Scent Detection Training at the Brick Wall

Our brick wall is set up, and training can now start. Scent work is an excellent addition to area and rubble search training, as it hones a wide range of skills needed in both examinations and real-life missions for both handlers and dogs. These include: Maintaining focus forward (away from the handler and distractions behind the dog), intensive nose work with a high sniffing frequency, close indication at the scent source (crucial in rubble search scenarios), micro-localization of scent, rewarding empty searches, recalling from an indication and much more. Once the indication has been properly established with the dog, the brick wall provides an ideal alternative for nose training, especially during bad weather, busy schedules, shorter days, or when there aren’t enough volunteers available for training. It's also a great way to keep dogs mentally stimulated through scent work.

The short days and long work hours during the winter months often make it difficult to train the dogs' search skills after work—aside from nighttime searches. In these cases, the brick wall offers an excellent compromise. It’s also a great addition to obedience-focused training days. If there are no immediate deficits in obedience or agility (though let’s be honest, when are there ever none? 😊), incorporating a session at the brick wall can provide a refreshing change of pace. For our club members, we offer weekly opportunities to train scent work. While this may not reach the level required for operational mold or bedbug detection dogs, it’s more than enough to keep the dogs engaged and improve various aspects of their nose work.