Noble Nose Scent Detection Foundations Series

Unlock Your Dog’s Nose Power!

Start your scent detection journey with Foundations 1, where your dog is introduced to the target odour of wintergreen and begins developing essential scent discrimination skills. Through engaging search games and progressively challenging indoor search setups, your dog will learn to identify and indicate the odour source with confidence.

But it’s not just about the dog—handlers will receive hands-on instruction in leash handling, search area approach, and effective search strategies to become a strong scent detection team. Whether you’re looking for a fun mental challenge for your dog or laying the groundwork for future scent work competitions, this course provides the perfect starting point.

• 🔍 Key Skills Covered:
  ✅ Introduction to wintergreen as the target odour
  ✅ Scent discrimination games with a variety of objects
  ✅ Building confidence in interior searches
  ✅ Leash handling and search area approach
  ✅ Developing foundational search strategies

💡 No experience required! Perfect for beginners looking to explore the exciting world of scent detection.

Advancing Your Dog’s Scent Detection Skills

Take your scent detection training to the next level with Foundations 2! In this series, we introduce pine as a new target odour while reinforcing and expanding upon essential scent work skills. Your dog will learn to stay focused despite common distractors like toys and food, enhancing their ability to work independently and with precision.

We’ll also introduce multiple hides in a search area, teaching dogs to restart their search after a find—an essential skill for advanced scent work. Handlers will continue refining leash handling, search patterns, and strategic problem-solving, all while building their dog’s search stamina for longer, more challenging searches.

• 🔍 Key Skills Covered:
  ✅ Introduction to pine as a new target odour
  ✅ Proofing against food and toy distractions
  ✅ Restarting after a find to search for multiple hides
  ✅ Developing stamina for longer searches
  ✅ Refining search strategies and handling skills

💡 Prerequisite: Completion of Foundations 1 or equivalent experience.

Building Confidence, Strategy & Trial Readiness

Ready to take your scent detection skills even further? Foundations 3 introduces thyme as a new target odour while sharpening both dog and handler abilities in more complex search scenarios. Dogs will strengthen their stamina for multiple-hide searches, while handlers gain the confidence to call a search with an unknown number of hides—a critical step toward trial preparation.

We’ll tackle common trial pitfalls, such as lingering odour, and introduce exciting SDDA Games to enhance problem-solving and teamwork. This series also includes an introduction to exterior searches, where you’ll learn how environmental factors like wind, temperature, and terrain impact scent movement.

• 🔍 Key Skills Covered:
  ✅ Introduction to thyme as a new target odour
  ✅ Managing multiple-hide searches with increasing difficulty
  ✅ Calling a search with an unknown number of hides
  ✅ Handling lingering odour and other trial challenges
  ✅ Introduction to SDDA Games: Speed, Distance, Aerial, and Teams
  ✅ Exterior search fundamentals and environmental considerations

💡 Prerequisite: Completion of Foundations 2 or equivalent experience.