When it comes to tiring out our dogs, we tend to think bigger hikes, longer runs, or another 50 rounds of fetch. But working their brain can be just as important, and one of the easiest ways to do that is sitting right on the front of their face. Their nose.
Scent work gives dogs a chance to do something they’re naturally very, very good at: sniffing. Searching for a smell requires focus, problem-solving, and concentration, giving their brain a workout while their legs take a break.
We caught up with Rachael Davis, Certified Nose Work Instructor and founder of Limerick Hill Canines, to learn why nose work is so good for dogs and how to get started at home. Rachael has been training dogs for 20 years, working with everyone from reactive dogs to competitive athletes. But nose work has become her favorite part of the job, mostly because it flips the usual dynamic between dogs and their people.
More Exercise Isn't Always the Answer
If you've got a high-energy dog, you probably know that wearing them out physically can feel like a full-time job. And the more you exercise them, the better they get at it. Now, you just have a fitter dog, not a calmer dog.
Sound familiar?
That's where mental exercise comes in. Giving dogs something to figure out can be just as valuable as giving them something to chase. And the best part? You don't need hours to make it worthwhile.
Every Dog Has a Nose
One of the coolest things about scent work is that pretty much any dog can do it. The sport actually got its start as an enrichment activity for shelter dogs. A group of professional detection dog handlers in California wanted to give shelter and companion dogs the same opportunity to put their noses to work. They went on to found the National Association of Canine Scent Work. What started as a simple enrichment activity eventually became a competitive sport.
Today, Rachael works with dogs of all ages and abilities. Her upcoming intro class includes puppies as young as 12 weeks old. But she also teaches senior dogs, rescues, and former agility dogs looking for a less physically demanding activity. No special breed, training background, or athletic ability required. Just a nose and a little curiosity.
Our Favorite At-Home Scent Game: Ickle Bickle
We couldn't tell you where the name came from, but in our house, the words "Ickle Bickle" mean one thing: there are treats hidden somewhere, and it's time to find them. Our dogs go absolutely nuts for this game. It takes a couple of minutes to set up, requires zero special equipment, and is an easy way to sneak in some mental exercise.
Here's how we play:
Start with a stay. Have your dog lie down in one room while you head into another. At first, you’ll likely need to close the door because they will get pretty excited when they hear the crinkle of the treat bag.
Hide three treats. Scatter them around the other room, starting with easy hiding spots. We're talking on a chair, next to their water bowl, somewhere in plain sight.
Release the hound. Head back to your dog, have them smell your hands for the treats you just hid, and give your release cue, followed by an enthusiastic “Find it! Ickle Bickle!” Let them sniff out all three treats. If they’re having trouble figuring out what they’re supposed to do, walk around with them, near the treats, saying “Ickle Bickle / Find it,” and helping them ‘find’ the treats. Eventually they’ll catch on.
Repeat. Send them back for another stay, hide three more treats, and go again. That's it! Seriously.
If your dog has no idea what's happening, Rachael recommends starting even simpler with a few cardboard boxes. Toss treats into the boxes while your dog watches, then let them investigate. Once they've figured out that sniffing leads to snacks, you can start hiding treats out of sight. And there's no need to turn this into an hour-long activity.
Ready to Level Up?
As your dog gets better at the game, start making the hiding spots harder. Tuck treats around corners, behind furniture, at different heights, or in places where they’ll really have to follow their nose instead of relying on their eyes. Expand the search area: add height, take it outside, add more rooms, you get it.
Your Role in the Game
Here's something that might surprise you: once your dog knows the game, your job is mostly to do nothing. No pointing, no hovering, no giving away the hiding spots. It can be tempting to help when your dog walks right past a treat. But just because you know where it's hidden doesn't mean you know how the scent is traveling. Air currents can carry smells around corners or cause them to collect in unexpected places. Your dog might head in what looks like the completely wrong direction, when they're actually following the scent exactly where it leads. So resist the urge to intervene. Let them figure it out.
Let The Dogs Sniff!
We're all for long hikes, trail runs, and big adventures with our dogs. But not every day needs to be a five-mile outing. Sometimes a few minutes of sniffing around the living room is exactly the kind of challenge your dog needs. And there's something pretty entertaining about watching your dog go from completely clueless to OH MY GOD I FOUND IT in a matter of seconds. So next time your dog is staring at you like you haven't provided nearly enough entertainment for the day, grab a few treats.
Want to Take the Game Further?
If your dog loves the game, consider signing up for an Intro to Nose Work class. Rachael recommends finding a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) near you with beginner courses typically running six to eight weeks. Rachael teaches everything from beginner to advanced nose work at Limerick Hill Canines in Herminie, Pennsylvania, about 45 minutes outside Pittsburgh.
Ickle Bickle!
