Cloud Nine K9s Scentwork & Search Dogs

Cloud Nine K9s Scentwork & Search Dogs I Specialise in scentwork for pet dogs to enjoy the wondeful world of scent detection Scentwork course from beginner to experienced

A degree qualified trainer with 25yrs of working with Dogs, multiple scentwork qualifications under my belt and I have taught many Mantrailing instructors across the SE.

A little life update...If you've noticed I've been a little quieter on social media lately, you're not imagining it.The ...
07/06/2026

A little life update...

If you've noticed I've been a little quieter on social media lately, you're not imagining it.

The last few weeks I've taken a step back from posting and spent less time online. Classes, workshops, training sessions and client support are all still running as normal, but I've been focusing more on being present in the moment rather than documenting everything for social media.

The reality is that life sometimes has a way of trigger stacking. One thing happens, then another, then another, and before you know it you're carrying far more than you realised. Over the last few weeks I've felt overwhelmed at times and have been working through a bit of burnout. I'm not quite through the other side yet, and that's okay.

As trainers, we're often reminding our clients that progress matters more than perfection. That stress accumulates. That recovery is important. That it's okay to slow down when life gets heavy. It turns out we need to listen to our own advice sometimes too.

I've been using this time to recharge, spend quality time with my dogs, enjoy training for the sake of training, and reconnect with the reasons I started this journey in the first place.

Today was a good reminder of that.

Hugo competed in a Level 4 Nosework Games competition and came away with 3rd Overall, plus placements in two of the three games. Was he perfectly behaved? Absolutely not!! Did he listen to me all day? Also no. 🙄 (the kn****ad 😂🙈) But we showed up, worked as a team, had fun, and made progress.
Thank you Sarah Wynn for running a fab competition and to all the ladies for the boost ans laughs today. I needed that.

And that's the lesson I'm taking away right now: progress, not perfection.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support Cloud Nine K9s, whether I'm posting every day or quietly working away behind the scenes. I appreciate every one of you.

For now, I'm giving myself the same grace I encourage others to give their dogs. One day, one step, and one small win at a time. ❤️

Dogs are communicating with us all the time.The problem is…most of it isn’t verbal! It's silent.During scentwork and man...
19/05/2026

Dogs are communicating with us all the time.

The problem is…most of it isn’t verbal! It's silent.

During scentwork and mantrailing, we begin to notice just how much our dogs are constantly telling us through:

- movement
- breathing
- posture
- pace
- hesitation
- focus
- intensity
- and tiny behavioural changes

A slight pause.
A deeper breath.
A change in tail carriage.
A head turn.
A moment of commitment to odour.

These little details tell a story.

The more we learn to observe them, the more we begin to understand:

- how our dog processes information
- when they’re confident
- when they’re uncertain
- what they’re interested in
- and how they solve problems

Good searching isn’t just about finding scent.

It’s about learning to work together.

In trailing especially, handlers often talk about “feeling the line.”

Subtle changes in leash pressure, rhythm, movement and direction can tell us when a dog is:

- processing scent
- making decisions
- committing to odour
- or working through a problem

And the communication goes both ways.

Dogs are incredibly aware of us too.

They notice:

- our body direction
- tension in the line
- frustration
- excitement
- anticipation
- and even tiny changes in our breathing or movement

Often without us even realising we’re communicating.

That’s why scentwork and mantrailing can become so much more than an activity.

They teach us to:
- slow down
- observe more carefully
- trust our dog
- and become better teammates

Over time, it becomes less about control…
and more about connection.

Because every search,
every choice,
every line…
is a conversation... if your willing to listen.

We had an absolute blast this morning working through a couple of search areas that can be really challenging for dogs a...
18/05/2026

We had an absolute blast this morning working through a couple of search areas that can be really challenging for dogs and handlers alike — distracting odours and difficult surfaces!

The dog beds and grass compound created the perfect opportunity for the dogs to learn how to work through environmental distractions while staying committed to odour.

The 2nd search area was a big challenge! (apologies for lack of pics!)

Both teams worked incredibly well today, tackling:

- distracting smells
- aged odours
- inaccessible hides
- high hides
- and busy environments with lots going on around them

But it wasn’t just the dogs working hard.

The handlers had plenty to think about too:

- line handling
- body positioning
- keeping track of searched areas
- reading subtle changes in behaviour
- and recognising those tiny signs that their dog was in odour

This is the kind of work that really develops teamwork.

