Scent work gives dogs the opportunity to use one of their most extraordinary natural abilities—their sense of smell. The dog learns to search independently, follow odor to its source, and communicate that discovery to the handler. At the same time, the handler learns to observe subtle changes in behavior and, perhaps most importantly, to trust the dog.
The sport provides significant mental stimulation while developing confidence, concentration and teamwork. Because searching relies more on the dog’s nose and mind than on speed or athletic ability, scent work can also be enjoyed by dogs of many ages and physical abilities.
AKC Scent Work
AKC Scent Work is modeled on the work of professional detection dogs. Dogs search for specific target odors hidden in a variety of environments, including containers, interiors, exteriors and vehicles. As teams advance, the searches become increasingly complex, with larger search areas, more hides, greater distractions and more challenging odor problems.
AKC titles progress through Novice, Advanced, Excellent and Master, with additional advanced opportunities including the Detective class. Although the handler and dog work as a team, the dog is ultimately the expert in the search—the handler must learn to recognize when the dog is working odor and allow the dog to solve the problem.
NACSW / K9 Nose Work®
K9 Nose Work® was developed by professional detection-dog trainers and is governed by the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW). It helped establish competitive nose work as a dog sport in the United States and places particular emphasis on allowing dogs to search independently and develop confidence in using their natural scenting abilities.
NACSW searches include containers, interiors, exteriors and vehicles, often in real-world environments that present changing airflow, distractions and complex scent movement. Dogs first demonstrate their ability to recognize the target odors through Odor Recognition Tests and can then progress through the NACSW competition levels. Success depends not only on the dog’s ability to find odor, but also on the handler’s ability to read the dog accurately without interfering with the search.
HoneyCreek Tibetan Terriers in AKC Scent Work
- Finn — Detective
- Trinity — Master
- Marja — Excellent
- Sisu — Advanced
- Sigurd — Advanced
- Jeanie — Novice