Dog Training, 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 [...]

Sniffer Dog Cam – 50% OFF STAY AT HOME SALE Ends April 19, 2020

April 18, 2020

Here’s what Domino has to say about the 7-Day Scent Challenge. Register for our new 7-Day Scent Challenge to learn how to introduce your dog to a new scent in just 7 [...]

Dinner Do’s and Don’ts for Sniffer Dogs

March 6, 2020

When you have a dog, you’ll be feeding them dinner, but hopefully not always in a bowl. Try turning dinner into a feast for the senses, like finding scattered food on your [...]

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: [...]

Hide and Go Seek Foundation Training for Scent Detection Dogs

September 16, 2018

Hide and go seek is one of our favorite foundation games to play with young scent dogs. When the dog finds you, it’s very important to give multiple rewards to keep the [...]

How to Build Drive Chasing a Ball on a Rope

September 13, 2018

One great way to build toy drive is chasing a ball on a rope. Softer toys with squeakers grab attention from most of our students. Even if they haven’t been interested [...]

NEW Scent Dog Foundation Online Course Starts Aug. 1, 2018

July 24, 2018

NEW Scent Dog Foundation Course – Class begins Aug. 1, 2018. From bed bugs to birds, from narcotics to nosework, Hunter’s Heart motivational scent training [...]

NEW Engagement Games Classes

June 14, 2018

What makes your scent dog happy? Is he more interested in checking out distractions than working with you? In our new ENGAGEMENT FOR DOGSPORTS classes, we use games to [...]

How to Remove Ticks to Lessen Blood Meals with Associated Disease Transmission

May 31, 2018

Ticks are one pest you and your dog can pickup during outdoor activities, which carries a risk of disease transmission. This fascinating macro video of ticks attaching to [...]

Nosework Makes Us Smile – Join the Fun at our Calgary Classes

May 15, 2018

Nosework Makes Us Smile – Join the Fun at our Calgary Classes starting May 30 at Kayenna Kennels, Calgary. Level 1 – Motivate your dog to love searching for scent. [...]

Chasing the Flirt Pole and High Intensity Interval Training for Dogs

May 6, 2018

Are you the time crunched owner of a dog with energy to burn? The flirt pole can harness a dog’s natural instinctive drive to chase prey. This fun, efficient, high [...]

Blocking and Advanced Proofing with Barriers

April 25, 2018

A student recently described how her dog found most of the hides in SDDA Excellent competition, but had a fringe alert. Did she call alert too soon or block her dog’s [...]

Only a few spots left! INTRODUCTION TO NOSEWORK class starts Wed. April 18 (Calgary)

April 16, 2018

Using the same techniques we use for bed bug and narcotics detection dogs, we’ll motivate your pet dog to love searching for target odor. This video features Jager, a [...]

How to Train Your Dog to Sit at Scent – Part 2 Scent Puppy Foundation

April 14, 2018

This video captures Jager’s first session training a sit indication for high hides at a hot indication box. Jager’s 6-month-old Brittany Spaniel and bed bug [...]

How to Train Your Dog to Sit At Scent – Part 1 “Up-Sit” for Scent Detection

April 12, 2018

Question: My dog’s indication on hides over 3 feet is good, but not as intense as his indication on low hides. He finds them easily, but he sits looking at me instead of [...]

You’ll Fall Many Times, But Who’s Counting

April 6, 2018

Even Olympic medallists eventually take a fall. Some are more catastrophic than others, but how they recover from failure helps determine future results. There’s a [...]

Playing Catch to Become the Cookie – How to Be More Rewarding

April 5, 2018

Sometimes it’s harder to be more interesting than the dirt, with its tantalizing tapestry of scents. Playing catch is one type of food play that can come in handy when you [...]

Donkey Problem Solving: Are You Limiting What Your Detection Dog Can Do?

March 21, 2018

In many cases, humans underestimate animals’ capabilities to solve problems. I knew a dog who could open a crate door on the right side, and on the left side, on cue. [...]

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 [...]

Positive is Not Permissive – When to Say No

December 19, 2017

While pondering what to write about for American Brittany Magazine this month, inspiration struck! Several times. In fact, imprinting scent with three 12-week-old pups [...]

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). [...]

How to Get Your Dog to Play Tug

December 8, 2017

With just a few tweaks, you can dramatically improve your dog’s play drive. You may even be surprised to convert a reluctant chow hound to an avid tugger. Read on to learn [...]

Top Scent Dog Training Books and Websites 2017

December 1, 2017

Shopping for the holiday season? You can never have too many scent dog training books, right? Here’s a list of our favorite canine books and websites you might enjoy: [...]

What Do Sperm and Puppies Have in Common?

October 20, 2017

They both rely on scent. Sperm use olfaction to navigate to eggs, and newborn puppies use olfaction to navigate to the milk in their dam’s breasts. For animals like fish, [...]

How to Train a Freeze Indication Using Leash Pressure

October 17, 2017

Many people ask how we train a freeze indication with focused attention. Once a dog is confidently and proficiently finding source, we use gentle leash pressure to teach the [...]

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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

Break Down Scent Work for Success from Day One

March 24, 2017

Hunter’s Heart trains nosework by breaking it down into small achievable steps, setting teams up for success from day 1. Rewarding is crucial to motivating the dog to [...]

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 [...]

Dream Dogmobile

March 2, 2017

I’d like one of these integrated mobile dog showers [...]

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: [...]