We know that nose work and a dog's sense of smell are important. But did you know that it's the best way for a dog to use their head, it's mentally tiring and not stressful.
The sense of smell is the dog's best and most important sense. In fact, they use about 30% of their brain capacity on the sense of smell. Dogs are born with an extremely good sense of smell, and it is the sense they lose last.
There are SO many ways for a dog to use their nose, so it's pretty much only the imagination that sets the limits - and the human desire to try new things. Here we've given you some inspiration for good search exercises:
Dog's Brain Capacity 1: How to easily do search exercises at home
Indoors you can hide food or toys. Either under something, behind something or in something. It should be so that the dog cannot see it, but has to use its sense of smell to be successful. Outdoors you can hide in the grass, behind bushes, on branches, between pieces of wood, under things – again so that they cannot be seen, but must be smelled.
At first it should be easy, so that the dog is successful, so that it wants to do it again. At the same time, it should be something the dog thinks is good to find. Either a toy or delicious treats. You can guide the dog if it is too difficult, by showing with a little loose movement that there is something to look for.
At the same time, say the signal: sea-eye in a soft voice.
Dog's brain capacity 2: Search for object/thing – (hide object instead of food)
As described above – anything can be hidden, as long as the dog thinks it is worth finding. Toys, balls, dad's angry socks. If necessary, put the dog down, go out and hide the thing, and say "so-o-o-o" to the dog. At first, it should not be hidden too far away, the distance can be increased as the dog understands the exercise and is successful.
It might be a good idea to have something to trade with, so that when the dog has found what is being hidden, it comes back and delivers it, and possibly gets a treat in exchange.
Dog's brain capacity 3: Food in the garden rather than in the bowl
Another easy option for activation is to spread the dog's dry food out on the lawn, so that it has to work to find the food, and thus uses more time, energy and its sense of smell when it has to eat.
Dogs often "gulp" the food in the food bowl and you find that after a few minutes they are ready for more food. By extending the food and making the dog work at the same time, you get a dog that also has to use energy mentally to eat. You often find that picky dogs think it is more fun to eat because they have to look for the food.
If you feed raw, with bones and legs, or give the dog a bone once in a while, this is also an activity that really tires the dog because it has to gnaw and chew, an activity that also has a stress-relieving effect on the dog and that they enjoy spending time on.
Dog's Brain Capacity 4: Follow the Trail
Lay a short trail in a line in a field or in some forest floor for the dog to find.
For example, you can make a quick, easy trail by filling a nylon sock with some raw liver or meat (well soaked) and pulling it in a line (mark the start/end if necessary). Place some treats along the trail and finish with something extra tasty. Let the trail lie for 10-20 minutes (maybe go for a walk first) and then start by letting the dog start at the starting point with the command Search.
Walk a good distance behind the dog with a loose leash and trust the dog to work without you helping too much – remember to praise it along the way.
Over time, you can increase the difficulty level based on the length of the trail, the amount of time it rests, the terrain, and whether the trail is straight or winding.
The important thing here is not correct tracking, but that the dog finds it fun and works with its nose.
Really enjoyed the training.
*Source
DogCoach Course Behavior & Activation w/ Behavior Expert Merethe Børgart Olesen
Dog's brain capacity: Uses 30% on sense of smell
We know that nose work and a dog's sense of smell are important. But did you know that it's the best way for a dog to use their head, it's mentally tiring and not stressful.
The sense of smell is the dog's best and most important sense. In fact, they use about 30% of their brain capacity on the sense of smell. Dogs are born with an extremely good sense of smell, and it is the sense they lose last.
There are SO many ways for a dog to use their nose, so it's pretty much only the imagination that sets the limits - and the human desire to try new things. Here we've given you some inspiration for good search exercises:
Dog's Brain Capacity 1: How to easily do search exercises at home
Indoors you can hide food or toys. Either under something, behind something or in something. It should be so that the dog cannot see it, but has to use its sense of smell to be successful. Outdoors you can hide in the grass, behind bushes, on branches, between pieces of wood, under things – again so that they cannot be seen, but must be smelled.
At first it should be easy, so that the dog is successful, so that it wants to do it again. At the same time, it should be something the dog thinks is good to find. Either a toy or delicious treats. You can guide the dog if it is too difficult, by showing with a little loose movement that there is something to look for.
At the same time, say the signal: sea-eye in a soft voice.
Dog's brain capacity 2: Search for object/thing – (hide object instead of food)
As described above – anything can be hidden, as long as the dog thinks it is worth finding. Toys, balls, dad's angry socks. If necessary, put the dog down, go out and hide the thing, and say "so-o-o-o" to the dog. At first, it should not be hidden too far away, the distance can be increased as the dog understands the exercise and is successful.
It might be a good idea to have something to trade with, so that when the dog has found what is being hidden, it comes back and delivers it, and possibly gets a treat in exchange.
Dog's brain capacity 3: Food in the garden rather than in the bowl
Another easy option for activation is to spread the dog's dry food out on the lawn, so that it has to work to find the food, and thus uses more time, energy and its sense of smell when it has to eat.
Dogs often "gulp" the food in the food bowl and you find that after a few minutes they are ready for more food. By extending the food and making the dog work at the same time, you get a dog that also has to use energy mentally to eat. You often find that picky dogs think it is more fun to eat because they have to look for the food.
If you feed raw, with bones and legs, or give the dog a bone once in a while, this is also an activity that really tires the dog because it has to gnaw and chew, an activity that also has a stress-relieving effect on the dog and that they enjoy spending time on.
Dog's Brain Capacity 4: Follow the Trail
Lay a short trail in a line in a field or in some forest floor for the dog to find.
For example, you can make a quick, easy trail by filling a nylon sock with some raw liver or meat (well soaked) and pulling it in a line (mark the start/end if necessary). Place some treats along the trail and finish with something extra tasty. Let the trail lie for 10-20 minutes (maybe go for a walk first) and then start by letting the dog start at the starting point with the command Search.
Walk a good distance behind the dog with a loose leash and trust the dog to work without you helping too much – remember to praise it along the way.
Over time, you can increase the difficulty level based on the length of the trail, the amount of time it rests, the terrain, and whether the trail is straight or winding.
The important thing here is not correct tracking, but that the dog finds it fun and works with its nose.
Really enjoyed the training.
*Source
DogCoach Course Behavior & Activation w/ Behavior Expert Merethe Børgart Olesen