25/05/2026
How to get your dog started on their Scentwork journey. The first thing we want to teach our dog’s is to sniff on cue. When we say search we want our dog’s to start sniffing.
In this tutorial video on Scentwork we are teaching our dog’s how to search in a structured way and using high value food (slices of ham) to motivate our dog’s to keep searching every pot.
How to start:
1.Place out 4 pots in a line (this a can be plastic takeaway pots, cardboard boxes, flower pots, small buckets etc)
2. Place small bits treats on every pot. Ideally a treat that can stick to the side of the pot ie cheese, ham, chicken, turkey etc (not dry treats)
3. Put your dog on a lead. These keeps the search focused, calm and structured. Having your dog off lead at the beginning stages will make for a rushed, messy search and your dog will probably end up picking up the pots & running off to chew them.
4. Say the word “search” then move your hand towards the first pot to indicate to your dog that you want them to start sniffing the first pot.
5. Start slowly walking toward the 2nd pot as your dog is sniffing and eating the treats off the 1st pot. This helps to encourage them to move along the line of pots, sniffing and eating the treats as they go along. DO NOT say “Search” again let your dog learn to move along the line up without you having to prompt them. Use your body to do this not your words or hands pointing to the treats.
6. Once your dog has finished sniffing the last pot say “Finished” reward your dog and re set the pots with treats.
Repeat this 5-6 times per session, randomising the amount of treats on each pot and keeping some pots without treats.
Tell me how you go on in the comments 👇
