Scentwork Foundations
Scentwork is one of the most rewarding activities to do with your dog. They gain an innate internal reward from the activity and it is excellent for building your relationship and your dog's own confidence.
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What do we cover?
This foundation course teaches you and your dog the foundation skills to work together in searches. This includes how to search on cue and end a search safely, to search for a defined odour, to ask for help and to indicate where a find is.
These foundations help us to build up your dog's searching skills in line with ScentworkUK's progression framework. Whether you want to build your searching skills for the joy of the activity itself or aim to engage in competition work this course lays the groundwork for your dog-handler team.
From here we invite dog-handler teams to join our Sniffers club where we explore our searching skills over different search environments and search articles.
We always follow scientifically verified, aversion free training and behaviour techniques. There are no harsh methods or tools throughout. At all times we follow the code of ethics of both the APDT and IMDT.
Your notes for each session will be sent to you via email after the class.
Who is this course for?
This group course is designed for dogs of any age and any ability level. Foundation obedience or training is not required for this course however if your dog is not used to engaging with you outdoors it would help to start with a course on engagement or workshop such as the Sniffy Games Workshop.
This course is not suitable for dogs who are overly excitable on leash, who do not engage at all with people when out and about, who are reactive towards dogs or people, or who are excessively fearful. We have other suitable courses, training, or behaviour work for these cases.
Preparing for your course
There are a few things to bring with you to your course.
- Training treats
- Comfortable 2-point harness
- Fixed length leash
- A non-squeaky toy your dog likes
- Water & a bowl to drink from
- Towels for drying off
- Mat or blanket for your dog to sit on
Please try to avoid feeding your dog for 2 hours before class unless they have a medical condition that requires more frequent food.
Please note that we do not permit any tools in class that are aversive in nature, this includes: choke chains; slip leads; martingales; electric collars; no-pull harnesses (harnesses that get tighter when pulled); prong collars; or retractable leashes.
Location, dates, times & cost
Our group courses are held outdoors either in our training field just outside of Prosperous or in Monread Park in Naas. The course is run on grass so please dress for the weather. We run classes in public spaces so that we are working on the distractions of every day life from the get go.
Upcoming dates:
- February 8th 2026 10am - 11:30am: Training field, Garvogue, Prosperous
This course costs €210 in total for the four weeks.
Please make sure you are available for all weeks of the course as transfers between courses is not possible. Exceptions will of course be made for handlers or dogs who are sick.
Note: There is an upcoming price increase from February 1st for new bookings.
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Reserve your spot on the next Scentwork Foundations and get started on your training journey today.
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