#111 - Scent Work for Dogs: Enrichment That Supports the Whole Household

Enrichment for the Real World

Content provided by Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training and Pet Harmony Animal Behavior. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training and Pet Harmony Animal Behavior or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

14d ago 42:24

MP3•Episode home

Simple, flexible scent games that help your dog thrive—and give you a well-earned breather.

If you’ve ever needed your dog to do something enriching without needing your full attention, or wanted to build your relationship through fun, sniffy games, this episode is your new best friend.

In this week’s episode of Enrichment for the Real World, Allie Bender and Emily Strong unpack the magic of scent work—and how it supports your dog’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being and makes your life easier too. We’re talking about games like “find it,” scatter feeding, and what we call the “anywhere but here” protocol, with tips for tailoring them to your specific household setup (no matter how chaotic it may be).

You’ll hear why scent work is more than just a fun activity—it can be used to teach your dog independence, encourage relaxation, and even build trust in tricky situations. Whether you need something that works behind a baby gate, away from food-stealing pets, or hands-free while you hop on a Zoom call, there’s something here for you.

TLDL (Too Long, Didn’t Listen): 3 Key Takeaways
Scent work is ridiculously adaptable.
Whether you need to keep dogs separated, avoid food on the floor, or work behind a barrier, there’s a nose game for that.

Teaching “set it and forget it” is a game-changer.
It takes effort up-front, but the payoff? A dog who can self-entertain while still engaging in healthy enrichment. Gold.

“Find it” is the duct tape of dog training.
This go-to cue can give you a pause button, channel your dog’s energy, and lay the foundation for more complex games.

Links & Resources from the Episode

📖 Canine Olfaction: Scent, Sign, and Situation – Book chapter by Simon Gadbois & Catherine Reeves
📚 Being a Dog: Following the Dog Into a World of Smell by Alexandra Horowitz
🔬 Study: Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgment bias in pet dogs
📓 Episode #109: Assessing Risk for the Safety Enrichment Category
🎲 July 2023 Enrichment Challenge: Try a New Active Foraging Option
💻 Check out the full show notes, including more resources at petharmonytraining.com/episode111

More from Pet Harmony

We’ve got a lot more to share—join the conversation!

Follow us on social media:
Instagram: @petharmonytraining
Facebook: @petharmonytraining
Instagram (Pro): @petharmonypro
TikTok (Pro): @petharmonypro

Sign up for our weekly newsletter:
👉 https://petharmonytraining.com/join

Subscribe & Review
If this episode resonated with you, we’d love for you to subscribe and leave a review. Your feedback helps us connect with m

Pet professionals, come hang out with us! We're hosting FREE PETPro Public Office Hours. We've got Q&As, deep dives, and even a happy hour where you can meet our community and ask what it's really like to be in the program.

See the office hour schedule, and grab your spot at http://petharmonytraining.com/experience.

We can't wait to see you there!

114 episodes

#Pet Enrichment #Podcasting Education #Pet Harmony Animal Behavior and Training #Pet Harmony Animal Behavior #Dog Training #Cat Behaviorist #Dogs #Separation Anxiety #Aggressive #Animal Behavior