At what age can a dog start Scentwork?

We are often asked how old a dog has to be to start Scentwork. The sense of smell is the first sense to develop in puppies. Long before their eyes and ears open, puppies sniff out their mother and siblings in the whelping box. Now I am not suggesting you scent up a catnip mouse and pop it in with them but I know many people who have introduced a scented article to puppy enrichment at around 6 weeks. I have friends who play the “find it” game with a scented article the first week the puppy is in their new home.

We have had a 12 week old Labrador on our workshops, as well as a 13 year old collie!

Little Hebe below is just 8 months old and she helped her mum, Ali gain Accredited Handler status yesterday. 8 months old and very much a Super Sniffing Search Dog!

So, to answer the question, at what age can my dog start Scentwork? Well, there is no time like the present!

Cold Noses!

All dogs love to sniff, but have you ever noticed now much more intense they become on a cold frosty morning? Temperature and environment have a huge influence on the Scent Picure. Think back to physics 101, when molecules are heated they spread out and move quicker. When they are cooled, they come together and move much more slowly. Therefore the smells your dogs are detecting on a cold day are much more concentrated and intense. Watch your dog next time you are out in the snow and see if they have their nose on the ground more than usual.