AC Scent-Dogs

30/09/2025

Yes. She’s lean. No - she’s not skinny…and lean she will stay. People ask if it’s to keep her drivey or for training or behaviour but the truth is, it’s for her health….did you know…Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in dogs, with up to a third affected in their lifetime. Risk rises with age and varies by breed, with Golden Retrievers, boxers and large breeds like mastiffs and rotties showing particularly high rates.

Diet makes a difference. Obesity is strongly linked to higher risks of tumours, so keeping dogs lean is one of the best protections we have.

A landmark trial in dogs with lymphoma found that diets enriched with fish oil (EPA and DHA) and arginine improved survival and disease-free intervals. In another study, Scottish Terriers fed leafy green and yellow-orange vegetables several times a week had a significantly lower risk of bladder cancer.

While there’s no evidence that cutting out carbohydrates or following ketogenic diets prevents or treats cancer in dogs, the science does support lean body condition, targeted nutrients like omega-3s and arginine, and the potential benefits of vegetables in reducing risk.

I feed and have for two years. It’s perfect and I get a bunch of fresh treats, chews and extras to keep my dogs in good shape. Lucky for me, one of my best mates is also a nutrition expert so she helps keep me up to date as the industry changes.

02/09/2025

Busy minds = busy behaviours.
That’s why scent work is such a great thing to do with your high energy dogs.
When a dog gets to search, the world quiets down and focus takes over.

It’s more than enrichment.
It’s therapy for the nose, brain, and body.

This is why we love it. This is why your dog will too.

26/08/2025

11 days without our precious girl 💔 and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how different the house feels. After 14 years, adapting to this “new” is so hard.

I’ve not really given Nya the time she needs recently — grief, no sleep, everything feels like a battle! I thought Nya was coping well. I honestly believed she didn’t really understand what was going on. Every time we cry, she appears with a toy and pushes it into us, almost insisting we play. We have laughed at her lack of understanding through the tears, but now I realise I might have been wrong - I think she does understand and I think she’s been trying to comfort us in her own way.

Over the past few days, I’ve noticed her searching more for Belle, and she seems so much more unsettled and unsure. It’s made me realise just how much confidence Belle gave her.

On today’s walk it was just me and Nya, and she never left my side. I think she is feeling it, the realisation that her best friend is not coming back - she is grieving too. I’m sorry if I haven’t been my best for you Nya. I promise to do better.

If you’re also going through grief, I get it. It’s brutal, it’s messy, and some days it feels impossible. But we’ll get there, one small step at a time. Sending love to anyone else who’s hurting right now ❤️🐾

16/08/2025

Our precious girl, our family is broken and we are devastated 💔. You were the life and soul of our home, it will never ever feel the same without you – not even close. You filled our lives with so much joy, you were the heart of our family.

People used to laugh when I said you were my best friend, but it was true! You were always there, right beside me through the madness of raising the girls and you watched them grow into beautiful young ladies. Through the laughter and the tears, the chaos and the calm. You saw it all. You never judged, just loved us unconditionally every single day.

We’ve been through so much together.
Some days were amazing, some were bloody hard – but you were the constant that made everything brighter just by being there with your whip of a tail, flip flop in your mouth and that Bellieboo sparkle in your eye.

You were the most amazing big sister to Nya. She adored you and you gave her so much confidence and love, a love that will stay with her for the rest of her life.

I honestly don’t know how I’ll get through losing you. I don’t think I ever will! But please know this – you’ll always be with me. They say grief is the price we pay for love and what a high price that is!! But I know we would pay it a thousand times over to be able to say that we were the lucky ones, we got to share life with you.

To my princess, I loved you the day I met you, I love you today and every day to come. My once in a lifetime girl.

Sleep tight Princess Belle 💖.
30/06/2011 - 15/08/2025

21/07/2025

Still a couple of places left on the course if you’re looking for a weekly class to attend with your pet dog. Message if interested

August Beginners Fun Scent Classes!

Ready to unleash your dog’s hidden talent? Join our Beginners Scent Work Classes at AC SCENT-DOGS, where you and your dog will explore the amazing world of scent detection in a fun, relaxed environment. We cover the bronze criteria of the UK Sniffer dogs and much more.

- Perfect for dogs of all breeds, ages, and energy levels
- Builds focus, confidence, and teamwork
- Taught by a UK Sniffer Dogs Bronze Instructor and qualified WSDA Trainer

No experience needed – just a nose and a sense of adventure!

When?
Thursday August 7th at 6pm (6 week course)

Where?
The Grafton Centre, Grafton Street, Hyde, SK14 2AX

How much?
£120 for a 6 week block (£50 secures spot)

Classes run in small groups to ensure individual attention. Start your scent journey today and have fun with your dog.

Message to book or for more info.

24/06/2025

One of the things I get asked regularly is - "I feed raw, can I still train my dog?” And my answer is always - ABSOLUTELY!!

My dogs are raw fed.
My dogs train daily.
My dogs LOVE scent work.
And I use food rewards.

Here’s how I do it:
- Natural training treats like dried lung, pate, or cold-pressed treats.
- Raw chunks (gloves on — job done!).
- Homemade dog treats (when I have the time).

Food motivation doesn’t disappear just because your dog eats raw. It’s about understanding value, building that motivation and creating a reinforcement history.