The dogs learn to problem solve and stay focused…
and the handlers learn to slow down, observe, and trust what their dog is telling them.

Really proud of both teams today.
Some fantastic handling, thoughtful searching, and great progress all round.

Smashed it, as always 👏🐾

It has been an incredible weekend of scentwork! Progression workshop yesterday and then nosework games today! (levels 2&...
17/05/2026

It has been an incredible weekend of scentwork! Progression workshop yesterday and then nosework games today! (levels 2&3).

Amazing work from all the teams! Just a quick post because Ive also worked nights the last 3 nights and only power napped! I needed to do a post before I sleep for the next 10 hours because everyone was fab today!
And I got to meet Fergie again! the SMALLEST little sniffer pup ever!! I am actually in love! 😂🥰🐾

Thanks for all the laughs today! I do love how much fun we have!

A physically tired dog isn’t always a fulfilled dog.We’ve all heard the phrase:“A tired dog is a good dog.”But exhaustio...
17/05/2026

A physically tired dog isn’t always a fulfilled dog.

We’ve all heard the phrase:
“A tired dog is a good dog.”

But exhaustion and fulfilment are not the same thing.

A dog can run for miles, chase a ball repeatedly, or come home physically exhausted… and still feel mentally frustrated, overstimulated, or unable to properly switch off afterwards.

Because dogs don’t just need physical exercise.
They also need opportunities to:

- problem solve
- use natural instincts
- process information
- make decisions
- and engage their brain

This is where scentwork and mantrailing can make such a huge difference.

During scentwork, dogs aren’t simply “sniffing around.”

They are actively working through layers of environmental odours, filtering out distractions, analysing scent particles, and using concentration and problem-solving skills to locate the scent that leads to reinforcement.

Their brain and nose are working together constantly.

That level of cognitive engagement creates a very different kind of tiredness.

Not frantic exhaustion…
but calm fulfilment.

Take Hugo for example.

That boy can do a 4-hour hike, have a quick 10-minute rest… then bounce straight back up if you mention “walkies” again.

But give him a really good scentwork session?
He’ll happily curl up and sleep for hours afterwards.

Because mentally fulfilled dogs don’t just burn energy —
they satisfy deep natural instincts too.

When dogs search, they activate natural seeking systems in the brain linked to motivation, exploration, and reward. Sniffing and searching have also been shown to promote calmer emotional states in many dogs.

Many owners notice that after scentwork or trailing, their dogs are not only tired — they’re more settled, relaxed, and emotionally balanced afterwards.

Because true fulfilment comes from more than movement alone.

Dogs were designed to search, explore, think, and investigate the world through scent.

Sometimes the calmest dogs aren’t the most exhausted…
they’re the most fulfilled!

Sniffing feels good — and science explains why.When dogs sniff, search, and use their nose, they aren’t just “keeping bu...
15/05/2026

Sniffing feels good — and science explains why.

When dogs sniff, search, and use their nose, they aren’t just “keeping busy.”

They are activating powerful systems in the brain linked to:

- motivation
- reward
- emotional regulation
- focus
- and wellbeing

This is one of the reasons scentwork and mantrailing can be so naturally fulfilling for dogs.

When dogs search successfully, the brain releases dopamine — often called the “reward chemical.”

Dopamine is linked to:

- pleasure
- motivation
- learning
- persistence
- and problem solving

It’s what encourages dogs to keep searching, exploring, and engaging with the task.

At the same time, sniffing and scent-based enrichment have also been shown to support serotonin production — the chemical involved in mood stability, emotional balance, and stress reduction.

Research into olfactory enrichment suggests that regular sniffing activities can help lower stress levels and promote calmer emotional states in dogs.

This is why many dogs appear:

- calmer after searching
- more settled at home
- more emotionally balanced
- and better able to focus

Scentwork works both the brain and body at the same time.

Dogs must:

- process huge amounts of scent information
- filter through environmental odours
- ignore distractions
- problem solve
- and follow tiny scent clues to source

Their brain and nose are constantly working together.

And because searching taps into natural instinctive behaviours, it becomes deeply satisfying for many dogs.

It’s not just exercise.
It’s emotional and cognitive fulfilment.

Whether a dog is:

- energetic
- anxious
- sensitive
- reactive
- young
- or elderly…

using their nose can provide positive mental stimulation in a way that feels natural to them.

