Scentwork Classes in Abbotsford, BC
Get that nose to work with classes designed to build your dog’s sporting scent detection skills.
Why train with Tug Dog?
Training for every skill level
Ribbon-ready or just for fun, we have a class for anyone enthusiastic about dog sports.
Dog sports, simplified
We’ll make sure you understand and feel good about each piece of the puzzle before adding in more learning.
Tailored support
Elective classes and private training designed to problem-solve your sport specific speedbumps.
Online learning
Tug Dog students enjoy exclusive access to our online classroom with videos and materials to assist through class.
How our Scentwork program works
1. Get Started
Sign-up for our beginner scentwork course to get started on your nosework journey. With solid foundational skills, you’ll be ready for more
2.Intermediate Class
After developing foundational skills, you’ll be ready to move on to more complex scent detection scenarios
3. Advanced Class
Once you’ve competed the intermediate class, you’ll be hooked! Our advanced class is a rolling-enrollment designed to continuously develop skills
Ready to get searching?
Let’s get started
Beginner Scentwork – Start here!
Intro to odour & searching
In this 7-week class, we’ll introduce odour and build the full behaviour chain of searching, as well as contextual cues focussing on container searches.
Training for SDDA, CKC, C-WAGS odours (Gaultheria procumbens, Pinus sylvestris, thymus vulgaris, Betula Lenta, Pimpinella Anisum, Eugenia Caryophylatta, Cupressus sempervirens) with an opportunity to participate in a Scent Identification Test at the end of the course.
Skills we’ll work on:
- Hunting skills
- Leash handling skills
- Odour discrimination and alert development
- Container searches
*Curriculum is tailored to the cohort of students and may be modified.
Dog’s Age: 6 months+
Prerequisites:
- Dogs must be able to work around dogs and people, this includes being quiet without excessive barking and lunging at dogs and/or people. If your dog falls into this category, we’ll be happy to assist with private training.
- Previous group learning experience is beneficial, but not required
- Not suitable for reactive dogs -> we’ll be happy to help with private lessons!
Needed for Class:
- A bed/cot/crate, chew items or food puzzles to help them settle, leash, and lots of soft, tasty treats and toys (if your dog is motivated by toys)
- You will be provided with a sample of odour to use for homework in this class.
- 6-8 similar cardboard/plastic boxes needed for homework practice.
- Purchasing a odour kit is useful but not required for class.
Price: $270 +GST
Intermediate Scentwork
Continuation of beginner
In this 6-week class, we’ll introduce exterior and interior searches, and get you started on multi-hide scenarios.
Skills we’ll work on:
- More complex hunting skills
- Leash handling skills
- Interior and exterior searches
- Alert proofing and distractions
- Introduction to multiple hides
*Curriculum is tailored to the cohort of students and may be modified.
Prerequisites:
- Dogs must be able to work around people. Some adaptations will be made for reactive dogs. Please contact before booking if your dog is reactive.
- Completion of Beginner Scentwork or equivalent.
- Some accommodations made for reactive dogs – contact instructor prior to joining
Needed for Class:
- 10-15ft leash, scentwork harness (if using one).
- It is highly recommended students have their own odour kit at this level for homework purposes, but not required to participate in class.
- Dogs are crated in the vehicle and run one at a time during class.
Price: $245 +GST
Advanced Scentwork
Continuation of intermediate
Generally a rolling-enrollment, continually evolving class, we focus on skills specific to our cohort of students, with an emphasis on advanced, excellent, and elite levels of competition.
Skills we’ll work on:
- Increased challenge with distractions (food and toys)
- Converging odour skills, multi hide scenarios
- Leash handling skills
- Search stamina
- Start and end routines in preparation for competitions
*Curriculum is tailored to the cohort of students and may be modified.
Prerequisites:
- Dogs must be able to work around people. Some adaptations will be made for reactive dogs. Please contact before booking if your dog is reactive.
- Completion of Beginner & Intermediate Scentwork or equivalent
- Some accommodations made for reactive dogs – contact instructor prior to joining
Needed for Class:
- 10-15ft leash, scentwork harness (if using one).
- It is highly recommended students have their own odour kit at this level for homework purposes, but not required to participate in class.
- Dogs are crated in the vehicle and run one at a time during class.
Price: $245 +GST
