🐾 FAQ – Scent Work With Sussex Canines

No — beginners start with a UK Sniffer Dogs Bronze course. There’s no requirement for obedience skills, and your dog doesn’t need to know cues like sit or stay before joining.

Yes, absolutely — as long as they’re comfortable working in the same area as other dogs (no close proximity needed).
Scent work is brilliant for building confidence and reducing stress in worried dogs.

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If your dog struggles being around other dogs entirely, drop me a message and we can chat about whether a future class might suit them.

Scent work is suitable for puppies, adults, and older dogs. As long as your vet is happy with them going for a walk, they’re welcome.

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For puppies, shorter sessions are usually best — full-day workshops aren’t ideal, as they can easily get tired. A weekly Bronze course or a shorter workshop is a much better fit for them.

Often yes — scent work is low-impact and mentally enriching.

If your dog is under vet care, check with them first and mention it when booking.

You’ll learn the foundations of scent work using the UK Sniffer Dogs framework. Across 6 weeks we cover:

• Introducing KONG scent

• Searching chairs, pots, bags, vehicles and novel setups

• A fun mock trial on the final week

You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end.

Both follow the same UK Sniffer Dogs Bronze content — the difference is in the format:

• Courses cover Series 1 & 2 across six weekly 50-minute classes. This gives you time to practise between sessions, which usually means more steady progression. It’s also a better option for puppies, who benefit from shorter sessions.

• Workshops cover one series in a single 4-hour session. These are ideal if you prefer to learn everything in one go or can’t commit to weekly classes.

Once you’ve completed Bronze Series 1 (with me or another UKSD Instructor), you can join Scent Club.

Classes are booked individually — no need to commit to a full term — and we work on exercises from Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.

Yes — Scent Club is a mixed-level class. We have everyone from teams who’ve just completed Bronze Series 1 all the way up to Gold-level dogs. Everyone works at their own pace, and the exercises are tailored to each team. The setup is the same, but the criteria are different. For example:

• Bronze-level dogs might search for KONG scent in a row of pipes and simply show interest in the correct one. From there, we start shaping their indication.

• More experienced dogs work on the same search, but they’re asked to give a clear indication on the correct pipe and hold it while their handler briefly steps away.

Mixed groups actually make classes more fun and varied — and you’ll be amazed at how much you can learn from watching other teams work.

Each class is 50 minutes long.

All classes are at:
Field for Dogs, Stanbridge Lane, Staplefield, RH17 6BB
There’s parking and a port-a-loo on site.

Maximum of 6 dogs.
Small groups keep things relaxed, focused, and enjoyable.

• Lots of tasty treats

• A well-fitting harness or flat collar

• Longline (optional but helpful)

• Your dog’s favourite toy (if they enjoy play)

• Clothing appropriate for the day's weather.

I provide all scent items and search equipment.

Yes — you’re welcome to bring additional handlers. A maximum of four people per dog can attend, and at least one person must be 18 years or older.

Yes — children are welcome, but with a few important considerations to keep everyone safe and comfortable:

• They must not approach other dogs without explicit permission from the handler.

• They should be able to remain quiet and calm, as some dogs may find children scary or distracting.

• They must be supervised at all times by a responsible adult.

• For longer workshops, please consider whether the full session length will be suitable for them.

We train outdoors, so please dress for the weather. If conditions become unsafe (storms, etc.), I’ll contact everyone to rearrange or refund the session.

Most searching is done on lead or longline to keep dogs safe and focused.
Occasionally (in very controlled setups), confident dogs may work off lead — but this isn’t required.

No — scent work is an individual activity. Dogs take turns searching while the others rest, so even dogs who need space can enjoy class comfortably.