A new dog sport has hit the streets and it’s called K9 Nose Work. The sport offers dogs the opportunity to work their minds. The consensus is that dogs and their owners love this sport because it’s completely motivational.
And for those training in another sport but want to give K9 Nose Work a try, it’s a great addition.
“This type of training is absolutely motivational and positive because virtually no corrections are given,” said a spokesperson for Performance K-9 Training. “Building up your dog’s natural scent instinct is the driving force of this fun sport.”
Dogs and their handlers take to it so well many participate in competition trials. These trials offer three distinct levels where dogs search for a scent, and when they find it, the animals alert their handlers.
“For trial beginners, typically food will be hidden in a box or other object,” the spokesperson said. “From there, the dogs advance to recognizing different scents such as clove and anise.”
The founders of the sport were careful not to use outdoor scents that dogs come into contact with on a daily basis.
“Your dog might may do so great that it moves on to its K9 Nose Work in vehicles, open space areas and even buildings,” the spokesperson said. “Really, any dog no matter their size or age can do this sport because the animal is doing what comes naturally and that’s nosing around.”
K9 Nose Work is part of the National Association of Canine Scent Work, also referred to as NACSW. Their 2,000 membership numbers around the nation continues to grow.
Visiting www.k9nosework.com is a good starting point to learn more about this dog sport and what’s available in the area.
Comments