September is a good time not just for humans but for dogs to brush up on old skills and learn new ones. Case in point, during the winter our go-to game to keep us entertained inside when playing outside isn’t an option is doing Nose Work. Nose Work is a dog sport gaining in popularity that is low impact, and yet can tire us out mentally and physically, while doing what comes naturally – sniffing out specific scents. It has been a long time since we played that game outside, so Mom and Dad thought they’d give us a refresher.

I went first, because, not to brag, unlike Asa I received my Nose Work certification years ago. I’m trained to find three scents – anise, clove and birch. I waited patiently inside the garage while Dad hid one of the scents in the yard. Then after hearing the magic search term of “vind het,” which means “find it” in Dutch, I was released on my quest.

My technique involves making large circles in the yard, steadily spiraling smaller until I lock in on the scent. Then I tap it with my nose and lay down.

Asa, on the other paw, has a less concise approach. Despite sitting outside and watching me find the scent, his approach is a lot more haphazard. Alright, to be honest I’m pretty sure the Benny Hill theme song of “Yakety Sax” plays in his head while he searches, based on his wild and random technique.

After running past the scent several times, stopping to say hello to a toad; then smelling a dandelion; and going to check on Mom, Dad and me; Asa eventually after several minutes located the general area of where the scent was hidden and laid down.

Is Asa a Nose Work champion, such as myself? Hardly! But it will be fun playing this game outside to sharpen his skills this autumn. Whether you’re doing a refresher on old skills, or learning something completely new, September is a great time for dogs to go back to school! Happy learning!