Talking Dogs Scentwork

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Talking Dogs Scentwork We speak your dog's language! Our aim is to work together with our dogs so that we better understand each other and make the most of every day together.

23/11/2025

Meet Arrow. This wonderful clip shows him searching with energy and purpose. He very quickly hits the target scent but it takes him a little longer to track it back to source.

I particularly love watching this part of the scentwork process because it’s one of the few times that we get a glimpse into how and where the scent is moving.

if you’ve enjoyed watching this wonderful scentworker (and who wouldn’t!) and think your dog would love to be a scentwork dog, you know what to do - hit the link in comments.

Do you ever catch yourself wondering why your dog did something in a search?�Do you replay searches in your head on the ...
23/11/2025

Do you ever catch yourself wondering why your dog did something in a search?
�Do you replay searches in your head on the way home?
�Do you notice tiny details that other people walk straight past?
�Do you get a quiet thrill when your dog surprises you?

If you answered yes to any of these, you might be a scentwork scientist at heart.

The Scent Lab is made for handlers who love curiosity just as much as they love their dogs. No pressure, no competition, just practical experiments that help you understand how your dog really works and why searches unfold the way they do.

Early bird pricing ends 1 December, then the standard rate kicks in. If you’ve been thinking about joining, this is a good moment to say yes to your inner scent geek.

Link in comments to join the Lab.

22/11/2025

There’s no stopping lovely Lucy when she scentworking. Right from these early searches she was always on a mission. 💜

21/11/2025

In scentwork changes tend to happen very quickly. From one search to the next you can see changes in the dog’s confidence.

Here you can see a great example of precisely that. We begin with the team’s first ever starter search. They are both at the start of their scentwork journey and both are doing such a good job. The handler is moving through and around the boxes in order to give the dog access to them all. You can see how carefully the dog is watching the handler and checking in with her. This dog isn’t sure exactly what the game is but when she hits the scent you can see that she understands that this is what she’s searching for.

Straight after the first search the team goes into their second search. This time the dog enters the search area with a new sense of purpose. She sticks her nose right into the boxes now searching for her target. And when she hits the scent this time, the indication is so strong and she’s so definite. She’s not sure if she’s allowed to move the box to access it but with a little nudge from her handler she can easily retrieve her prize.

It’s wonderful to see what a difference a minute makes.

To see what difference a minute can make for your dog enrol in my Teach Your Dog to Sniff! course. You’ll find the link to Detector Dog School in bio.

20/11/2025

Figuring out how scent behaves in different conditions isn’t just fascinating, it’s helpful. Scent molecules move slowly in the cold so they don’t dissipate, disperse or disappear as fast as they can on windy or hot days.

This turns every frosty walk into a smorgasbord of scents for your dog. No wonder they get giddy, so many scents to choose from, so little time!

You know that fizz you get when handlers are already talking about an event before it’s even started? That’s exactly wha...
17/11/2025

You know that fizz you get when handlers are already talking about an event before it’s even started? That’s exactly what’s happening with The Scent Lab right now - my inbox has been full of excited messages and “I can’t wait!” notes.

This Lab is for curious scentworkers who love discovering what really influences their dog’s searches. Each experiment reveals something fresh, sometimes surprising, and always practical - the kind of insight that changes how you work.

Early bird price, £77, available until 1 December. After that, doors stay open but at the standard price £97.

Tap the link in the comment to join before the price jumps. Come geek out with us about scent!

16/11/2025

Keeping your dog safe when scentworking is paramount.

Using a well fitted harness designed specifically for searching, rather than for walking or running, is a great way to physically support your dog.

Teach her that your hand on her harness is there to assist not manoeuvre her.

Find out now to choose and use a harness in my Essential Scentwork Skills course.

Video audits are open! What are they?You send me a 2–4 min clip of your search this weekend.I send back personalised fee...
14/11/2025

Video audits are open!

What are they?
You send me a 2–4 min clip of your search this weekend.
I send back personalised feedback including advice you can use right away.

Only 10 spots available.
Bookings close at midnight on Sunday 116th Nov. £60

Book yours before they’re gone! Hit the link in the link in comments to book now.

13/11/2025

Postal searches are great for providing so much work, connection, patience, trust and teamwork.
Here you see a wonderful example of example of all that.

If you’d like to learn how to do postal searches, sign up to the Baggage Searches course to get the inside scoop! As ever, follow the link in comments.

11/11/2025

This might be a tip you weren’t expecting. But honestly, it’s a great skill for all trainers, pro or non-pro, to have.

For example, when walking my dog along a road I always have her walk on the inside, ie I am nearest the traffic, not her. So depending on my direction and where I’m walking my dog might be on my left or right side.

Give it a try, use your less dominant hand to see how awkward it feels. Now practise and see how it becomes second nature to use whichever hand is most appropriate.

10/11/2025

Just because a dog’s search style doesn’t conform to preconceived ideas of what it ‘should’ look like doesn’t mean the dog isn’t working beautifully. Here we see Georgia and her style might suggest that she lacks a little confidence. However, this belies her scentwork accuracy. She’s very decisive and is confident in her own decision making. And rightly so, she’s a wonderfully reliable scentworker.
She doesn’t like to be too physical when accessing the find, so she very sensibly asks for help. Remember, she’s already found it, she just can’t get to it. And her supportive handler helps by making it more accessible. She doesn’t dig the find out for her but she acknowledges Georgia’s discomfort and request for help and so supports her to get the reward. This is never a bad thing. Supporting our dogs no matter what the task is super important for trust, bonds and teamwork.
Find out more about supportive scentwork by hitting the link in the comments.

09/11/2025

At 6 month’s old my little terrier mix Ettie’s first search couldn’t have gone any better. I’d done the groundwork so that she was set for success. And so that when she stepped into her first search she was ready and raring to go. I love her little check step and the confidence with which she sticks her head into the box to pull out the scented article. This easy access is essential to build confidence in the target scent. All this in under 20 seconds. Wonderful.

This could be your pup if you enrol in my Puppy Scentwork course over in Detector Dog School. Hit the link in comments to get started.

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Talking Dogs Scentwork®

Founded in 2011 by Pam Mackinnon, Talking Dogs Scentwork® combines all the knowledge and experience of 25 years working with pet dogs and their owners with the operational experience of a professional Detector Dog Handler. Working with thousands of pet dogs since it’s formation, Talking Dogs Scentwork® excels at teaching all breeds, ages and abilities of dog to find specific scents in a variety of environments. Using our comprehensive training system delivered through workshops, online courses in our Detector Dog School www.detectordog.co.uk , DVDs and our manual ‘Detector Dog’, we have successfully helped turn pet dogs into detector dogs all over the UK, and beyond. To learn from the best in the business come visit us at scentwork.com