***Story originally aired Apr. 1, 2014***
A new program inspired by working detection dogs is turning regular mutts into pseudo K9 professionals. It’s called Nose Work, a scenting activity that can be done by virtually all dogs and their owners.
Hidden scent disks are placed inside boxes. The dogs then search the room of boxes until they sniff out the target box.
"The world is filled with scents, millions of scents and we're asking the dogs to discriminate with three specific odours," said Donna Toews, Nose Work instructor.
The program was developed by professional detection dog handlers to offer a no-discipline, no guilt, all fun activity for dogs like champion Boxer Tuss and his owner TerryPritchard.
"He just loves to be busy. Like all working breeds, they need a job and they don't much mind what the job is, as long as they're happy with it," said Pritchard.
So what do the dogs get out of it?
Toews says dogs are genetically driven to hunt, retrieve and be rewarded. The sport also builds confidence and focus, while keeping them active and providing mental stimulation.
"It exercises their brain. Everybody thinks about exercising the dog and getting them out physically exercise, but they forget about their brain," said Heather Lawson, dog owner.
The dogs start out by finding food, then transition from food to odour. Then the searches get more complicated, moving from boxes and ladders, to vehicle searches like the ones done by professional K9s and their handlers.
The cost of Nose Work classes vary per venue, but they're around $160 for six classes.
