Advanced Nosework Elements, Hunter's Heart, Canada, Scent Detection, Training Sniffer Dogs Since 1999

Don’t Miss Out! World Detector Dog Organization – Setting the Standard, April 8-9, 2021

April 1, 2021

Join us to learn about the latest advances in canine scent detection, and take your scent detection to the next level at the WDDO 15th Annual Conference. There’s only [...]

Scent Theory: How Scent Cones Move

December 26, 2019

Scent is a moving target, carried and distorted by the wind. As a handler, one of the most challenging parts of your job is figuring out how to help your sniffer dog get to [...]

Avoiding the Clever Hans Phenomenon in Scent Detection

September 8, 2019

Clever Hans was presented to an audience in 1904

This blog has been updated in the IAABC Journal, Spring 2020: [...]

Protected: Verona Scent Detection Seminar March 2019

February 17, 2019

There is no excerpt because this is a protected [...]

Sourcing, Residual Odor and Preventing False Alerts FAQ – Part 2

May 13, 2018

In Part 1, I explained why your dog should be working to source in every search i.e. getting his nose as close as physically possible to the highest concentration of odor. [...]

Sourcing, Residual Odor and Preventing False Alerts FAQ – Part 1

May 7, 2018

Question: Carla, can you suggest training exercises to help work through dogs (false) alerting on trace or residual odour? I assume that for the most part it’s team [...]

Converging Odors and Single Odor Hides vs. Cocktail FAQ

March 22, 2018

Lori’s question: Is there ever an advantage to using single odor hides? For example, one hide is wintergreen, another hide is birch with anise, etc.. (We started [...]

Triple Bunk Break Down | Components of Elite Searches + Double Blind Tests

March 10, 2018

Be a splitter not a lumper! To succeed in double-blind scent detection tests (e.g. narcotics certification) or elite searches with clearing in scent work competition, [...]

Table Distraction Game for Sniffer Dogs

February 26, 2018

Reliable scent dogs must ignore food, toy, and environmental distractions to find target odor. This video shows the Table Distraction Game we play with our scent dogs away [...]

Welcome to Hunter’s Heart Scent Detection Training

February 10, 2018

Welcome students! We’re looking forward to meeting you and your scent dog. We’ve inspired hundreds of students internationally, including dogs of all ages, [...]

Upcoming Scent Dog Training with Hunter’s Heart

January 3, 2018

Zane, a nosework student, waits for his serch to begin

Classes at Kayenna Kennels, Calgary Learn nosework at Kayenna Kennels (near Southland and Macleod, Calgary) with a 6-week class. Level 1 – We’ve inspired hundreds of [...]

Scent Dog Training Classes Start Wed.

December 12, 2017

While it’s cold outside, come join us for some fun nosework! Classes start this Wednesday evening Dec. 13, 2017. at Kayenna Kennels (near Southland and Macleod, Calgary). [...]

Amp Up the Fun! Hunter’s Heart Fall Nosework Seminars

October 10, 2017

Interested in trying nosework? Join us for the most fun you’ve ever had with your dog. We’ll motivate your dog to love searching for odor at our hugely popular [...]

Fear, Fender Benders and Following Your Fearless Dog

September 22, 2017

My Brittany Spaniel, Boo, and I spent our summer competing in nosework on a cross country road trip: from Calgary to California, Seattle to Wisconsin. The experience was [...]

Back to School Survey for Hunter’s Heart Nosework Classes (Starting Sept. 20, at Kayenna Kennels, Calgary)

September 19, 2017

Nosework classes resume this week and we’re going to have some fun motivating your dog to search for odor! If you’re registered, please complete this survey in [...]

Join Us for Summer Nosework Fun Events, Calgary

August 9, 2017

Hi everyone, I hope you’re staying cool, and you can join us for some summer nosework events. NOSEWORK DROP-IN NIGHTS AT KAYENNA KENNELS, CALGARY Test your skills in [...]

SDS Judge’s Summary by Level | Sniffing Dog Sports Nosework

August 2, 2017

Brain overload? Sometimes keeping track of multiple hides is enough to keep your brain busy. Print this summary of SDS rules and you’ll be sure to set up practice [...]

SDS Distance Game Demonstrations

July 29, 2017

Can your scent dog search independently at a distance? Watch demonstrations with coaching as our students test their skills with the fun SDS Distance Handling Game Version 1, [...]

Back by Popular Demand: Nosework Crash Course Weekend, July 15/16, Hunter’s Heart (Calgary)

June 29, 2017

Take your nosework to the next level Juno’s video demonstrates strong commitment to odor in scent work. Sometimes blind searches are confusing for the handler. Juno [...]

