Wherever you are, and whatever treat you’re trying to sneakily eat away from twitching noses, your pooch will come running—that’s just one of the many charming perks of being a pet parent. But there’s a science behind the sniffing—our loyal canine companions have up to 300 million olfactory sensors in their snouts compared to about six million in humans!

Nose work training is an enriching way to harness this sensory superpower, and our vets at Northlands have a few ideas that will help keep your favourite scent sleuth on the case.

Want tailored advice on your dog’s capabilities or to explore more ways to keep your dog mentally stimulated this winter? Pop in and chat to our vets in Northampton.  

Contact us for tailored dog enrichment advice

The Nose Knows: How to train your dog’s sense of smell 

Follow the nose to the prize 

Northlands Northampton’ team share that any new training works best when you start slow. Place a treat in a box for your dog to discover and reward them for finding it. As you progress, add more boxes and switch the location of the treat, leaving it up to your sniffing superhero to find. This keeps their busy nose and mind working. 

Mysterious munchies 

We’ve already established they simply love nosing about your food, so turn this into a game. Our team advise hiding dog-safe treats around your home when they’re out of sight and leaving it up to your four-legged detective to find. If your pooch has a skilled snout, change things up and make it progressively harder by hiding them in places that are difficult to find! 

Operation: Find the food 

Transform mealtimes into a scent training session by scattering your dog’s food across wipe-clean mats in different locations or hiding it in a snuffle rug. This encourages them to use their nose to seek out every morsel, turning dinner into a rewarding game. Our vets in Northampton suggest sprinkling in a few extra treats occasionally for bonus sniffing motivation—it may not be the same as heading out to a fancy restaurant, but they’ll love it just as much!

Want to see a magic trick? 

Get ready to perform some magic for the furriest audience member. Start simple: hide a treat under one cup and let your dog tip it over to claim their prize. Once they’ve got the hang of it, add two more cups and shuffle them around. If they sniff out the right one, you’ve got yourself a magician’s assistant! Why not make our team’s day by showing off your dog’s new skills next time you pop into our vet practice in Northampton?

The vanishing act 

This is hide-and-seek with a twist—you’re the prize! Slip into another room and wait for your dog to track you down using their powerful sense of smell. When they find you, reward them with praise and plenty of fuss. As they get better, make it trickier by hiding further away or behind furniture, or even outside behind trees. We bet they’ll still sniff you out!

Ready to explore more enrichment ideas for your dog? Our team in Northampton would love to help you create a tailored plan that keeps your pup’s nose—and mind—engaged all winter long

Contact us for tailored dog enrichment ideas