22/03/2026
Ever seen your dog pick up the scent article before starting a trail? 🐾
This is Ottis the Clumber Spaniel doing exactly that at the start of her trail 👇
Rather than being “wrong”, this is actually a really interesting bit of scent work behaviour. By lifting and carrying the article for a moment, Ottis is:
✨ Bringing the scent closer to her nose
✨ Blocking out background smells
✨ Taking a second to really process her target scent
Some dogs use both their nose and mouth together to “lock in” the scent picture before they commit to the trail.
This isn’t a naughty habit — it’s often a sign of a thoughtful dog who is taking the job seriously rather than rushing in on pure excitement.
As long as it stays brief and focused, it’s all part of the process 🐕🦺💭