Top 5 Scent Work Tips on Training Your Down Indication

June 16, 2017

Here’s our Top 5 Tips on proofing your down indication for K9 Nosework. Tip #1) Always mark or reward finding source. Then you can give extra rewards for the down [...]

Delayed Rewards Are Missed Opportunities in Scent Dog Training

April 30, 2017

From the dog’s point of view, rewards are the most important component of dog training. Sadly, many handlers are lousy rewarders and dogs are left confused and rewardless. [...]

Patterning for Systematic Searches and Faster Times

April 7, 2017

Do you have trouble remembering where your scent dog has searched and where he hasn’t? When you’re searching large areas for scent work, it’s a common [...]

Calgary Nosework Classes – Video of Keata (Border Collie) Learning to Indicate Scent

March 30, 2017

Only 6 days left! Register now for Nosework classes starting April 5, Calgary Info: https://www.kayennakennels.ca/nosework-classes This video features Keata at our Level 2 [...]

Scent Maze Video: Can Your Dog Find His Way to Source?

March 26, 2017

This fun scent maze challenged our advanced nosework students to navigate around gates impeding access to the box containing odor to get to source. Teams were allowed perform [...]

Work for the Whites of His Eyes

March 20, 2017

Scent work is a game, and some rewards are better than others. You know you’re on the right track when your dog is so excited you can see the whites of his eyes. What did [...]

Scent Work – How to Train Distractions with Fun Nosework Games

March 9, 2017

Scent work is a game, with its roots in hunting and finding prey. In nosework, dogs must learn to ignore distractions to search and find the target odor. We use games to [...]

How to Enter a UKC Nosework Trial

March 1, 2017

This 33 minute tutorial explains how to enter a UKC Nosework Trial, using Sniff Alberta’s Premium list and entry forms as examples. It answers FAQ’s including how [...]

Scent 101 SCENTSCAPES Presentation

February 21, 2017

Get a glimpse into your dog’s fascinating world of scent – Fri. Jan. 5, 2018, in Calgary Scentscapes & Scent Theory 101, presentation (no dogs) – $50.00 [...]

Welcome to Calgary Scent Detection Classes at Kayenna Training Academy

January 10, 2017

Welcome students! Hunter’s Heart is excited to offer Calgary scent detection classes, seminars and events at Kayenna Training Academy. Register at: [...]

How to have the most fun with your dog? Nosework/Scent Dog Training Compilation 2016

December 31, 2016

Nosework can be the most fun you ever had with your dog! We’ve received many requests to help nosework students explain why they love nosework to people who [...]

Comparing SDDA and UKC Nosework

May 19, 2016

In today’s blog, I’ll compare and contrast nosework competition under the Sporting Detection Dogs Association (SDDA) and United Kennel Club (UKC). Please note that [...]

K9 ABC Games – Adventures in Nosework

May 18, 2016

Photo of a hide under a vacuum, by Furever Reflections

(Adopted from an article featured in American Brittany Magazine, 2016) I recently had the pleasure to attend the K9 ABC Games nosework event hosted by Kinetic Dog Training, [...]

How Close is Close Enough?

April 6, 2016

Photo of a Chihuahua puppy playing with a tennis ball

How close should your dog get to source? Will you know it when you see it? After your dog indicates and you call “alert”, the judge can ask “where is [...]

Types of Nosework Events

March 18, 2016

Types of Nosework Events (Printable PDF File) The main types of searches in Nosework include: Container searches, Interior, Vehicle and Exterior and Handler Discrimination. [...]

UKC Nosework Requirements by Level

March 8, 2016

I confess: I can never remember the requirements for nosework searches at different levels of UKC competition. This table helps me and my students when we’re planning [...]

United Kennel Club Nosework Links

March 7, 2016

United Kennel Club (UKC) Helpful Links (As of Feb. 26, 2016) Register Your Dog with UKC [...]

Vary Everything But The Odor

February 4, 2016

Over time, you should vary all aspects of the hides besides the odor itself. For example, don’t just use metal tins. You should practice with hides made of many [...]

Making Single Odor Hides

February 4, 2016

Photo of nosework box with Birch hide (scented cotton swab in sticky envelope)

Here are the steps to make single odor hides... [...]

Making Cocktailed Hides

February 4, 2016

Once your dog is searching for odor, you’ll need some hides in order to practice nosework at home. (A “hide” is the package of target odor inside a ventilated [...]

Storing Scent

February 4, 2016

Photo of hide in nosework box, nosework kit and essential oils stored in tackle box

Storing your scent properly is important to your success in nosework. You always want to know where odor is, and where it isn’t. Here are some key tips. One of the [...]