Scent Work - Area Search

Private 1:1 Skill Training

Harness your dog's strongest instinct to build confidence, provide meaningful enrichment, strengthen your partnership in a rewarding activity you can enjoy together.

6 x private sessions (11 skills)
Good for reactive dogs
Any dog over 6 months welcome
No training experience needed
For all breeds

Cost:
$600 for new clients
$500 for prior and existing clients

Let's begin with a free assessment

Area Search will be offered from mid-July 2026.

Every Dog Has an Extraordinary Nose

Beginning with simple food searches and gradually introducing birch odor, Area Search helps your dog build confidence, develop communication, and enjoy a meaningful activity you can continue together.

For some dogs, the first step may be as simple as feeling safe enough to investigate a cardboard box. That is still progress.

Why Choose Area Search?

Area Search gives dogs an appropriate outlet for one of their strongest natural abilities: using their nose.

For many dogs, especially fearful, under socialized, or easily overwhelmed dogs, searching can build confidence one small success at a time.

Why Choose Private Lessons?

Every lesson is tailored to your individual dog.
Reactive dogs are welcome.
Nervous dogs are welcome.
Young dogs are welcome.
Senior dogs are welcome.

Because you're not sharing the lesson with anyone else, there's no pressure to keep up with a group or wait for your turn.

There are no club memberships and rules.
No waiting in your car.
No crating between searches.

What You'll Learn

6 x 30minute private sessions
Sessions are flexible and planned around your dog's progress rather than a fixed calendar. We will learn 11 skills during this time.
Allow at least five days between sessions, giving you time at home to reinforce new skills, and build confidence before moving on to the next lesson.
We begin with small, achievable steps, often as simple as dropping a treat into a box. As your dog gains confidence, we progress toward food searches, birch odor, indoor and outdoor searches, containers, elevated hides, and understanding how scent moves through the environment.

We progress by confidence and understanding, not by forcing dogs through a fixed schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at training@good-dawg.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What is the difference between Area Search, scent work, nose work and trailing?

All 4 use your dog's incredible sense of smell but develop different skills.

Area Search is my tailor-made course that teaches dogs to search a defined area for a hidden target odor.

Scent work is a broad term that includes activities such as area searches, container searches, interior and exterior searches, vehicle searches, elevated hides, buried hides, and more.

Nose work is a structured form of scent detection often based on specific rules and target odors, commonly practiced in competitions.

Trailing teaches dogs to follow the unique scent trail of a specific person rather than searching an area for a hidden odor.

Can Area Search lead to other scent training activities?

Absolutely. Area Search builds transferable skills that can lead to many other scent-based activities.

Throughout the course you'll progress from food searches to birch odor, while learning indoor and outdoor searching, containers, elevated hides, different environments, scent movement, and how to read your dog's body language.

Whether you continue searching for fun or decide to join a club in the future, you'll have a strong foundation.

Why do you use birch odor?

Birch is one of the most widely used target odors in scent detection and is commonly used by scent detection instructors, clubs, and organizations.

It provides a consistent foundation for learning and prepares dogs for many other scent-based activities should you choose to continue your journey.

Is Area Search suitable for reactive or nervous dogs?

Yes.

Because every lesson is private, reactive, nervous, and easily overwhelmed dogs can learn without the stress of group classes or unfamiliar dogs.

Every session is tailored to your dog's individual needs.

Can puppies participate?

Area Search Adventures is suitable for "puppies" or adolescent dogs from 6 months of age.

For puppies under 6 months, we recommend starting with our Puppy Start Right to build confidence, socialization, and foundation skills before progressing to Area Search.

Can older dogs participate?

Absolutely. Area Search is an excellent low-impact enrichment activity for many adult and senior dogs, providing mental stimulation while encouraging natural sniffing behaviors.

What equipment will I need?

To help your dog search comfortably and confidently, we recommend:

• A well-fitting harness or flat collar.

• An 8 to 10-foot leash, giving your dog the freedom to search

• A treat pouch.

• Plenty of soft, high-value treats.

Area Search Adventures is taught using positive reinforcement and is designed to build confidence, curiosity, and a genuine love of searching.

For that reason, we do not use equipment designed to apply discomfort, including prong collars, choke chains, electronic collars, or head halters.

As your dog progresses, we'll introduce simple search equipment such as containers, boxes, and birch odor. Most of the items you'll use for your Search Adventures can be found around your home or in the environments where you practice.

For equipment assistance, please visit Area Search on my recommendations page.

Does my dog need previous training?

No. Area Search Adventures is suitable for beginners as well as dogs with previous training.

If your dog already has foundation skills, Area Search provides a meaningful way to put them to use. I would recommend a free assessment before signing up for Area Search.

What happens between lessons?

You'll receive private access to the Area Search Hub, where you'll find downloadable Skill Guides covering every skill in the program.

Although you'll have access to the entire library from the beginning, every dog learns at a different pace. During your coaching sessions, I'll guide you on which skill to focus on next, ensuring you and your dog build confidence and understanding before progressing.

Between sessions, you'll be encouraged to practice your skills, send me videos of your training, and reach out with any questions. I'll review your progress, provide feedback by text or email, and help you decide when you're ready for the next step.

This means you'll always know where your journey is heading, while enjoying personalized coaching that is tailored to your individual dog rather than a fixed weekly schedule.

Will my dog enjoy Area Search?

Most dogs enjoy searching when the training is introduced at their pace. For fearful or under socialized dogs, we may begin with very small steps, such as looking at a box, approaching it, or taking a treat near it. These small successes build confidence, curiosity, and trust before we increase the challenge.

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