What is the K9 Nose Work® Training Method?
The K9 Nose Work® training method is the approach created by the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW™) and is used by instructors who have graduated from the NACSW™ CNWI training program.
This training approach focuses on building the dog’s hunt drive, independence and confidence. Dogs are promoted to progress at their own pace and develop their own hunting style. This is accomplished by using primary reinforcers, or hides the dog naturally finds reinforcing such as food or toys. Thus, as the dog is tackling a search, they will self-reward upon finding the hide by either eating the treat or retrieving the toy. Doing so makes the activity extremely clear to the dog: the objective is to find the hide and get as close to source as possible, nothing else.
Training in this manner promotes the dog to be the lead dancer within the search. They are encouraged to make decisions and work the environment as opposed to deferring the handler. The handler can also build their observation skills, to internalize how the dog communicates the odor picture, and develop the own handling skills to best support their dog throughout the search.
How Does Scent Work University Use the K9 Nose Work® Training Method?
At Scent Work University, we utilize the K9 Nose Work® training method for our Foundation Scent Work and Intro to Odor courses. This means dogs initially work to find food or toys in a variety of search elements (Containers, Interiors, Exteriors and Vehicles).
It is crucial to point out that we are not teaching our dogs how to use their nose. Rather, we are simply offering them an opportunity to experience a variety of odor puzzles in different situations. The dog will use their amazing sense of smell to determine the best way to solve each puzzle.
By using the K9 Nose Work® training method, we can design exercises to assess and build a variety of skills in the dog while encouraging the handler to observe and react to what the dog is telling them.
For instance, let’s say your objective was to determine the dog’s baseline confidence and then build upon it. Thus, you design a search where the dog is required to work into a tight space to get to their hide. However, as the dog is tackling the exercise, you notice they hesitate or show signs of concern.
In this example, working with a primary reinforcer such as a food offers several benefits:
- Promoting the dog to make choices.If we are using a high-enough value treat, where the dog really wants it, their response can be incredibly informative. If the environment or exercise is too challenging, the dog will choose not to pursue the food. Essentially, the environment won. Granting the dog the opportunity to make these types of communicative choices can be incredibly empowering for the dog!
- Encouraging more mindful and incremental progress.As trainers, we can be surprised to learn our dog is struggling with something, “I never thought they would have hard time squeezing in there!” Using primary hides such as food can help us better observe what our dogs are saying and promote us to make modifications and alterations to both the environment and exercise a whole. A common motto in Scent Work is to manipulate the environment, not the dog.
- Protect the value of the novel target odors. The essential oils our dogs will see in competition (Birch, Anise, Clove, Wintergreen, etc.) are meaningless to our dogs on their own. Any positive association the dog has with these odors must be built and maintained in training. This means the dog can develop negative associations with these odors as well, which can be rather challenging to overcome. By building the dog’s skills and working through issues with primary first, and introducing the target novel odors later, we can avoid these negative associations.
When building a new dog and developing their foundation skills, we are looking for them to demonstrate an understanding of what the activity of Scent Work is all about in all four search elements and show a level of interest, drive and independence when working their odor puzzles.
It is at this point that we will introduce a target odor, starting with Birch. This is accomplished by using a powerful training tool called pairing, which means a treat, or toy, is set with the hide itself and promotes the dog to self-reward. The dog already understood this concept by hunting for their primary hides. Now they are getting a whiff of Birch when they self-reward. This leverages classical conditioning to help the dog make the association that the target odor, Birch in the case, is valuable for them to find.
What Types of Dogs Benefit from the K9 Nose Work® Training Method?
We have found that using the K9 Nose Work® training method has worked for a large swath of dogs. This includes dogs who are young and old dogs alike, dogs that are shy, reserved, nervous, lack motivation, drive or enthusiasm, or are reactive, blind or deaf. Dogs who are frantic or struggle with their frustration thresholds also benefit from this training approach.
Would the K9 Nose Work® Training Method Be a Good Choice for Me?
We think so. We have found this training approach to be the easiest for all handlers to implement and doesn't require any specialized prior knowledge or motor skills to do properly. Having the opportunity to develop your observational skills without also stressing about timing or reward placement, particularly in the beginning, can be quite powerful.
Are You Ready to Get Started?
Check out the following courses we offer through Scent Work University:
Introduction to Scent Work Course
Dianna has been training dogs professionally since 2011. She has done everything from teaching group training classes and private lessons, to specializing in working with fearful, reactive and aggressive dogs, to being a trial official and competition organization staff member.
Following a serious neck and back injury, Dianna was forced to retire from in-person dog training. But she was not ready to give up her passion! So, she created Pet Dog U and Scent Work University to provide outstanding online dog training to as many dog handlers, owners and trainers possible…regardless of where they live! Dianna is incredibly grateful to the amazingly talented group of instructors who have joined PDU and SWU and she looks forward to the continued growth of PDU and SWU and increased learning opportunities all of these online dog training platforms can provide.
In June 2021, Dianna and her business partner, Sean McMurray launched Cyber Scent Work, Inc., an organization that operates in the gray space between training and trialing in Scent Work. With Cyber Scent Work, Inc., handlers have the opportunity to earn Qs, titles and ribbons while also receiving helpful training advice regardless of whether they qualify or not! Be sure to check out Cyber Scent Work, Inc., you will be happy you did!
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