Getting Started with Scentwork at Home (No Equipment Needed)

You've probably heard people talking about scentwork and how amazing it is for dogs.

Maybe you've seen videos of dogs sniffing out hidden objects with intense focus. Or read about how it helps anxious dogs, reactive dogs, dogs who struggle to settle.

And you've thought: that sounds brilliant. But where on earth do I start?

Here's the good news: you can start scentwork right now, today, with nothing more than some treats and a bit of floor space.

No special equipment. No fancy training. No pressure to "do it right."

Just you, your dog, and their incredible nose.

Before we dive into the practical side, let's talk about what beginner scentwork really means.

At its simplest, scentwork is letting your dog use their nose intentionally to find something. That's it. We're not talking about professional detection work or competitive nosework (though those are wonderful too). We're talking about giving your dog the opportunity to do what they were born to do: sniff.

But here's where it gets interesting.

Scentwork isn't just a fun activity. It's one of the most powerful tools we have for supporting a dog's nervous system.

When dogs engage their noses properly, something shifts in their bodies. Heart rate slows. Breathing deepens. The thinking part of their brain switches on whilst the reactive part quietens down.

This is about so much more than keeping your dog busy. This is about giving them access to a state of calm, focused engagement that many dogs rarely experience.

There's a part of your dog's brain called the seeking system. It's the system that drives them to search, explore, investigate their environment.

When the seeking system is activated in a positive way, dogs feel good. Not just happy, but satisfied at a deep neurological level.

The problem is, many of our dogs don't get to use their seeking system properly. Walks are rushed. Sniffing is hurried along. The environment is controlled and predictable.

And when the seeking system isn't engaged, anxiety can fill that space. Dogs who can't seek out information about their world often become more worried about it instead.

Beginner scentwork changes this. It gives your dog a safe, structured way to activate their seeking system. To search with purpose. To use their most powerful sense in a way that feels deeply satisfying.

My tiny Foxy taught me this beautifully. She's food motivated (an understatement, honestly), but more than that, she loves the hunt. Watching her engage in scentwork, you can see her entire body shift into this focused, content state. She's not anxious. She's not frantic. She's doing exactly what her brain and body were designed to do.

Let me tell you about Darcie and scentwork.

Darcie is pressure sensitive. She worries about getting things wrong. She looks to me constantly for reassurance, always checking in. 

But during scentwork? She transforms.

Because scentwork is the one activity where she literally cannot get it wrong. Her nose knows where the scent is. She doesn't need to guess what I want or interpret unclear signals. She just follows her nose, and she's always right.

That certainty builds confidence in ways that traditional training never could. Every successful find tells her nervous system: you're capable. You can trust yourself. You know what to do.

Scentwork gives dogs agency.

They're in control. They're using their own skills and instincts. They're succeeding on their own terms.

For anxious or worried dogs, that's absolutely transformative.

Right, let's get practical. You're ready to start. What do you actually do?

Here's the beautiful thing about beginner scentwork: it's almost too simple.

• Step one: Get some treats. Whatever your dog loves. Tiny pieces work best so you can repeat lots of times.
• Step two: Let your dog watch you place a treat on the floor, a few feet away.
• Step three: Say "find it" (or whatever word you like) and let them go get it.

That's it. That's scentwork.

I know what you're thinking. That's not really scentwork, is it? They can see the treat. They're not using their nose.

Except they are. Even when dogs can see food, they still confirm it with their nose. Watch your dog next time. They'll visually locate it, then drop their head and sniff before taking it.

We're building the foundation here. We're teaching your dog that "find it" means search mode is on. That using their nose leads to reward. That this is a game worth playing.

Once your dog understands the game (which usually takes about three repetitions), you can start making it more challenging.

Place the treat whilst your dog is watching, but make it slightly harder to see. Behind a chair leg. Under the edge of a rug. In the corner of the room.

Your dog will start using their nose more and their eyes less. This is exactly what we want.

Then you can progress to hiding treats whilst your dog isn't watching. Pop them in another room. When you bring your dog back, give your "find it" cue and watch them work.

This is where scentwork really starts to look like scentwork. Your dog will quarter the room, nose to the ground, working methodically to locate the scent. Their entire focus narrows to the search.

It's mesmerising to watch. And incredibly regulating for their nervous system.

If you have an anxious dog, beginner scentwork might be one of the most helpful things you ever introduce.

Here's why: anxiety lives in the future. It's worry about what might happen, what could go wrong, whether they'll be safe.

Scentwork brings dogs into the present moment. When your dog is searching, they're not worrying about the doorbell or the dog down the street or the vet appointment next week. They're right here, right now, following a scent trail.

That's not just distraction. That's genuine nervous system regulation. The parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and digest system) activates during scentwork. Heart rate variability improves. Cortisol levels decrease.

For Foxy, who can get quite anxious despite her bold exterior, scentwork is like a reset button. If she's had a stressful experience or she's winding herself up, ten minutes of scent games brings her right back down.

No pressure. No correction. Just nose to ground, brain engaged, body calm.

