We wanted to share what a success our ‘Introduction to Scentwork and Agility’ workshop was on Saturday. Jointly hosted by Reef Agility and The Confident K9 we wanted to thank everyone for coming and hope you all had as good time as we did!
The event was followed by an interview with BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester about our workshop.
If you would like to have a listen to the show, click on the link below. We have a mention at 02:30 and then the main interview is 02:36 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09nf8hl
Adelaide of The Confident K9: Behaviourist and Scentwork Instructor
Mariann of Reef Agility: Trainer and Agility Bronze medallist for Team GB. She was also sponsored by Vetoquinol Pet.
If you would like to join the fun and get training your dog, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We have loads of exiting games that will help you and your dog enjoy themselves and really build up you relationship.
Check out the video of our workshop on our YouTube link here: https://youtu.be/xu2wE7tJQps
What are the benefits of Scentwork?
Starting scentwork games with your dog is so much fun and you can start today! The safest thing to begin using is dog food or tasty dog treats. This simply gets the dog practicing scenting and searching with their nose and it is something you have readily available at home. This can also be done using the scent of their favourite toy.
When you are ready to progress, you can consider using a more specific scent that your dog will not commonly find in the home. You want to use a scent that is unique to your scentwork training and will be a scent your dog identifies to find.
Not sure what scent to use?
Sometimes it’s hard to know what scent to use. Here is a blog I did previously outlining what is safe and not. Click here to find out what scents are safe for dogs and what scents to avoid.
What are the benefits of Agility?
Agility is a great way to have fun and create an unbreakable bond with your dog! Agility is an activity that allows your dog to have fun whilst also getting mental stimulation and exercise. Whether you have dreams of getting to Crufts or just want to try something new, there is something for everyone. For more information about agility and to see what the fun is about please don’t hesitate to contact us but you can also check out Agility Net and UK Agility.
Conclusion
Scentwork is so easy to do, you don’t have to purchase anything special at first and it can be done anywhere. Be warned, once you get your dog sniffing, you won’t stop! It feels great to work as a team and see just how happy your dog is when they are sniffing.
After you have done some simple excercises hiding food, you can then build up to teaching your dog to search for a particular scent such as the ones listed above. Remember to check if the scent you choose is toxic to dogs or any other pet in the household and don’t over use it. Infusion or dilution is best as our dog’s sense of smell is far, far greater than ours. For more inspiration, please see our 5 fun scentwork games for the home and garden by clicking here.
If you are interested in in getting help with your dog’s scentwork skills book a private lesson with me! I will help you personalise a scentwork training plan and progress your dog as we go! Fill out the contact form here. Do also check out our sister company Elite Scentwork here.
For further information please email us on info@theconfident-k9.com
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