Because for dogs…
sniffing isn’t just behaviour.

It’s biology!

What an amazing first class back after my holiday!These teams from the Beginners Scentwork Bootcamp had a couple of week...
13/05/2026

What an amazing first class back after my holiday!
These teams from the Beginners Scentwork Bootcamp had a couple of weeks off… but you’d never know it. They came back ready to work!

All four teams braved the classic British weather to tackle some highly distracting exterior searches, and the dogs absolutely rose to the challenge. The handlers did a fantastic job working their dogs and have made huge progress in reading body language and recognising those subtle changes during the search.

One of the best parts of group training is getting the chance to watch other dogs work too — it really helps you spot behaviours, handling patterns, and search styles from a completely different perspective.

Massive well done, everyone — brilliant work all round!

If scentwork is something you’d love to try with your dog, I’ve got two new Beginners Scentwork Bootcamps starting soon:
🐾 Wednesday 27th May – 6:30pm
🐾 Monday 1st June – 11:15am
Perfect for dogs who need an outlet for their brain, confidence building, or just a fun new job to do with their humans. No experience needed — just bring your dog and let them sniff!

Good training isn’t about forcing every dog into the same process.Not every dog learns the same way.Not every dog respon...
13/05/2026

Good training isn’t about forcing every dog into the same process.

Not every dog learns the same way.
Not every dog responds at the same speed.
Not every dog will succeed in every exercise immediately.

And that’s okay.

Too often owners leave classes believing they’re failing because their dog isn’t performing like the others.

But learning is not a competition.
And progress is not always linear.

I’ve seen this firsthand with my own dogs.

All three loved scentwork.
Stig especially loved trailing… although towards the end it became a little physical for his old bones (not that his brain got the memo).

Even though Stig and Lily are no longer with us, it’s impossible to forget their personalities, quirks, and the completely different ways they approached learning.

Same breed.
Same sports.
Same trainer.

And yet every single one learned differently, solved problems differently, and responded to challenges differently.

One needed more space to think.
One thrived on repetition.
One would become frustrated if I helped too quickly.

Watching those differences unfold was fascinating.

It also taught me that good training isn’t about trying to make every dog work the same way.

It’s about understanding the dog in front of you.

Because when you adjust your training to suit the individual dog, everything becomes clearer:

- communication improves
- confidence grows
- frustration drops
- and progress often becomes much faster and more meaningful.

Strong foundations aren’t built by forcing dogs into a system.

They’re built by understanding how each dog learns best.

Scentwork is more than teaching a dog to find an odour.It’s learning how to work together.Dogs experience the world prim...
13/05/2026

Scentwork is more than teaching a dog to find an odour.

It’s learning how to work together.

Dogs experience the world primarily through scent. While we rely heavily on vision, dogs gather huge amounts of information through their nose — analysing the environment, following scent movement, and processing odours we cannot even detect.

When we allow dogs to use their strongest sense naturally, something powerful happens:
we start learning from them too.

Scentwork teaches handlers how to:

- observe body language
- recognise subtle behavioural changes
- understand decision making
- and trust what their dog is communicating

Tiny changes in breathing, posture, movement, head turns, tail carriage, and pace can all tell us something about what the dog is processing during a search.

The more we learn to read our dogs, the stronger our communication becomes.

Scentwork also encourages dogs to:

- think independently
- problem solve
- build confidence
- and work in partnership with their handler

Rather than simply following instructions, dogs are actively using their brain and instincts while we learn how to support them effectively.

That creates real teamwork.

Not forced obedience…
but trust, communication, and mutual understanding.

Many owners find that scentwork changes more than just their dog’s searching skills.

It changes the relationship they have with their dog altogether.

One sniff at a time, you’re building something unbreakable.

12/05/2026

Well here's a life lesson in the right rewards... make sure they are small enough to chew and swallow... NOT to get stuck in teeth! 😂😂🙈.
I literally grabbed these Pawbons (doggy bourbons 😂) on my way out the door this morning thinking aww how cool...
However... they may be a tasty treat for Hugo... but NOT for training! Poor Hugo was trying to search and unstick the treats at the same time... it was a whole thing!

So... note to self... smaller but still yummy treats for training... posh biscuits for non training 😂👌

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Edenbridge
TN86

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+447525723459

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