Scent Work for Dogs: Easy Nose Games for Enrichment, Confidence and Calm

By Dr Duncan Houston.

Dogs experience much of the world through scent. Allowing your dog to sniff, investigate and search provides an outlet for natural behaviour while offering valuable mental enrichment.

Scent work can be adapted for puppies, senior dogs, active breeds and dogs with limited mobility. It may also help some anxious or reactive dogs decompress after challenging experiences. The goal is not competition or perfect obedience. It is to give your dog a safe, enjoyable activity in which they can make choices and use their remarkable nose.

Quick Answer

Begin scent work by placing a few visible treats in a quiet, safe area and allowing your dog to find them independently. As their confidence develops, gradually make the searches more challenging by using grass, towels, cardboard boxes or simple hiding places.

Keep the activity voluntary, supervise closely and stop if your dog becomes frustrated, frantic or uncomfortable.

What Is Scent Work?

Scent work is any activity that encourages a dog to locate food, toys, people or specific odours using their sense of smell.

There are two broad forms:

Type	Purpose	Typical Structure
Sport scent detection	Competition or formal training	Dogs search for designated target odours under specific rules
Enrichment scent work	Recreation, exploration and mental stimulation	Dogs search for food, toys or familiar people at their own pace

This guide focuses on enrichment scent work that can be enjoyed safely at home, in the garden or during walks.

Why Sniffing Matters to Dogs

A dog’s sense of smell is central to how they gather information. Sniffing allows them to investigate other animals, people, food, environmental changes and unfamiliar spaces.

Giving dogs appropriate opportunities to search may:

Encourage natural exploratory behaviour
Provide mental stimulation
Support confidence and independent problem-solving
Offer suitable enrichment for dogs with limited mobility
Help some dogs transition from activity to rest
Give caregivers useful information about a dog’s emotional state

A 2019 nose-work study found that dogs participating in nose-work activities showed a more positive judgement bias than dogs completing heelwork exercises. This is promising evidence, but scent work should not be presented as a guaranteed treatment for stress, anxiety or behaviour disorders.

What Scent Work Can and Cannot Do

Scent work can be an enjoyable part of a dog’s enrichment and behaviour-support plan. It may help a dog settle, engage with their surroundings or recover after a mildly stressful experience.

However, scent work cannot:

Cure separation anxiety
Resolve aggression by itself
make an unsafe environment safe
Replace veterinary care
Replace appropriate physical exercise
Keep a dog calm when they are already overwhelmed by a trigger

If your dog is reacting to another dog, person or frightening sound, create distance and restore safety first. Do not use food searches to keep them close to something they fear.

Preparing a Safe Search Area

Choose an environment that allows your dog to concentrate without being crowded or startled.

A suitable beginner setup should have:

A clean floor or patch of grass
Good traction
Plenty of space to turn comfortably
No toxic plants, chemicals or dangerous objects
Minimal activity from children or other animals
Treats your dog already eats safely

Remove staples, string, tape, plastic packaging and small objects that could be swallowed. Dogs that shred or eat cardboard, towels or enrichment equipment require particularly close supervision.

If you have more than one dog, conduct searches separately. Food searches can create competition or conflict, especially in dogs with a history of resource guarding.

Beginner Game: The Simple Treat Search

This is an easy introduction for dogs with no previous scent-work experience.

Choose a quiet room and allow your dog to watch you.
Place three to five treats visibly on the floor.
Use a consistent cue such as “find it”.
Allow your dog to investigate without pointing at every treat.
When all the treats have been found, say “all done”.
Move away from the search area and offer water or rest.

If your dog looks confused, place the treats closer together or use food with a stronger natural smell. Make the first sessions extremely easy so that your dog learns the game without frustration.

Seven Scent Games to Try

1. Treat Scatter

Scatter several pieces of kibble or suitable treats across a clean floor, rug or patch of grass.

Start with the pieces close together and clearly visible. Over time, spread them farther apart or allow some to fall beneath light grass.

2. Snuffle Mat Search

Place food loosely throughout a commercially made snuffle mat.

Supervise your dog to ensure they search rather than chew or swallow the fabric. If your dog becomes frustrated by densely packed material, use fewer folds or return to an open scatter.

3. Towel Search

Lay a towel flat and sprinkle food across it. Once your dog understands the activity, fold the towel loosely or roll one edge over a few treats.

Never tie the towel into a tight knot for a dog who may chew or ingest fabric.

4. Cardboard Box Search

Arrange several open cardboard boxes on the floor and place food in one or more of them.

