Sniffly Dogs

26/05/2026

We've had a bit of a Generation Game experience here today at Sniffly Dogs HQ helping out the elderly by keeping their brains active and their fingers nimble.

They have been making squirrels for us. We'll not look too closely at them as some might not look like they should do.

There has been lots of laughter and we'll have them back to make some more...they might get the hang of it with enough practice.

23/05/2026

Want a great day out next Saturday?

This is THE place to be.

Lots of things to do and see for all the family, including your dog.

We'll be there on our first charity event of the year, so come and join us in support of 8 Below Husky Rescue and the amazing work they do.

Let's all make it a day to remember.

22/05/2026

52 dogs. 20 breeds. A Chihuahua to a Dobermann. 6 months to 11 years old.

Some had done scentwork before. Some had never tried anything like it. Some plodded. Some bombed around. Some ate everything in sight, some spat it out.

No two dogs were the same.

Last weekend we ran a have-a-go scentwork session at the National Police Dog Trials hosted by West Yorkshire Police here at Nostell NT and every single dog that stopped by, sniffed their way around, stayed curious, and enjoyed themselves.

For us, that's the most important thing. Scentwork doesn't ask dogs to be something they're not, it just lets them be exactly who they are.

19/05/2026

We’re excited to be hosting a CPD-accredited Dog First Aid Course at Sniffly Dogs, delivered by Jane at Dog First Aid.

Whether you live with dogs, work with dogs, or simply want more confidence in an emergency, this practical and hands-on workshop is designed to help you stay calm, think clearly, and know what to do when it matters most.

You’ll learn:
• How to respond in common first aid situations
• Practical, real-world skills you can actually use
• How to support your dog while waiting for veterinary help

The course includes:
✔ CPD-accredited certificate valid for 3 years
✔ Handbook and course materials
✔ Practical demonstrations
✔ Light refreshments

📍 Sniffly Dogs, The Kennels, Nostell Estate
📅 Sunday 31st May 2026 | 10am–2.30pm
📅 Wednesday 24th June 2026 | 4.30pm–9pm
📅 Saturday 18th July 2026 | 10am–2.30pm

£64.50 per person

Book through Events or email us at [email protected]

Because confidence is not about expecting the worst.
It’s about being prepared enough that panic does not take over.

17/05/2026

We had the most amazing day yesterday at the National Police Dog Trials Family Fun Day hosted by West Yorkshire Police at Nostell NT.

Along with the many people we had giving our mini Sniffly scent activity a go or to watch, the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, Sir John Robins, stopped by to learn more about what we do.

Thanks to him and to the whole team behind the event, including the police dogs and their handlers, for a great few days.

We’ll be sharing more of what we saw and learned from the event over the next couple of weeks.

Nostell Estate

15/05/2026

If you’re going to the National Police Dog Trials tomorrow at Nostell NT, you’re in for a treat! We’ve been popping over to catch what we can today - seeing the relationship between dog and handler is just amazing…good luck to PC Greenup & PD Mali, PC Van Bellen & PD Bruce and PC Norman & PD Marley from West Yorkshire Police

11/05/2026

Everyone's asking which harness is best. Or whether a collar and lead is fine. That's the wrong question.

Go into any dog owner group and ask about equipment. You'll get 163 replies. Half will recommend a harness. Half will tell you a collar and lead is fine. Someone will mention a specific brand. Someone else will disagree with that someone.

And almost none of it will help you.

Because the question everyone's asking stops at the equipment. What it looks like. What it costs. What it clips onto. Nobody's asking what it allows.

When I took Ember to the beach for the first time, I wasn't thinking about which piece of equipment was best. I was thinking about what I needed her to be able to do; pause when she wasn't sure, follow her nose, move at her own pace in a place she'd never been to before. Because the result of having some control over herself would be what turned the beach from something unknown into somewhere she'd one day love to be. And she does…more recent clips are in the comments

05/05/2026

We’re running some Dog First Aid courses soon, at our venue on the Nostell Estate.

There’s a few dates to choose from, click ‘more’ at the top of the page and look for the events tab to book your place, or feel free to message us if you’d like more info.

The course is run by Jane from Dog First Aid South Yorkshire

17/04/2026

Sniffly Dogs are going to be at the National Police Dogs Trials Family Fun Day.

If you're going to find us to say hello or ask us anything scentwork or dog training related.

And if your dog is tagging along, we'll have a free mini scent activity for them to have a go.

If you're coming by car, don't forget to prebook your parking (link in the comments).

National Police Dog Trials – booking now open! 🐕

As you may have already heard, we’ll be hosting this year’s National Police Dog Trials 🚓

Everyone is welcome to join us for a family fun day on the final stage of the competition at Nostell on Saturday 16 May.

Entry is free and tickets will not be required, however if you are planning to arrive by car you will need to pre-book a parking space.

Parking will cost £5 per car and demand is expected to be high, so we would advise booking ASAP or please consider arriving by public transport.

06/04/2026

What if dog training wasn't what you thought it was?

Not commands. Not control. Not making your dog do things.

What if it was actually about understanding them, really understanding them, so that life together just... worked better?

We see it in Facebook comments all the time. Someone's dog has pulled on the lead, or jumped up, or not come back when called etc etc and in the responses you'll always find some version of:
firm voice, show them who's in charge, they need to respect you.

And I get why people say it. It's what most of us were taught.
But what if that framing is actually making things harder, for you and your dog?

When we work with people, we don't talk about obedience. We talk about understanding. What's your dog feeling? What do they need? What are they trying to tell you?

Because when you start from that place, everything gets easier. The walks get calmer. The relationship gets better. And you stop feeling like you're constantly failing.

Your dog doesn't need to obey you. They need you to
understand them. And that's a very different thing.

Giving dogs' choices is the post that'll be following on from this. It's a controversial one in the dog world, but we think you might surprise yourself with where you land on it.