Sniffer Paws NI

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Got an anxious or full-on dog? You’re in the right place. Helping them find calm, confidence & purpose through scentwork. Start your journey here ⬇️

31/10/2026

There's no one particular type of dog who belongs in scentwork or trailing.

The busy ones. The cautious ones. The ones who love everyone, and the ones who'd really rather you didn't come any closer.

They can all have a place here.

Because what we do isn't about having the most sociable dog, the best-trained dog or the dog who does everything perfectly.

It's about giving dogs the opportunity to use their nose, build skills and work in a way that suits them.

And as a trainer? I love getting to know all those different personalities.

Now tell me… which dog lives in your house?

29/10/2026

This weekend I'm joining Stef's Pet Pantry in Mallusk to celebrate their 1st birthday with some scentwork demos.

Your dog will get to try a simple food or toy search, using their nose to find their reward. Each taster lasts around 10 minutes, so it's a little introduction to the world of scentwork without needing any previous experience.

And it's not just about finding a treat!

These little searches are a starting point for the skills we develop in my Sniffer Paws NI classes, where dogs learn to search more thoughtfully, build their confidence and tackle progressively trickier challenges.

Think your dog would love it? Come along and give it a go! 🐶

📍 Stef's Pet Pantry, Mallusk
🎂 Celebrating their 1st birthday this weekend!

27/10/2026

Two walks in and they're STILL full of beans?

Before you plan walk number three, it might be worth thinking about how your dog is spending their time, rather than just how much of it.

A chance to sniff, explore and follow their nose can be just as important as getting their steps in.

And if you've got a dog who seems to have an unlimited battery, adding more exercise isn't always the answer. You might just be training for the canine Olympics at this point.

It's about finding the right balance for YOUR dog.

Have you got one of those dogs who never seems to run out of energy? Show me your Duracell dogs in the comments

20/10/2026

Speaking of happy dogs…

What's your dog's favourite reward in trailing or scentwork?

Food? A favourite toy? A game of tug? Or something a little more… unconventional? 😂

I'll go first: Munchie's is definitely her rabbit PawsPocket from Pawstrading Ltd (plus some love from her aunties!)

Tell me yours in the comments! I want to hear what makes your dogs tick 👇

19/10/2026

There’s a lot more going on in my head when I’m teaching your dog than you might realise.

I’m not just thinking about whether they’ve found the hide, followed the trail or got the answer right.

I’m thinking about how they’re feeling, whether they’re comfortable, what they’re finding difficult, what’s motivating them and how I can help them progress while keeping training enjoyable.

I’m also thinking about you.

Are you feeling supported? Do you understand what your dog is telling you? Are you learning how to work together as a team?

I put a lot of care and thought into every session because good training is about so much more than getting results.

Sometimes progress means making things harder. Sometimes it means going back a step, changing the environment, trying something different or simply letting a dog enjoy getting it right.

And sometimes the most important thing I can do is help you see just how much your dog is capable of.

For me, it’s about helping you understand your dog and making sure the journey is just as worthwhile as the destination.

What’s something you wish more people understood about your dog?

17/10/2026

“A tired dog is a happy dog” is far too simplistic.

Does your high-energy dog seem like they could walk for hours and STILL have energy to spare?

You're not alone! Meeting your dog's needs involves more than physical exercise.

Dogs also need mental stimulation, opportunities to sniff, explore, problem solve and learn to relax.

You can build a really fit dog without meeting all their needs. And constantly trying to tire them out can leave you on a never-ending treadmill!

Scentwork offers a different approach. It lets dogs use their incredible noses, engage in natural behaviours and work things out for themselves.

It's not about replacing walks or expecting one activity to fix every behavioural challenge. It's about balancing physical exercise, mental enrichment and rest to help your dog thrive.

Because sometimes, your dog doesn't need MORE. They need something DIFFERENT.

So ask yourself:

“What does my dog need to feel fulfilled today?”

Follow Sniffer Paws NI for practical advice on dog enrichment, scentwork and helping busy, high-drive dogs thrive.

