You’re not missing the find.
You’re missing what happens just before it.
You're only missing it because you just don’t know what to look for yet.
If you’ve ever watched your dog and thought
“Have they found it or are they just sniffing?”
you’re not alone.
It’s one of the most common sticking points in scentwork.
Your dog is showing you when they hit scent. You just might not yet recognise what you’re seeing.
One of the things to watch for is a change in pace. A dog that’s been moving steadily may slow slightly when they hit scent, even if they don’t stop. But did you know that some dogs do the opposite and actually speed up when they hit scent? Recognising changes in your own dog is key to spotting their response. There are multiple key signs like this. I’ll show you how to recognise them.
What you’ll see is often subtle. A moment of hesitation. A shift in how they’re working. If you don’t recognise it, it all blends into the rest of the search. And that’s when the second guessing starts.
