About Scentwork & Mandy
Why Scentwork Training ?
If your dog never seems to switch off, barks excessively, struggles to settle, has endless energy, becomes easily distracted on walks, seems bored, lacks confidence or leaves you wondering what to do next, you are in the right place. Many owners reach a point where they feel overwhelmed or, unfortunately, some worry they have made the wrong decision in getting a dog. Canine scentwork training is for every dog and provides a positive outlet for your dog’s most powerful natural ability, their sense of smell. It offers meaningful mental enrichment, develops confidence, improves focus, supports emotional well-being, and gives owners a meaningful and enjoyable activity they can share with their dog for years to come.
Confidence Builder
Successfully finding a hidden scent is a major win for your dog! Scentwork provides a sense of accomplishment, boosting their confidence and overall well-being. This newfound confidence can translate into other areas of their life, promoting more well-adjusted dogs.
Happy and Calm
Sniffing is a natural stress reliever for dogs. Engaging in scentwork allows them to de-stress and unwind, promoting a sense of calmness and relaxation. This can be particularly helpful for nervous or easily excitable dogs.
Bonding Booster
Behavioural Lifesaver
For dogs struggling with anxiety, lead reactivity, or destructive chewing, scentwork can be a game-changer. The focus and concentration required provides an outlet for their energy and a positive reward-based task to complete. This mental engagement can significantly reduce unwanted behaviours.
Adaptable Life Long Learning Activity
Scentwork offers endless possibilities for training and exploration. It can be done almost anywhere, indoors or outdoors. You can easily incorporate it into your daily routine, whether it’s hiding a scent in the house or setting up a search in outside areas of your home.
You can adjust the difficulty level, introduce new scents, or take classes to learn new techniques. This keeps things interesting for both you and your dog, providing a stimulating activity throughout their lives.
Mandy Rigby, Founder and Lead Trainer at Canine Scentwork Academy
Scentwork Academy is led by Mandy Rigby, a Qualified Canine Behaviourist, Separation Anxiety Consultant, and gaining Scentwork UK instructor and Judge certification and she is an Odour Recognition Test (ORT) Assessor for The National Nosework Association. Canine Scentwork Academy has also demonstrated at the world-renowned Dog Show, Crufts and hosts the Scentwork Hub at Edition Dog Live, in NAEC Stoneleigh, Birmingham, welcoming near on 500 dog owners to ‘have a go’ with their dog the past three years.
With years of experience teaching companion pet dogs scentwork and observing thousands of searches across many breeds, Mandy combines behavioural science with practical scentwork experience to help owners understand not just how to train their dogs, but why this sector of dog training holds so many benefits for their dog’s overall mental and physical well-being. Ongoing professional development and collaboration with respected trainers ensure every programme reflects current knowledge while remaining practical for everyday dog owners.
Mandy welcomes everyone to Canine Scentwork Academy, a thriving and friendly community of dog owners who are dedicated to providing their dogs with more opportunities to utilize their incredible sense of smell.
Happy Clients, Happy Dogs
Dogs really enjoyed it, informative and no rush. Want to continue without a doubt u like other course ive attended elsewhere.
Thank you!
Looking forward to the next one!!! Will be purchasing the 'Nose Magic' to keep us busy until then.
Thank you!
