Scent Detection -
UK Sniffer Dogs Bronze Course
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The Power of Nosework is Endless!​
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Scent Detection training has long been used all over the world for working, operational service dogs in fields such as Police, Rescue, Military and Wildlife Conservation.​ Using their amazing sense of smell, dogs are trained to search for specific target scents or odours in order to find illegal or dangerous items such as drugs, explosives or contraband.
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In more recent years we have seen these incredible dogs used as medical alert dogs for those who suffer with life threatening health conditions and medical detection dogs to detect the smell of human diseases and save lives.
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Here at The Don Dog Company, we appreciate how important it is to empower our dogs using their natural abilities and have always used scent work in the training of our own dogs, whether a pet, working or sport dog.
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Did you know that just 10 minutes of scent work can be the equivalent of up to a one hour long run?
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Suitable for dogs of any age, breed and activity level, our Bronze course for beginners will introduce you to the world of scent detection in our fun and engaging classes. They will provide both physical and mental exercise and promote calm, focused & positive thinking.
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We will explore Scent ID (KONG), how to build a freeze indication and complete a variety of searches on pipes, chairs, bags, vehicles and novel environments. ​
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Course duration & session times vary. Please see booking page for upcoming courses & details.
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You will need to purchase a medium sized classic red KONG prior to the course and ideally start feeding your dog food and treats in the KONG every day during the week leading up to your course.
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Includes a starter scent kit for you to take home and a certificate on completion of the course.
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On completion of the bronze course, you will be able to compete in UK Sniffer Dogs trials all over the UK if you are feeling competitive! We aim to host a trial here at The Don Dog Company at least once a year.
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Bronze (Beginners) Course £100
(Our next 4 week course starts Saturday 3rd May @ 9am)
10% Early bird booking discount available, if you book online before 6/4/25 using code UKSD10
Scent Club
Once you have completed your bronze beginners course, you are able to progress your dog's scent detection skills at our scent club.
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Our weekly 1 hour sessions are designed to work on your handling skills and your dog's commitment to odour when difficulty is increased and distractions are added. We will work on different searches, search patterns, indication improvement and have fun along the way with themed searches throughout the year.
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Sessions will be run by Becky, our UK Sniffer Dogs Instructor or Gareth, an operational Drugs Detection Dog Handler.
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If you wish, you can purchase the UK Sniffer Dogs Continuation booklet for £10 and work through the six levels at your own pace (purely optional and only available to those who have completed the UKSD bronze course).
Each skill will be signed off by ourselves and once each level is completed, you will receive a UK Sniffer Dogs certificate to mark your dog's superb achievement and add to your collection!
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When:
Friday afternoons 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Saturday afternoons 2pm - 3pm
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Per session: £20
Prepay for 4 sessions: £60​​​
1:1 UKSD Bronze Course
Here at The Don Dog Company, we don't want any dog to miss out on the amazing benefits of scent work. So if for whatever reason you are unable to commit to a scheduled group class, why not book our 1:1 course, which allows greater flexibility to work around your schedule.
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Whilst we have welcomed many reactive dogs to our scent detection classes and often use scent work as part of the training plan for many reactive dogs, we understand that some dogs and owners would prefer to learn either in the comfort of their own home or at our training facility but without the distraction of other people and dogs. Therefore, our 1:1 option could be the perfect solution.
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Suitable for dogs of any age, breed and activity level, our Bronze course for beginners will introduce you to the world of scent detection in our fun and engaging 1:1 classes. They will provide both physical and mental exercise and promote calm, focused & positive thinking.
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We will explore Scent ID (KONG), how to build a freeze indication and complete a variety of searches on pipes, chairs, bags, vehicles and novel environments. ​
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Course duration: 3 weeks (Each session is 1 hour)
Location: Either in your home or at our training field.
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You will need to purchase a medium sized classic red KONG prior to the course and ideally start feeding your dog food and treats in the KONG every day during the week leading up to your course.
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Includes a starter scent kit for you to use at home and a certificate on completion of the course.
​
On completion of the bronze course, you will be able to compete in UK Sniffer Dogs trials all over the UK if you are feeling competitive! We aim to host a trial here at The Don Dog Company at least once a year.
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1:1 Bronze (Beginners) Course £120
Please contact us to book.
UK Sniffer Dogs Taster Session
Occasionally, we run UK Sniffer Dogs Taster sessions, which are a fun-filled hour, giving you a glimpse into the world of scent detection for pet dogs.
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They are the perfect opportunity if you are unsure about committing to a full course without knowing a little more about what's involved.
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You'll learn about some of the benefits of scent work, some interesting facts and we play some scent games, which you can do at home.
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It gives you the chance to meet your instructor and ask any questions about the beginner's course.
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Open to all dogs and handlers. No experience is necessary.
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Please note, the taster sessions don't run very often, so if you are interested in scent detection, but you don't want to join one of our bronze beginner's courses without meeting us first, please contact us and ask for your name to be added to our UK Sniffer Dogs taster session interest list.
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Taster session £20