What is K9 Nose Work™?
K9 Nose Work™ is a fun activity for dogs and people designed around your dog’s natural scenting ability and desire to hunt. It provides mental enrichment, helps increase confidence, and is just a lot of fun! K9 Nose Work™ also gives you the opportunity to learn more about and appreciate your dog’s amazing “scent-ability”.
What do you teach a dog in these classes?
Dogs are already extremely capable of finding things with their noses, so we don’t actually have to teach that. In the beginner classes, class instructors and handlers (that’s you) set up many different situations for dogs to hunt for food rewards with increasing levels of challenge. In the advanced stages, dogs are taught to search for tiny hints of odor, and are always rewarded at the end of each hunt. It’s amazing to see how the dogs get excited about hunting even in their first class!
What kind of dog can participate in K9 Nose Work™ classes?
One great thing about this activity is that it’s suitable for just about any dog and any person, even those with some physical limitations. All breeds and mixes of all ages are welcome, and even dogs who are reactive to other dogs or people can safely join a class. Most dog activities & sports, such as agility, flyball, and rally obedience, are not typically suitable for dogs who are reactive to other dogs. But Nose Work can open up a whole new world of enrichment for these dogs!! Dogs often work off-leash in class so only one dog works at a time and all others are crated in a calm area until their turn comes around again. This is done so the working dog is not distracted by other dogs outside of the “sniff zone”. Each dog will have multiple opportunities to search during class, so they won’t spend a lot of time in crates.
Great for competitors and non-competitors alike.
There are Nose Work™ competitions across the United States and in parts of Canada. However, you don’t need to compete for you and your dog to receive the full benefits of this exciting activity. You will quickly learn K9 Nose Work™ techniques that are easily re-created at home for practice and fun! Dogs don’t care if they win any competitions, so they enjoy the sport whether they compete or not.
Added bonus for some dogs with behavior issues.
Since the founders of K9 Nose Work™ (all professional scent detection dog trainers and handlers) started offering these classes in 2006, owners who have dogs with separation anxiety, reactivity, environmental sensitivity, and other stress-related concerns have reported improvement after Nose Work became a part of their lives. Wendy Hazenstab, Certified Nose Work Instructor, has also found this to be true with some of her students.
How can I find out more information?
For more information about the sport, see the official K9 Nose Work™ website: www.k9nosework.com. Also check out YouTube for videos of some dogs in action! Just search on K9 Nose Work™.
How do I get started?
If you’re interested in registering for a 6-week class (approximately one hour per week), please email Wendy at: training@myshilohvet.com, or call Shiloh Veterinary Hospital at 717-767-0180.
If you’re not ready to join a class but are curious about K9 Nose Work™, you’re welcome to come and observe a class. Please contact Wendy to schedule a time.
Wendy Hazenstab, Certified Veterinary Technician, has completed the Certified Nose Work Instructor Program created and taught by the original founders of K9 Nose Work™. Wendy became a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) in January, 2012.
Additional training classes offered at the Shiloh Veterinary Hospital include:
- Puppy Preschool
- Puppy Kindergarten
- Canine Manners
For more information about these classes, please email Wendy at: training@myshilohvet.com or call Shiloh Veterinary Hospital at 717-767-0180.