Ahead of my new weekly scentwork club starting next month, I thought I’d write a wee post about scentwork and the benefits it has for your four legged friend.
Scentwork has been around for a very long time, although only more recently has it become a popular sport/hobby for pet dog owners. Scentwork for pet dogs originates from scent detection work for working dogs, who are specially trained to detect all kinds of things such as explosive, drugs, human remains, missing people and dogs, and even health alerts for people with diabetes and epilepsy.
A dogs nose is incredible, and whilst I won’t bore you with ALL the science yet (I’ll save that for a separate blog post!!), I’ll share a couple of facts.
Did you know…
A dog has up to 300 million olfactory receptors, which is a whopping 4900% more than us, with only 6 million.
All olfactory systems are complex, but if you roll ours out flat, it would be roughly the size of an A4 piece of paper. A dogs, in comparison, would be the size of a football pitch!!!
A dogs nose separates the air it takes in, around 88% goes to the lungs for breathing, and 12% goes to an entirely different location for scent processing.
I could go on all day about their phenomenal sense of smell, but today I’m here to tell you about the benefits of scentwork. Not only are dogs amazing at it, but it is also amazing FOR them….
It can be compared to mindfulness, in that it reduces stress and anxiety. In the same way that we can regulate our nervous systems by doing some breathing exercises, dogs can do the same by sniffing. It helps anxious dogs relax, and calms boisterous dogs.
With a higher respiratory rate per minute, sniffing can actually be more tiring than running! For this reason, it can be considered a physical activity, not just a mental activity.
add to number 2, it’s a physical activity that ALL dogs can do. Young, old, deaf, blind, arthritic, reactive. Scentwork is one of the most inclusive activities you can do with your dog, and unlike other physical activities such as agility, they can do it forever.
It gives your dog a job. Most dogs were originally bred to ‘work’ and most dogs really love to work in some way or another. If you don’t give your ‘working’ dog a job, be prepared for them to go self-employed! Yes, that’s right cockapoo owners, I’m looking at you and your working dogs!!
Using their noses released endorphins, or happy hormones. It quite literally makes them feel happy. What further excuses do you need?!
If you’d like to give scentwork in Glasgow a go, you can find details of my upcoming beginners scentwork classes and weekly scent club here.
Sits n Wiggles new weekly Scent Club starts on Tuesday 20th August. We will be out and about practicing the dog’s skills in areas in the Southside of Glasgow, including Shawlands, Pollokshaws, Pollokshields, Strathbungo, Battlefield and surrounding areas. In the near future, I will be introducing new times, dates and locations so if the Southside doesn’t suit you, keep an eye out for scentwork in Bishopbriggs, Springburn, Cadder and surrounding areas shortly!

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