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Training path

Scent work with NOSME: the 5-step training path

From the first sniff of the TOKEN to a full course in the garden: a step-by-step guide to training your dog’s nose with the NOSME pieces, one at a time.

What scent work is

Scent work, also called nose work, uses the dog’s sense of smell, their most developed sense. By searching for a specific odour the dog learns to focus, solve problems and use their abilities with intention. It works at any age, indoors or outdoors, with short sessions and plenty of play.

  • Less stress and boredomSearching with the nose tires the mind more than a run, and it calms them down.
  • More self-controlThey learn to focus, think and solve a problem on their own.
  • A stronger bondYou work as a team: you set up, they search, you celebrate together.

The path at a glance

  1. 1The TOKENThe scent that earns a reward
  2. 2Inside the PODThe scent is out of sight
  3. 3Choose where it goesNOSME bases and holders
  4. 4Build the courseMany holders, one right answer
  5. 5Play and trainScent work becomes a habit
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Step 1 / 5

The TOKEN

The scent that earns a reward

Goal: Your dog learns that the TOKEN’s scent always leads to something good.

How to do it

  1. Put a tiny amount of scent on the TOKEN. Pick just one and stick with it for the first few weeks.
  2. Hold the TOKEN on your open palm in front of your dog’s nose: as soon as they sniff it, reward straight away.
  3. Repeat 5 or 6 times, then put the TOKEN on the floor half a metre away: sniff, reward.
  4. Move it a little further each time or next to an object, always in plain sight.
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Step 2 / 5

Inside the POD

The scent is out of sight

Goal: Your dog searches for the scent even when the TOKEN is closed away and can’t be seen.

How to do it

  1. Put the TOKEN in the POD and screw the two halves together.
  2. Place the POD on the floor in sight, a few steps away: when your dog puts their nose on it, reward while they’re still there.
  3. Hide it behind a door, under a chair or in a corner, always one POD at a time.
  4. Before releasing them, always give the same start cue, for example “Search!”.
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Step 3 / 5

Choose where it goes

NOSME bases and holders

Goal: Change height, surface and movement so your dog learns to search anywhere.

The POD clips magnetically onto HEXAPOD, PODIUM and DRILLPOD; BELLPOD and TUBEPOD hold the TOKEN directly. Choose by where you train:

HEXAPODIndoors. Holds the POD even upside down and links to other HEXAPODs with the side hooks.PODIUMOutdoors. Lifts the POD off the ground like a little stool; stacks away after the session.DRILLPODSnow, sand, soil. The carrot-shaped tip goes into the ground where a PODIUM won’t stand.BELLPODHung from a string or a branch. The TOKEN swings: your dog sniffs, jumps and chases.TUBEPODOn the floor or on metal, thanks to the magnet on the back: gates, doors, shelves, at different heights.

How to do it

  1. Introduce one base at a time, starting with the easiest: HEXAPOD indoors.
  2. Keep the first try easy: base in sight, TOKEN inside, reward.
  3. Then change one thing at a time: the height, or the place, or the surface.
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Step 4 / 5

Build the course

Many holders, one right answer

Goal: Combine several NOSME pieces into a course: your dog has to pick the right one among many.

How to do it

  1. Set out 3 to 5 empty PODs and only one with the TOKEN. Use different colours so you know which one it is without staring at your dog.
  2. Mix the bases: a HEXAPOD, a PODIUM, a TUBEPOD on the gate.
  3. Vary the layout (in a row, in a circle, scattered) and then the place: home, garden, park.
  4. Raise the difficulty little by little: more holders, longer distances, then two TOKENs in the same course.

Three courses to try

Indoor row5 linked HEXAPODs with PODs on top, the TOKEN in just one.
Garden4 PODIUMs scattered on the lawn and a DRILLPOD in the flower bed.
AdvancedPODIUM, a BELLPOD hanging from a branch and a TUBEPOD on the gate, two TOKENs to find.
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Step 5 / 5

Play and train

Scent work becomes a habit

Goal: Your dog works independently while you learn to read and guide them.

How to do it

  1. Teach an indication: when they find the right holder, wait a moment before rewarding. Reward what they offer (sitting, freezing, staring) and it becomes their signal.
  2. Read your dog: when they hit the scent cone their pace changes, the head comes up, they circle. Follow without steering.
  3. Blind searches: have someone else set up the course, so you don’t give away the answer without meaning to.
  4. New scents: once the first is solid, add a second one starting again from step 1.
  5. Routine: two or three short sessions a week, always ending with an easy search and a party.

The TOKEN and scents

The TOKEN is the small golden medallion your dog has to find: it’s the target of the search, not the reward. When they find it, the reward always comes from you.

  • Always in tiny amounts: a dog’s nose is thousands of times more sensitive than ours.
  • One scent at a time, until your dog recognises it with confidence.
  • Keep scented TOKENs in closed jars, one per scent.
  • Handle them as little as possible, so you don’t leave your own scent on every holder.

Recommended scents

  • Anise
  • Clove
  • Cinnamon
  • Lavender
  • Black tea

What clips onto what

All NOSME pieces are designed to work together: the neodymium magnet holds the POD on the bases, even upside down.
PODholds the TOKEN and clips onto HEXAPOD, PODIUM and DRILLPODTOKENgoes inside POD, BELLPOD and TUBEPODHEXAPODholds the POD and links to other HEXAPODsPODIUMlifts the POD off the ground, stackableDRILLPODholds the POD pushed into the groundBELLPODholds the TOKEN, to hang upTUBEPODholds the TOKEN, on the floor or on metal

Safety

It’s a search tool, not a chew toy: always use it under your supervision. The neodymium magnets are glued into their seats.

Frequently asked questions

What is scent work?

Scent work, also called nose work, is a scent-detection activity: the dog learns to find a specific odour hidden in the environment and to indicate it.

Is it right for my dog?

Yes. It suits dogs of every age and size and can be done at home or outdoors. You start with very simple exercises and raise the difficulty little by little.

What do I need to start?

A few PODs and the TOKENs to scent are enough: the 5-POD kit includes 3 free TOKENs. The bases (HEXAPOD, PODIUM, DRILLPOD) come in when you want to vary heights and surfaces.

Is the TOKEN a reward?

No. The TOKEN is the target to find, not the reward: when your dog finds it, the reward comes from you.

How do I start scent work with my dog at home?

Start with one container in sight and a scented TOKEN inside, reward as soon as your dog noses it, then hide it in new spots around the room. HEXAPOD bases are designed for indoor courses. Every step is in stages 1–4 of the training path.

What scents are used for scent work?

In the NOSME instructions we recommend anise, clove, cinnamon, lavender or black tea, always in tiny amounts and one at a time, until your dog recognises the first one with confidence.

What is a scent work kit?

A set of containers or vessels to hide the scent in, the targets to scent and, if you like, bases to vary height and surface. The NOSME kits combine magnetic PODs, TOKENs and bases for home and outdoors.

How long should a scent work session last?

Short: 3–5 minutes at the start, stopping while your dog is still keen. Later on, two or three short sessions a week are enough.

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