Glossary

Scent work

Any activity in which a dog uses its nose to find a target odor, from backyard hide-and-seek games to trained detection jobs.

Also called: scent games, search games, odor detection, dog scent games

Scent work is a broad name for tasks that make use of a dog's sense of smell. At home it can be as simple as hiding treats around the room and letting the dog find them. At a higher level, dogs learn to find a particular odor and signal when they find it.

Working dogs use scent skills in many jobs, including finding explosives, drugs, missing people and agricultural pests. Pet owners use it as enrichment because sniffing is tiring and satisfying, and it suits shy, older or physically limited dogs.

It is a skill and an activity, not a sport on its own. Organized competition under the name nosework or scent work is a separate, structured version. Almost any dog can learn the basics, regardless of breed.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Nosework A dog sport in which dogs search rooms, vehicles, outdoor areas and containers for a specific trained odor and alert their handlers. Sense of smell A dog's main sense, thousands of times more sensitive than ours by some estimates, with far more scent receptors and a dedicated airflow in the nose. Enrichment Giving a dog chances to use its natural abilities, such as sniffing, chewing, foraging and problem solving, to improve its well-being. Snuffle mat A fabric mat with many strips or pockets in which food is hidden so that a dog has to sniff and forage for it.