For all your raw feeding needs and natural treats make sure to check out

17/06/2025

AC Scent-Dogs Progression Scent Classes

If you’ve completed your Bronze Sniffer Dog Scent Work training and want more sniffs, more searches, and more fun — why not join our Progression Classes.

We’ll continue using the UK Sniffer Dogs Bronze Progression Booklet as a foundation, but with added twists and variety from my training as a WSDA Instructor.

What to expect:
- New odours to explore
- New search styles and scenarios
- Boost your dog’s indication skills
- No pressure. No pass/fail. Just progress and play.

If you love training, playing, learning and want more time building your dog’s confidence and skill, I promise these sessions are for you.

When?
Thursday August 7th at 7.15pm (6 week course)

Where?
The Grafton Centre, Grafton Street, Hyde, SK14 2AX

How much?
£120 for a 6 week block (£50 secures spot)

Message to secure your spot.

I Can’t offer Silver & Gold just yet!!
That’s true — and I get why some of you are excited to complete the set! If you’re set on Silver/Gold, just contact me and I can point you to a fab instructor nearby.

17/06/2025

August Beginners Fun Scent Classes!

Ready to unleash your dog’s hidden talent? Join our Beginners Scent Work Classes at AC SCENT-DOGS, where you and your dog will explore the amazing world of scent detection in a fun, relaxed environment. We cover the bronze criteria of the UK Sniffer dogs and much more.

- Perfect for dogs of all breeds, ages, and energy levels
- Builds focus, confidence, and teamwork
- Taught by a UK Sniffer Dogs Bronze Instructor and qualified WSDA Trainer

No experience needed – just a nose and a sense of adventure!

When?
Thursday August 7th at 6pm (6 week course)

Where?
The Grafton Centre, Grafton Street, Hyde, SK14 2AX

How much?
£120 for a 6 week block (£50 secures spot)

Classes run in small groups to ensure individual attention. Start your scent journey today and have fun with your dog.

Message to book or for more info.

27/05/2025

Scent work is not just about searching for treats… it’s teaching our dogs to use their most powerful tool - the nose.

We teach dogs to find specific odours in a fun, focused way that’s amazing for their brain and confidence.

This isn’t just for police or working dogs – it’s for your cuddly couch companion, your zoomie-loving spaniel, your nervous rescue, and your playful pup. Every dog has a nose, and every dog can learn to use it!

Here’s what scent work brings:
- Mental stimulation that tires them out in the best way
- A confidence boost, especially for nervous or reactive dogs
- Fun problem-solving that taps into natural instincts
- A stronger bond between you and your dog
- And YES – plenty of treats and tail wags along the way!

Let your dog sniff, search, and shine 🌟

27/05/2025

Still looking for a suitable venue if anyone knows of anywhere?

Looking for Space to Hire – Can You Help?

I’m currently on the lookout for a venue in or around the Hyde (Tameside) area to run my scent work classes for pet dogs. Ideally, I’m after:
• A large indoor room (village hall, community space, etc.)
• OR a safe, enclosed outdoor area
• Parking and toilets are a bonus, but not essential

If you know of anywhere suitable – or have any contacts who might – please drop me a message or tag them below.

Appreciate any help you can offer – thank you!
Claire

28/04/2025

Hot Forecast Due 🌅

Is it true that if we use cold water on heat stroke pets they will go into shock?

One of the most common things we still hear is that we can only use tepid water on a pet with heat stroke, incase they get some complications like hypothermic overshoot, peripheral vasoconstriction hindering a cooling response, and cardiogenic shock...

We have heard not to use cold water in case it causes shock... this rarely happens!

But guess what? In a recent study over 26% of dogs presented with heat stroke died, with flat faced breeds making up nearly half of heat stroke cases seen in the study.

You should:

💧Get someone to call the local veterinary practice and tell them you're going to travel down with a heat stroke patient
💧Pour, hose or if possible immerse the pet in very cold water (this should obviously be done under constant supervision, ensuring the head is fully above water and immersion should not be attempted if the animal is too large, or you are unable to do so without hurting yourself)
💧NB: If using a hose pipe, make sure it has run through until cold, as they can often contain water that is extremely hot in the tubing initially
💧Do not drape in towels and leave them in situ. Keep the cold water flowing.
💧Move to a cool, shaded area
💧Prepare to transport to vets in a cold, air conditioned car

In studies they found that:

🌅International consensus from sports medicine organisations supports treating EHS with early rapid cooling by immersing the casualty in cold water.
🌅Ice-water immersion has been shown to be highly effective in exertional heat stroke, with a zero fatality rate in large case series of younger, fit patients.
🌅Hyperthermic individuals were cooled twice as fast by Cold Water Immersion as by passive recovery.
🌅No complications occurred during the treatment of three older patients with severe heat stroke were treated with cold‐water immersion.
🌅Cold water immersion (CWI) is the preferred cooling modality in EHS guidelines and the optimal method applicable to UK Service Personnel
🌅Studies suggest using either ice-water or cold-water immersion

The best intervention is PREVENTION, but if you find yourself with an animal with heat stroke, using cold water either by pouring, hosing or ideally (if safe) immersion then this may help reduce their temperature to safe levels while you transport to a veterinary practice.

Read more below:

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/cool-icy-cold-or-tepid

19/04/2025

Scent work is one of the most natural and enriching activities for your dog. Whether they’re young, old, reactive, or just bursting with energy – scent work provides mental stimulation, builds confidence, and strengthens your bond.