Field Guide · Glossary
Nosework
Skills and cuesA trained activity in which a dog searches for a specific hidden scent and indicates when they have found it.
How it works
It began as a sport modeled on professional detection work, and it has become one of the most widely recommended activities for pet dogs because it scales down so well. The search is the same task in a hallway as in a field, so it suits dogs on restricted exercise, dogs who find busy places difficult, and dogs whose households have limited space. Evidence on scentwork supports an effect on mood, with researchers crediting the choice involved as much as the sniffing.
What it looks like
Three cardboard boxes are set out in a kitchen and one holds a scented cotton bud. The dog works along the line, stops at the third box, and sits. The whole search takes under a minute and the dog is noticeably settled afterwards.
Commonly confused with
- Scent discrimination
- Scent discrimination is the underlying ability to pick one target smell out of everything else present. Nosework is the trained activity built on top of that ability.
Related terms
Where this comes up