Distractors Workshop - Working Spot

Class & Course Details

This half-day workshop is designed to support dogs in learning how to search thoughtfully in environments that contain more “nose noise” — the everyday mix of environmental background odour, novel scents, and tempting distractions that exist outside of controlled training spaces. We’ll be working with intentional distractors such as novel herbs (e.g. peppermint and thyme) to gently change the scent picture and, for more experienced dogs, food and toy distractions where appropriate. Rather than asking dogs to “ignore” what’s in the environment, the focus of this workshop is on allowing dogs to notice, investigate safely, and then decide what information is relevant to their task. This dog-driven approach supports clearer problem-solving, stronger decision-making, and greater confidence when dogs encounter new or busy scent environments. Searches will be set up to encourage dogs to move through environmental background odour, work things out at their own pace, and return to their search without pressure. The workshop will run in a calm, supportive format with a small group size and multiple runs per team. Each search will be adapted to the individual dog’s experience level and comfort, whether they are searching for food, toys, or trained odour. There is no expectation for dogs to be at a particular “level” — teams are supported where they are at. Suitable for: Teams who are on at least 1 of the following target odours: Birch, Anise, Clove This workshop is ideal for anyone wanting to build their dog’s confidence and clarity in more complex scent pictures, while staying true to a dog-driven, welfare-first approach.