Scent Work Introduction-Online

Event Phone: 510 845-7735,ext 215

About the Class

This is a three week introduction to training your dog in scent work (searching). It is recreational, not competition oriented.  In Scent Work, we first teach the search game, adding scent puzzles as the dog becomes proficient.  Ultimately, we teach our dogs on the sport odors of Birch, Anise, Clove and Cypress.

In this section, you will learn how to start your dog at home or in settings that are safe and legal under Covid restrictions.  You will learn how to pair the initial search for food with odors you want to teach.  For instance, you could teach your dog to find cell phones, wildlife scat, anything containing your scent or someone else’s or any type of object that has common chemical components. Before pairing, your dog must be fluent on the search game, which this class will cover.

The  techniques  are similar to those used to train professional detection dogs. Scent work and search skills harness dogs’ natural instincts and love of hunting—your dog will have fun, build confidence, and use mental and physical energy during the class and homework sessions. Instructor Nancy Frensley is a certified Scent work instructor and AKC Scent Work Judge. This class offers a class curriculum that is suitable to prepare your dog for competitions.

Class Requirements

Recommended for dogs of any age. No previous scent work experience required.

. If you have questions, please contact trainthebay@berkeleyhumane.org or call 510-845-7735, ext 215.

Don’t see a class that works for your schedule? Contact Train the Bay to get on a waitlist!