10/10/2026

🐻 BEAR & ME HAVE ONLY GONE AND DONE IT! 🥉❤️

Today, Bear and I headed off to compete in a Scent Ops Bronze competition, and out of 10 teams, we placed an unbelievable 3RD PLACE! 🥹🏆

And when I say the competition was tough, I mean TOUGH! There were just 4 points separating 1st and 6th place! A massive congratulations to all the teams, you were all incredible 🥹

This is only our second time competing. Our first was a club trial, where we placed 6th, so to step up a level, compete at Bronze and come away with 3rd is a MASSIVE achievement for my Bear!

For those who don’t know much about scent work, let me explain just how clever these dogs are.

Bear had up to 5 minutes to locate TWO hidden scents, which in her case were tiny pieces of Kong.

These aren’t placed somewhere she or I can see them. They’re completely hidden from sight, meaning she has to use her nose and her nose alone to locate them.

Once she’s found one, she has to indicate to me exactly where it is, and then it’s my job to correctly tell the judge. It’s proper teamwork, and believe me, the pressure is on BOTH ends of the lead! 😂

Today’s searches took place in a corridor and a classroom, with different environments and plenty of distractions to work through.

Watching her switch into work mode, use that incredible nose of hers and figure things out for herself genuinely blows me away.

She’s still so young, we’re both still learning, and we’ve got so much more to work on together.

But today? I couldn’t be prouder of my big, beautiful girl. 🥹❤️

And of course, my girl is POWERED BY RAW! 🥩💪 As a proud DIBO - The Dog’s Butcher ambassador, Bear is fuelled by the food we believe in, giving her the nutrition to support her growing body, active lifestyle and all those adventures we throw ourselves into together!

From 6th at our first trial to 3rd at our first Bronze competition.

Not bad for a dog who spends the rest of her time being an absolute fruit loop! 😂🐻

Well done, Bear. You clever, clever girl. ❤️🐾 And a special thank you to Laura | Trailing & Scent Specialist | Dog Trainer | N Ireland who is the bestest! If you know you know, and if you don’t get to know 👌🏼🥰

09/10/2026

I think “foundations” can sometimes sound like:

beginner stuff
easy stuff
stuff you've already done
stuff you should have moved past by now

But foundations aren’t just for beginners

They can be incredibly valuable for established teams who want to:
→ strengthen existing skills
→ troubleshoot problems
→ improve search quality
→ build more independence
→ prepare for more complex work

Bringing it back to enjoyment is the part of dog training that matters most

That's what makes progressing so much more rewarding.

If you're looking to progress your dog's understanding and enjoyment in scentwork, this is exactly why I created my new course.

Mallusk 4th November
Coleraine 6th November

1 to 1 courses also available at both locations.

DM me "NEW" to find out the next steps

05/10/2026

There’s a reason your dog wants to sniff the same blade of grass for 5 minutes… because they’re capable of THIS.

Your dog’s nose is gathering information constantly. Every sniff is telling them something about the world around them and we can intentionally give them opportunities to use that incredible sense of smell.

That’s where scent sports come in.

Scent Detection

Your dog searches for a specific smell and learns to locate and indicate it.

Great for busy, high-drive dogs, dogs who love searching, dogs who need something more than just physical exercise ... and dogs who don’t necessarily fit into a traditional training class.

Tracking

Your dog follows the trail left behind by a person, using the scent information deposited on the ground.

Great for dogs who love having their nose down, enjoy working through a problem independently and need an outlet that doesn’t rely on being surrounded by other dogs.

Trailing / Mantrailing

Your dog searches for a specific person using their individual human scent.

It can be fantastic for nervous, anxious or reactive dogs because the focus is on working with their handler and following their nose rather than having to constantly interact with other dogs.

And it can be just as valuable for the human on the other end of the line especially if you've lost confidence because you’re constantly worrying about how your dog will cope in a “normal” class.

They’re all different but they have one very important thing in common:

Your dog gets to use the sense they were built to use.

And honestly, watching a dog discover what they can do with their nose is pretty bloody special.

If you’re wondering which scent sport might suit your dog, send me a message with “NOSE” and tell me a little about them.

I’ll point you towards the best place to start.

📍 Classes, coaching and scent activities available across Northern Ireland. Beginner friendly classes starting in Coleraine, Ballymoney & Mallusk/North Belfast.

Address

Coleraine
BT513

Telephone

+447936042486

Website

http://www.snifferpawsni.co.uk/, https://www.bookwhen.com/snifferpawsni

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