Remove tape, labels, staples and packing materials first. Use wide, shallow boxes for puppies, senior dogs or dogs that are uncertain about putting their head into enclosed spaces.

5. Scent Trail

Drag a suitable treat briefly along the floor or grass before hiding it at the end of a short trail.

Keep the first trail straight and easy. As your dog improves, introduce gentle turns or slightly longer distances.

6. Find a Favourite Toy

Let your dog watch while you place a favourite toy nearby. Ask them to find it and reward the discovery with play.

Gradually use more difficult hiding places, but always ensure the toy remains accessible and safe.

7. Find a Person

Ask a familiar person to hide somewhere easy while another person remains with the dog. Release the dog with a cue such as “find Sam”.

The hidden person can reward the dog with treats, praise or play. Avoid startling the dog when they arrive.

How to Increase the Difficulty

Change only one feature at a time. You might adjust:

The size of the search area
The number of hiding places
The visibility of the food or toy
The distance from the starting point
The type of surface
The familiarity of the location
The level of background distraction

Do not make the hiding place, environment and distraction level harder during the same session. Gradual progression protects your dog’s confidence.

Reading Your Dog During Scent Work

Signs the Activity Is Comfortable

Your dog may show:

Steady, purposeful sniffing
A loose body
Normal eating
The ability to pause and resume
Willingness to return for another search
Relaxed behaviour after finishing

Signs the Search May Be Too Difficult

Watch for:

Frantic scanning or rushing
Persistent barking or whining
Heavy panting unrelated to heat or exercise
Freezing or leaving the area
Refusing food they normally enjoy
Repeatedly looking to you for help
Destructive chewing of boxes or equipment
An inability to disengage after the search ends

If your dog struggles, simplify the activity immediately. You can place several treats in full view, allow them to finish and end the session calmly.

A dog who is too frightened to eat or sniff needs distance and safety, not a harder search.

Scent Work for Reactive or Anxious Dogs

Some reactive dogs enjoy searching because it gives them a predictable activity and allows them to make choices. Begin in a location where your dog already feels secure.

Avoid setting up searches:

Near dogs or people who trigger reactions
Beside busy roads
In crowded parks
Close to frightening machinery or noises
In places where another animal may suddenly approach

Scent work may complement a professionally designed behaviour plan, but it should not replace systematic behaviour modification or prescribed medication.

Reward-based methods are recommended for training and behaviour work. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior advises using reward-based techniques rather than methods involving pain, intimidation or fear.

Adapting Games for Puppies

Puppy scent games should be short, easy and closely supervised.

Use:

Visible food scatters
Shallow boxes
Flat towels
Puppy-safe toys
Quiet rooms with non-slip flooring

Prevent access to cardboard, fabric or small objects if your puppy is likely to swallow them. Scent work is valuable enrichment, but it should occur alongside appropriate socialisation, sleep, play and gentle training.

Adapting Games for Senior Dogs

Senior dogs can often participate even when long walks or vigorous exercise are no longer comfortable.

Helpful adjustments include:

Placing hides at floor or nose level
Using non-slip mats
Avoiding stairs
Keeping the search area small
Using soft, easy-to-eat rewards
Allowing extra time
Providing frequent breaks

Dogs with neck, back or joint pain may prefer raised scent containers that do not require repeated bending.

Sudden difficulty finding food can also reflect changes in vision, cognition, appetite or smell. Speak with your veterinarian if you notice a significant change.

Food and Medical Considerations

Treats used during scent work contribute to your dog’s daily calorie intake. If necessary, use part of their measured meal rather than additional treats.

Ask your veterinarian before changing rewards if your dog has:

Food allergies
Diabetes
Pancreatitis
Kidney or liver disease
Gastrointestinal disease
Obesity
A prescription diet
Difficulty chewing or swallowing

Do not use rich or unfamiliar foods simply because they smell stronger.

Avoid Essential Oils and Concentrated Fragrances

Food, familiar toys and people are usually the safest targets for casual home scent games.

Do not place essential oils on your dog, their bedding, search equipment or food. Concentrated oils can cause irritation or poisoning through ingestion, skin contact or inhalation. The ASPCA advises caution with essential oils around pets, particularly in concentrated forms.

Also avoid:

Cleaning chemicals
Perfumes and air fresheners
Unknown mushrooms or plants
Wildlife remains
Mouldy food
Rodent bait
Pesticides
Materials collected from livestock or wild animals without professional guidance

Formal detection odours should be introduced with guidance from an experienced reward-based scent-work instructor.

Common Scent-Work Mistakes

Making the Search Too Difficult

Repeated failure can create frustration. Begin with obvious hides and progress slowly.

