relationship improved, his behaviour became easier to manage and, perhaps most noticeably, he became better at settling when we weren't doing anything.

Looking back, I don't think the biggest change was simply what Koda learned to do. It was what I learned about him.

More than a way to tire your dog out

Scent detection is often described as a way to provide mental stimulation, tire dogs out or encourage calm behaviour. While there may be some truth in those descriptions, I think they rather miss the point.

When I watch a dog searching, I'm not looking for calm sniffing. I want to see enthusiasm, concentration and purpose. You can often hear the nose working intensely and see the determination in the dog's movement. They're not simply wandering around hoping to stumble across something interesting. They're working to solve a problem.

For many dogs, that opportunity to work, hunt and use their natural abilities fulfils a need that isn't necessarily met by walks, play or conventional obedience training.

And when those needs are better fulfilled, we may find that settling becomes easier afterwards. Not because we've exhausted the dog into submission, but because we've given them something meaningful to do.

That was certainly part of my experience with Koda.

Giving dogs the opportunity to think

One of the things I love most about scent detection is that the dog has an ability we simply cannot replicate.

We can set up the search, teach the skills and provide guidance, but ultimately the dog has to use his nose to solve the problem. We cannot smell what he smells or make every decision for him.

For owners accustomed to more traditional, handler-directed training, this can take some getting used to. We're often so busy teaching our dogs to listen, respond and follow instructions that allowing them to make decisions independently feels rather unfamiliar.

But it's remarkable what can happen when we give them that opportunity.

In my lessons, I regularly see dogs becoming more curious, confident and willing to explore within their first two or three sessions. Sometimes the changes are subtle. A dog might venture further into an unfamiliar area, investigate an object he previously avoided or show a little more determination when faced with a problem.

These aren't necessarily dogs that have suddenly learned lots of complicated skills. They're dogs beginning to discover that exploring their environment and making decisions can lead to success.

And those changes don't always remain confined to the search area.

Owners often tell me about improvements in how their dogs respond to everyday situations or interact with things that previously caused difficulties. I also notice differences in the way some dogs arrive at and leave our training venues.

Of course, scent detection isn't a guaranteed solution to behavioural problems. But I've seen enough changes in confidence and outlook over the years to believe that its value can extend well beyond the searches themselves.

Sometimes we need to change how we see our dogs

Perhaps the most rewarding part of teaching scent detection is watching an owner's opinion of their dog begin to change.

I've worked with people who have struggled with conventional training, sometimes for quite a long time. They arrive believing their dog is stubborn, difficult, easily distracted or simply not very clever.

Then they watch that same dog enthusiastically tackle a search, work through a problem and find something that the owner couldn't possibly locate using their own senses.

Suddenly, they're seeing a different side of the dog.

He wasn't stupid. He wasn't necessarily being deliberately difficult. He had abilities and motivations that hadn't previously been given much opportunity to shine.

And once owners begin to recognise those abilities, some of the behaviours they've found frustrating start to make a little more sense.

That understanding can change the relationship between dog and owner. Instead of constantly looking for ways to control or correct behaviour, we begin to appreciate what motivates the dog and how we can work together.

Every dog deserves the opportunity

I firmly believe scent detection can be made accessible to all dogs, but that doesn't mean every dog should be taught in exactly the same way.

A confident, enthusiastic Labrador might throw himself into a new search with very little encouragement. A recently rehomed rescue dog, uncertain about unfamiliar places and experiences, may need a completely different approach.

If we expect both dogs to learn in the same way and at the same pace, we're likely to make the experience considerably less rewarding for one of them.

That's why I adapt exercises to the individual dog. Sometimes progress comes quickly. Sometimes we need to spend time building motivation, developing confidence and helping the dog discover that searching is something worth doing.

The exercises, expectations and rate of progression may look very different, but the principle remains the same. We want to give each dog the opportunity to succeed.

And that requires patience from us as handlers and instructors.

There's more to your dog than you might realise

When I started scent detection with Koda, I was looking for help with a difficult dog. What I discovered was an activity that changed our relationship and helped me understand him in a completely different way.

That experience is a large part of why I teach scent detection today.

I enjoy watching dogs learn to solve increasingly complicated problems, and I love seeing a good detection team develop their skills. But what stays with me most is the impact it can have on the relationship between a dog and his owner.

Sometimes the dog who struggles to listen, finds the world overwhelming or never seems to settle doesn't need another instruction.

Sometimes he needs the opportunity to do something that comes naturally, to make a few decisions for himself and to discover just how capable he really is.

And sometimes, we need to stand back long enough to see it.

Hide and go Sniff offers individually tailored scent detection training for dogs and handlers at every level, from complete beginners to developing detection teams.