YOUR DOG'S NOSE KNOWS YOU KNOW ....how much does your dog know?

Your dogs nose is AMAZING, if only they could tell us what it is telling them. Their natural instinct is to sniff everything, nose down and bum up with tail wagging! They literally sniff out the latest news. A lamp post to a dog is like their social media feed and our dogs spend about the same amount of time on it as we do our phones. We humans have found many incredible uses for the dogs nose including detection of medical conditions, rot, explosives, criminals, pests and bugs, lost possessions and people in fact what a dogs nose can detect to save life, time and money is only limited by our imagination.

Your dog does not need to be trained to use its nose but you can tap into that natural ability and with training focus on finding specific things for fun in the home or to make your walks a lot more interactive and interesting.

I have studied dogs and their ability to scent for over 30 years and have trained many dogs across many disciplines. Despite all that experience it still constantly amazes me what a dog can find once you switch their nose on and don't get me started on the joy I get watching them air scenting and quickly changing direction when they are on it, or when something is buried so deep that you think they will never get that one - they always do.

There have of course been the perilous moments like the time I was show boating with one of our girls and threw my wallet over a river to prove to my wife that said Spaniel would bring it back to hand - yes across the river (I hadn't really thought that through and the pub were less than impressed with the soggy note I later gave them). There have also been the funny moments when I had painstakingly dropped unseen by the dog a number of items along a river bank to send them back to find only to have a concerned passer by dash up to me panting to give them back!

My favourite memory of seeing a scent dog evolve is of Bou (the girl in the picture), Boudica was her name and she was indeed queen of all she surveyed. She was we had decided destined to be a search and rescue dog however she was far too young (only 3 months) for any serious training yet she clearly wanted to do more than just run over the downs. I was going through a period of ill health and needed to focus on her training to keep my mind occupied as well as lay the groundwork in a fun way for her potential future. Having spent my life in Sussex and knowing a few local legends about truffles being on them there downs, I decided to train her to sniff them out for fun. The thought of this excited my wife Debbie as she loves to cook and had already worked out what she would do with them. And so it began..... daily fun, man and dog working together and off on adventures every day always sending updates to make Debbie smile at work. Suffice to say we formed an unbreakable bond and well you could have blown me down on a particularly miserable day when she popped up of a pile of black diamonds, I couldn't wait to send the photos to Debbie!!!

Her daughter Guinevere (yes we like a queens name) is following in her fabulous mothers paw prints and over the years since I have trained a large number of clients how to liven up their walks hunting with their hounds.

Be warned though you need to get out there early to beat the badgers to them!

Truffle hunting isn't for everyone or every dog, not everyone has access to the right woodland and truffle season is relatively short. Some owners or dogs may have mobility issues or there may be time constraints, we all have busy lives but the dog still needs activity to wear them out and a mental game can be just as exhausting as a long walk. There is a scent game to suit all dogs, lifestyle and environment and it needn't cost a fortune to get going.

Scent activities for dogs are recognised as keeping the dog mentally and physically agile and we are delighted that we can offer you focused scent sessions and training in our secure fields and barn.

I am lucky that we have the facilities and land that means dog and owner can learn together in a safe, secure not to mention beautiful environment whilst working with a trainer (that's me by the way) who loves scent, understands the dogs nose and has a wealth of experience as well as a story or two!

The benefits of a scent activity are great and the potential for having a lot of fun is huge, to me there is nothing as rewarding as when I see a dog come alive to scents they always look so pleased with themselves and the owner is generally hugely proud.

I have set out some of the benefits below.

• Builds confidence in a shy dog.

• Taps into what your dog is already well equipped for and focuses it.

• Reinforces commands providing a better response in all aspects of your dogs life

• Stimulates and exercises your dog both physically and mentally

• You and your dog work together - its about teamwork

• Fun time for you and your dog.

If you would like to find out more why not book a TASTE OF SCENT or CONTACT ME to find out whether this could be for you?

I would really love to welcome you here to Wilmington and have some scent fun! ​

To try out scent and see if it for you I offer a Taste of Scent which is a 2 hour session at Wilmington. Totally devoted to your dogs nose. You will learn about the different types of scenting and have the opportunity to search for different objects and scent. As its a One to One I will spend time discussing ways you can work with your dog in your own environment after the session. I can also tailor sessions if you have longer term plans for your scent hound.​

I will show you different techniques to find what interests you and your dog. You will get to test the techniques and leave with tips, commands and games to have fun in your home or on your walks.

Suitable for all breeds and ages.- any dog can have fun with new activities.