Constantly Pointing Out the Answer

Allow your dog time to solve the search. Step in only when safety is involved or the difficulty needs to be reduced.

Using Scent Work Around Triggers Too Soon

A frightened dog may be unable to search effectively. Move to a safer distance before offering an easy activity.

Allowing Multiple Dogs to Search Together

Competition over food or toys can create tension. Separate dogs unless you are certain the activity is safe for everyone.

Continuing After the Dog Wants to Stop

Walking away, avoiding the equipment or refusing food may be an opt-out. Respect it.

Treating Scent Work as a Substitute for Everything Else

Dogs still require suitable exercise, social connection, rest, veterinary care and opportunities to engage in other natural behaviours.

A Seven-Day Beginner Plan

Day 1: Visible Food Search

Place three to five treats on an open floor.

Day 2: Wider Scatter

Spread treats across a slightly larger area.

Day 3: Two-Surface Search

Use both a rug and a section of clear floor.

Day 4: Flat Towel Search

Place treats visibly across a towel.

Day 5: Shallow Box Search

Use two open boxes with treats clearly visible.

Day 6: Easy Hidden Treats

Place treats beside furniture legs or partly beneath the edge of a towel.

Day 7: Choice Day

Repeat the activity your dog appeared to enjoy most.

There is no requirement to progress every day. Repeat an easy stage until your dog is comfortable and confident.

When to Contact Your Veterinarian

Arrange a veterinary examination if your dog suddenly:

Cannot locate familiar food
Loses interest in sniffing or eating
Develops persistent sneezing
Has nasal discharge, particularly from one nostril
Has blood coming from the nose
Paws repeatedly at their face
Develops facial pain or swelling
Appears confused or disorientated
Has noisy or difficult breathing

Persistent sneezing or nasal discharge can have several causes, including inflammation, infection, dental disease, foreign material or nasal growths, so veterinary assessment is important. Seek urgent veterinary care for breathing difficulty, collapse, blue or grey gums, or suspected toxin exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a scent-work session last?

A few successful searches may be enough for a beginner. Watch your dog rather than the clock and finish while they are still comfortable and interested.

Can I use ordinary kibble?

Yes, provided your dog enjoys it and can eat it safely. Part of their measured meal can be used to reduce additional calories.

Does scent work tire dogs?

Searching requires concentration and may leave some dogs ready to rest. Responses vary, so scent work should not be advertised as a guaranteed way to exhaust or calm every dog.

Can scent work replace a walk?

Usually not. Walks can provide movement, toileting opportunities, environmental exploration and social connection. Scent games are an enrichment option, not a universal replacement for appropriate exercise.

Can reactive dogs participate?

Yes, many can participate in carefully selected, low-trigger environments. The activity should remain below the dog’s stress threshold and form part of a broader behaviour plan where necessary.

Should I use a cue?

A cue such as “find it” can clarify when the search begins. An ending cue such as “all done” helps signal that no more food is hidden.

What if my dog eats the boxes or snuffle mat?

Stop using that equipment. Return to open food scatters or use sturdy, professionally designed containers under close supervision.

Can I use essential oils as target scents?

Not for casual enrichment. Concentrated fragrances may irritate or harm pets. Use food, toys or professionally recommended scent materials instead.

Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

Scent work does not need expensive equipment or formal competition training. A few pieces of food, a safe space and the freedom to investigate can provide meaningful enrichment.

Keep searches simple, respect your dog’s choices and increase the challenge gradually. When scent work is safe and enjoyable, it offers dogs an opportunity to use one of their most important natural abilities while building confidence and engagement.

Get Personalised Enrichment Support from ASK A VET™

Not sure which scent activities are appropriate for your dog’s age, diet, mobility or behaviour? ASK A VET™ can help you develop a safe enrichment plan tailored to your dog.

Download the ASK A VET™ app or visit AskAVet.com to:

Discuss anxiety, reactivity or changes in sniffing behaviour
Select treats that suit your dog’s medical and nutritional needs
Adapt scent games for puppies, senior dogs or dogs recovering from injury
Connect with veterinary professionals when symptoms may require an examination

Give your dog a safer, more rewarding way to explore the world, one sniff at a time.

Know how they are, wherever they are

The ASK A VET™ Tracker logs live location and activity trends, so a change in routine never goes unnoticed.

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About the author

Dr Duncan Houston

Veterinarian · Founder of ASK A VET

Every ASK A VET article is written and reviewed by qualified veterinarians.

About Dr. Duncan →drduncanthevet

Scent Work for Dogs: Easy Nose Games for Enrichment, Confidence and Calm