Augusta is Now Offering Scent Work (Nose Work) Classes!

Scent Work (Nose Work) is an exciting new dog sport utilizing a dog’s amazing sense of smell. It is based on the work of professional detection dogs that are used for drug and explosive device searches. Scent Work training is rapidly growing in popularity. It is one of the American Kennel Club’s newest dog sports in which a family dog can earn performance titles. Many classes have a two to three month wait list to join!

Scent Work (Nose Work)

  • A dog’s sense of smell that’s between 10,000 and 100,000 times more acute than ours!
  • Turning your dog’s favorite activity into a rewarding game.
  • Builds teamwork and communication skills between handler and dog
  • Easily accessible dog sport for handler of any age and any breed of dog
  • Earn AKC titles that become part of your dog’s permanent record through the American Kennel Club!
Wet dog sniffing pebbles
Puppy sniffing the ground indoors

What Do You Do During Scent Work (Nose Work) Training?

In Scent Work (Nose Work) training, dogs search for cotton swabs saturated with the essential oils of Birch, Anise, Clove, and Cypress. The cotton swabs are hidden out of sight in a pre-determined search area, and the dog must find them. Teamwork is necessary: when the dog finds the scent, he must communicate his “find” to the handler.

During class each handler and dog team work individually to ensure each dog / handler team can train distraction-free and to gain the most from each class. Non-working dogs are required to wait quietly in their crates to not disturb the working dogs. Handlers are welcome and encouraged to observe the working team in order to expand their training knowledge. Each team will have multiple opportunities for searches per one-hour class.

When are Classes offered?

We are now offering Scent Work (Nose Work) classes in Long Lake!

Classes follow the same format of our obedience classes. They are 6 weeks in duration meeting once per week for 1 hour.

Class is limited to 6 dog handler teams. Cost is $140.00

German shepherd sniffing the ground near the beach
Young puppy holding a log in a forest

Required Training Gear

6-foot leash, leather or nylon collar or non-restrictive harness free of tags, treats and treat pouch or toy if your dog is toy driven, crate, water and bowl. Training collars, head halters and harnesses to aid in the ease of walking are not permitted.

Class Requirements

Dogs must have completed a basic obedience course (or equivalent), meet vaccination requirements and wait quietly in a crate.