16/10/2026
🐾 SCENT WORK – LET YOUR DOG BE A DOG! 🐾
At Chasewsterdogs, we're big believers in allowing dogs to be dogs!
Not every training session needs to be about obedience, heelwork, recall or constantly asking your dog to perform commands.
Sometimes, one of the most beneficial things we can do is take the pressure off and allow our dogs to use one of their greatest natural abilities – their nose! 👃🐕
Scent work is something we regularly incorporate into our training programmes, particularly with dogs struggling with anxiety, reactivity, frustration, overarousal or a lack of confidence.
So why is scent work so important?
🐾 MENTAL STIMULATION – Dogs need to exercise their brains just as much as their bodies. Searching, investigating and problem-solving provide fantastic mental enrichment.
🐾 CONFIDENCE BUILDING – Allowing dogs to explore independently, make their own decisions and successfully complete searches can really help build confidence.
🐾 EMOTIONAL REGULATION – Calm, self-paced scent work can help dogs slow down, manage their arousal levels and become more comfortable within their environment.
🐾 INDEPENDENCE – We don't want dogs relying on us for every decision. Giving them the freedom to investigate and work things out for themselves is an important part of their development.
🐾 NATURAL FULFILMENT – Sniffing, tracking and searching are natural canine behaviours. Allowing dogs to express these instincts contributes towards their overall wellbeing.
And the best part? It doesn't need to be complicated!
Take a portion of your dog's daily food allowance, scatter it across the grass and allow them to find it.
Hide food around the garden, introduce different searching areas or gradually increase the difficulty as their confidence develops.
Don't constantly talk to them, rush them or interfere.
Let them use their nose, let them think and let them work!
At Chasewsterdogs, we don't believe successful dog training is simply about having a dog that can sit, stay and walk to heel.
It's about understanding the dog in front of us, recognising their individual needs and creating a balance between structure, engagement, freedom and natural fulfilment.
We work with dogs of all breeds, ages and behavioural backgrounds, and sometimes the biggest improvements come from the simplest changes to their daily routine.
Remember, a physically exhausted dog isn't necessarily a mentally fulfilled dog.
Give your dog a job, give them an opportunity to think, and most importantly...
🐾 LET YOUR DOG BE A DOG! 🐾
Chasewsterdogs
Training & Behaviour Modification
📩 Struggling with your dog's behaviour or looking to provide them with a more fulfilling lifestyle? Get in touch and find out how we can help!
