Nose Work
The world’s best-smelling dog sport
Nose work is a fun, engaging dog sport open to dogs and humans of almost any age or ability.
Your dog is a natural at finding and tracking odor. Turn that skill into a game you can play any time, anywhere!
- Burn off extra energy
- Build confidence
- Keep senior dogs active
Course Progression
Think of Nose Work as a game that gets more advanced over time. You have to learn the basics before moving on to the next level.
Intro to Nose Work
Teach your dog to systematically search an area and locate an odor source.
Intro to Odor
Using odor kits, you’ll teach your dog to search for a specific scent. Prerequisite: Intro to Nose Work.
Continuing Nose Work
Prep to compete, or come for fun! Easy, drop-in format. Prerequisite: Intro to Odor.
Intro to Nose Work
Choose between in-person or virtual classes. Use boxes and food or toys to teach your dog how to systematically search an area and locate the source of odor. Be sure to check the list below for the equipment you’ll need for this class.
- Build drive and stamina for search
- Create enthusiasm using the reinforcer dogs love best: food or toys!
- Virtual course includes six work-at-your-own-pace modules; cost is $140
- In-person classes meet weekly for a total of six 60-minute classes; cost is $195
- In-person classes are capped at 5 dogs so each dog gets plenty of fun
Intro to Odor
Build on basic skills from Intro to Nose Work to advance to the next level. Use odor kits (tins and birch-scented Q-tips) to teach your dog how to search for the odor of birch. Be sure to check the list below for the equipment you’ll need for this class.
- Prerequisite: Intro to Nose Work
- Direct your dog’s enthusiasm from the game of finding treats to the game of finding specific smells
- Lay the foundation for nose work competition or continuing nose work classes with additional odors
- Classes meet weekly for a total of six 60-minute classes; cost is $195
- In-person classes are capped at 5 dogs so each dog gets plenty of fun
Continuing Nose Work
Join this drop-in style class to prep for nose work competitions, or just have fun! Summer classes involve frequent field trips for an added challenge. Be sure to check the list below for the equipment you’ll need for this class.
- Prerequisite: Intro to Odor
- Introduce new search elements: containers, vehicles, and exteriors
- Introduce new odors: anise and clove
- $32 for a single class; or, save by purchasing classes in a 5-pack ($155) or 8-pack ($240)
- In-person classes are capped at 5 dogs so each dog gets plenty of fun
Required Training Equipment
- 6-foot leash (retractable leashes not accepted)
- Flat collar and/or harness (no prong collars, choke chains or shock collars allowed)
- Lots of your dog’s favorite treats, cut into small pieces
- A treat holder you can attach to your clothes for easy access
- A favorite toy, if your dog is play-motivated
