This Pro-track course is for you if . . .
You’re ready to teach scentwork professionally. But you also know that teaching your own dog and teaching clients are two very different things.
- You want to add scentwork to your business with confidence
- You want a clear system, not guesswork
- You want to avoid common trainer mistakes before they cost you clients
- You want to deliver classes that are structured, effective and for all your clients
- You want to offer scentwork properly, not just run a few search games and hope for the best
Teaching scentwork to pet dogs isn’t straightforward
Many trainers come into scentwork thinking “If I can do it with my own dog, I can teach it.”
Then reality hits.
You’re working with mixed breeds, mixed abilities, mixed handler skill levels - all in the same space.
Dogs don’t follow neat plans. Handlers miss what their dog is showing them. Searches don’t go the way you expected. And suddenly you’re not just running searches, you’re problem solving in real time, for multiple teams, all at once.
That’s the skill most courses skip.
This is where this course is different. This isn’t about giving you a set of exercises to run.
It shows you how to think like a scentwork trainer so you can:
- Set up searches that actually work, not just look good on paper
- Read what’s happening in front of you and adjust without guessing
- Choose target scents and progressions that suit the dog in front of you
- Move clients from 'searching randomly' to working with clarity and purpose
- Keep sessions structured without losing the fun
- Support each team without one size fits all teaching
A complete system you can use with your clients
Inside the course, you’ll build a full 8 week starter programme you can deliver in your own business, with the structure already in place.
You’re not left wondering how to turn knowledge into classes.
You’ll have:
- A clear training framework you can follow and adapt
- Step by step progression from first searches to structured search plans
- Guidance on handling skills, search types and problem solving
- A full set of client handouts and course materials ready to use
What you’ll learn to handle confidently:
- Setting up your training space so searches make sense to the dog
- Choosing and introducing target scents appropriately
- Moving from free searching to structured, purposeful searches
- Running blind, blank and directed searches without confusion
- Managing different dogs, breeds and handler abilities in the same session
- Coaching handlers so they actually understand what their dog is doing
- Keeping dogs engaged while building duration and stamina
Learn from real training, not ideal scenarios
Built from decades of experience and hundreds of workshops, this 8 week trainer programme shows you how to confidently teach scentwork to real dogs and real handlers.
This course includes over 40 video clips showing:
Real dogs, not perfectly trained demos
Common issues as they happen
How to adjust in the moment
How to coach different types of handlers
Plus a full course booklet and ready to use syllabus so you’re not starting from scratch.
Trusted by trainers building stronger scentwork classes
“After completing this course, I finally found the confidence to start teaching scentwork. My first students are absolutely flourishing, and it’s a joy to watch. The lesson plan is easy to follow, clear to deliver and sets both trainer and clients up for success.” Amy Kellaway
“Discovering scentwork has been transformative for both me and my dogs. As a dog trainer wanting to add scentwork to my business, this course gave me clear, detailed guidance on exactly how to do that.” Helen Bowker
“A well laid out course that gives instructors practical guidance for each lesson.” Ilse Colic
Course Curriculum
- Lesson 1 Part 1 - Preparation and scent introduction (20:21)
- Lesson 1 Part 2 - Starting starter searches (17:12)
- Lesson 2 - Starter searches & troubleshooting (27:17)
- Lesson 3 - Directed search (4:30)
- Lesson 4 - Introduction to corner and perimeter searches (12:19)
- Lesson 5 - Complete the corners and add some layers (6:59)
- Lesson 6 - Interior and blank searches (6:31)
- Lesson 7 - The whole search plan (5:28)
- Lesson 8 - Graduation
Still got questions?
Q. When does the course start?
A. As soon as you enrol. This is a self-paced online course, so you can begin whenever you’re ready and work through it at your own pace.
Q. How long will I have access to the course?
A. You’ll have ongoing access, so you can return to the course materials whenever you need to refresh, revisit or refine your teaching.
Q. Will this course qualify me as a scentwork trainer?
A. This course is designed to give you a strong, practical foundation in how to teach scentwork clearly, professionally and with far greater confidence.
You’ll gain structured knowledge, teaching frameworks and real-world guidance that can significantly strengthen your skills as a trainer.
However, great dog training also relies on practical experience, coaching ability and developing your handling skills over time.
In short: this course can help you become a far more capable scentwork trainer, but true proficiency comes from applying what you learn in practice.
Q. Does this course teach active or passive indications?
A. Talking Dogs Scentwork® teaches active indications.
Because of that, the course is built around active indication principles. However, aside from Lesson 1, much of the wider teaching structure can also be adapted if you use passive indications.
Q. I haven’t yet trained a dog to search for a specific target scent. Is this course suitable for me?
A. Not yet. This course is best suited to trainers who already understand the fundamentals of scentwork training.
If you’re still building that foundation, focus there first, then come back when you’re ready to learn how to teach scentwork from the trainer’s perspective.
Q. Do I need to already be an experienced scentwork trainer?
A. No, but you should already understand the basics of scentwork and teaching dogs to find a specific target scent.
This course is designed for trainers who want to move from understanding scentwork themselves to teaching it more clearly, professionally and confidently.
Q. Can I use this course to help me build my own scentwork classes?
A. Yes. The course is specifically designed to help you develop structured, progressive classes you can adapt for your own clients, using proven frameworks, lesson plans and teaching principles.
Q. Do I need a dedicated training hall or specialist equipment?
A. No. This course focuses on practical, real-world teaching. You’ll learn how to structure effective scentwork training using thoughtful planning and sound systems, not unnecessary complexity.
Q. Do I get materials I can use with my own clients?
A. Yes. The course includes trainer guidance, lesson structure, syllabus support and client handouts to help you confidently put what you learn into practice.
Q. How quickly can I start using what I learn?
A. Many trainers begin applying parts of the framework immediately.
As the course is practical and structured, you can start refining your teaching approach as you progress through the programme.
Learn from the trainer behind Talking Dogs Scentwork®
With over 30 years of professional dog training experience, including operational work as a drug detector dog handler with HM Customs, I’ve spent decades developing practical, thoughtful training systems that work in the real world.
As the founder of Talking Dogs Scentwork® and the first national provider of structured scentwork training for companion dogs in the UK, I’ve helped thousands of handlers and trainers build clearer, more effective scentwork skills.
My work combines professional detection experience with decades of teaching companion dog handlers, instructors and organisations how to apply scentwork in ways that are practical, ethical and accessible.
This course brings that experience together to help you teach scentwork with greater clarity, confidence and structure.