Once you've mastered basic "find it" games, there are endless ways to expand beginner scentwork indoors.

Scatter feeding: Instead of bowl feeding, scatter your dog's meal across the floor or garden. They have to sniff out every piece. This turns eating into a 15 minute scentwork session.

Towel rolls: Roll treats inside a towel. Your dog has to sniff along the towel to find where the scent is strongest, then work out how to access the food. This adds problem solving to the scent work.

Box searches: Save your Amazon boxes. Put treats in some boxes, leave others empty. Let your dog sniff each one to work out which contain food. (Supervision needed so they don't eat cardboard.)

Room searches: Hide multiple treats around a room at different heights. Some on the floor, some on chair seats, some on low shelves. Your dog has to search the entire space systematically.

Scent trails: Drag a treat along the floor to create a scent trail, then hide the treat at the end. Your dog follows the trail to the reward. This is the foundation of tracking work.

None of these require special equipment. Just household items and food.

When you're doing beginner scentwork, you might wonder whether you're doing it "right."

Here's what to look for:

• Nose down, tail relaxed. Your dog should be working in a calm, methodical way. If they're frantic or stressed, the search is too hard or the environment too stimulating.
• Natural breathing. Deep, steady breaths. Not panting or holding their breath.
• Focus without fixation. Your dog is engaged in the search but not obsessive or unable to disengage.
• Success. Your dog should find what they're looking for most of the time. If they're failing repeatedly, make it easier. Scentwork builds confidence through success, not through struggle.
• Willingness to continue. When the search is over, does your dog look ready for more? That's engagement. If they walk away or seem relieved it's done, you've pushed too long or too hard.

Remember: scentwork should feel good for your dog. That's the entire point. If it's creating stress rather than relieving it, something needs adjusting.

Making it too hard, too fast. Beginner scentwork should be easy. Ridiculously easy. Your dog should succeed 90% of the time. Build difficulty so gradually that your dog barely notices.

Searching for too long. Five to ten minutes is plenty for most dogs starting out. Some dogs will be done after two minutes. Stop whilst your dog still wants more, not after they've lost interest.

Helping too much. Let your dog work it out. Resist the urge to guide them or point out where the treat is. Trust their nose. It's better than you think.

Using boring rewards. Scentwork is meant to be highly rewarding. Use the good stuff. The stinky cheese. The dried liver. Whatever makes your dog's eyes light up.

Forgetting to make it fun. This isn't a test. It's a game. If you're getting serious or frustrated, your dog will pick up on that. Keep it light, keep it positive, keep it playful.

The beauty of beginner scentwork is that it fits into the life you're already living.

Before breakfast, scatter feed. Two minutes of sniffing starts the day calmly.

Before bed, hide three treats around the living room. Another few minutes of focused, calming activity before sleep.

When your dog is feeling anxious or wound up, a quick scent game settles their nervous system better than almost anything else something you can learn more about in my book Seeking Optimism.

This isn't about adding more to your already busy schedule. It's about using scentwork as a tool for the moments you're already navigating.

Guests coming over and your dog is stressed? Scatter feed in the garden whilst they arrive. Dog struggling to settle in the evening? Room search for five minutes. Dog anxious before a walk? Quick towel roll to engage their brain before you leave.

Scentwork becomes part of how you support your dog through daily life. Not an extra task, but a fundamental tool.

Starting with beginner scentwork at home opens doors you might not expect.

Some dogs and guardians love it so much they progress to formal nosework training. Searching for specific scents like birch, anise, or clove. Working towards titles and competitions.

Others use it as the foundation for mantrailing, following human scent trails outdoors.

Some simply keep it as a home enrichment activity that makes their dog's life richer and their nervous system more regulated.

There's no right path. Beginner scentwork is valuable exactly as it is. Whether you ever progress beyond hiding treats in the living room or not, you're giving your dog something profound.

The opportunity to use their primary sense. To engage their seeking system. To build confidence through success. To regulate their nervous system naturally.

That's not a small thing. 

You don't need to wait. You don't need to buy anything. You don't need to take a class or read more articles or watch more videos.

You just need to grab some treats, find a bit of floor space, and say "find it."

Your dog already knows how to use their nose. You're just giving them permission and opportunity.

And who knows? This might become the thing that changes everything for your dog. The activity that finally helps them settle. The confidence builder they've been needing. The nervous system regulator that makes daily life easier.

It certainly was for Darcie. And for Foxy. And for countless dogs I've worked with over the years.

Scentwork is simple. But simple doesn't mean insignificant.

Sometimes the simplest things are the very best things of all!

If you're navigating life with a sensitive, reactive, or anxious dog and need support from people who truly understand, I'd love to welcome you into Skool For Dog People.

It's a space where we explore nervous system science, trauma-informed approaches, scentwork, and nosework enrichment. No pressure-based methods. No quick fixes. Just compassionate guidance and a community that believes in your dog's capacity to feel safe.

Plus we have lots of fun in there too the video below will show you more info.