The Nose
- Will follow his nose anywhere
- May come from a breed that was used to track scents, such as beagles or other hounds
Top activities:
- Training your hound to be a search and rescue dog is a huge commitment, but very rewarding if you’ve got the time and passion for it. Check out the National Association for Search & Rescue website to find out if it’s for you.
- Participate in tracking trials, which involve following a scent trail to find a deliberately “lost” person and any items she dropped. The American Kennel Club puts on tracking events for purebreds; local chapters of the Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America do the same for mutts.
Other fun stuff:
- Create your own tracking game by asking your dog for a sit-stay outside, and walking through the grass to leave a scent trail. Leave a treat at the end of the trail, then retrace your steps and release your dog to find the treat.
- Hide treats throughout your yard and let your dog sniff them out.
- Turn meals into treasure hunts by putting your dog’s food bowl in a new spot, and leaving a widely spaced trail of kibble to the bowl.
Examples of Noses: Beagles, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Bloodhounds
Fun & games for other dogs:
The Jock
Ball Hound
Couch Potato
Diggity Dog
Every Dog
Smart Cookie