(Day #3) Cache

Today’s stress free dog walk technique may just be the most important one yet, I daresay!

If your dog is already doing somersaults when you pick up their lead, or shying away from their harness, going nuts at the window or barking when the courier calls, your walks don’t have much chance of being stress-free. They carry that stress, excitement and overstimulation out onto the walk with them.

Calm walks start at home – and that’s exactly what today’s technique will do for you.

Here’s why.

Scentwork is highly engaging and tiring for dogs and it taps into their natural instincts. By encouraging your dog to use their nose before going on a walk, you help them burn off some of that excess energy, making them calmer before they leave the house.
Teaching your dog a scent game reinforces the habit of paying attention to you. By enjoying today’s activity together indoors, they are more likely to remain engaged with you during the walk, making it easier to get their focus.
Setting up designated scentwork opportunities, where your dog can satisfy their sniffing instincts under controlled circumstances, can reduce the obsession with pulling to follow animal scents, as they've already had a chance to engage their nose.
You can even chuck the items into a backpack and take them out on your walk with you for a connection-building, anti-pulling engagement break.

For a contented, calm dog, provide more sniffing opportunities! Use Cache before a walk to help them calm down from the ‘leash-on’ excitement or after a walk to help them switch off and settle into a deep sleep!

You may not see these benefits straight away or all at once, but there is a reason scentwork has been scientifically proven time and time again to calm dogs. If your dog doesn’t seem calmer right away, there’s nothing wrong with you, with them, or with the method – it’s about consistency and combining this activity with the other strategies from this challenge, especially those from the Masterclasses. Believe me, scentwork is a potent calming tool when you adopt the low-stress lifestyle.

Here's what to do now:

Watch the training video.
Film your dog having a go and share your video with the hashtag #day3 #scentventure
Do whatever it takes to show up to tonight’s Masterclass LIVE at 7PM UK! I’m revealing the exact steps Em followed with her dog Sweep to get that loose lead of dreams! Learn from Em’s triumphs, and get actionable insights and practical strategies that you can apply to your own dog.
Here’s your upcoming weekend calendar: Click here to download it to your phone for easy access.

Live on Zoom, 7PM UK:

Meet Em & Sweep, The Loose Lead Walking Scentventure Superstars!

Time: Oct 3, 2025 07:00 PM London

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85801757577

Meeting ID: 858 0175 7577

Passcode: 064033

Until then – let the calm begin!

Cache

Scentventure Compass Point: Scent

Equipment & Set Up

All you need is a gathering of assorted ‘stuff’ and some treats.

Don’t get too hung up on what the ‘stuff’ is! Have a quick wander around a few rooms and pick up whatever clutter you can find. Just make sure that everything is safe and suitable for your dog to be sniffing around e.g. nothing sharp, electronic or anything you wouldn’t allow them to touch normally.

Make a small ‘search area’ by placing your gathered items together on the floor. It’s supposed to look messy and thrown together in a pile! Space them out a little so your dog is able to step over and around them whilst searching.

METHODS

Activities like Cache can be so useful to helping your dog learn to wait before their cue – but learning this takes time and there’s no need to miss out on the fun! When you’re starting out there are several alternatives to ‘wait’. Choose whichever works best for your dog.

Method A – If your dog is able to ‘wait’ when asked

Start at Step 1

Method B – If your dog can’t yet ‘wait’ when asked

With your dog on a harness, gently restrain them as they watch you place/drop a treat into the Cache area. Use a search cue (e.g. ‘Find It!’) to release them!

Go to Step 2.

With your dog in front of you watching, place the treat just out of sight. Use a search cue (e.g. ‘Find It!’) to release them.
Once your dog is easily finding it, place the treat down in one position but pretend to put it somewhere else. This is called a ‘dummy drop’ and gets your dog using their nose instead of their eyes. Release your dog with your search cue.
Now start to set up your hides with your dog out of the room (only if they’re comfortable with separation). Make it easy at first to ensure they succeed. Open the door and release them with your search cue.
Spread your items out so your dog has to move between objects to search. This makes your dog’s mind, body and nose work harder, increasing their search stamina and leaving them tired and relaxed.

Method C – if your dog can’t yet ‘wait’ when asked and/or can’t be gently restrained, but is comfortable with separation

If your dog doesn’t get stressed when they’re separated from you, pop them outside the room, behind a baby gate or in a pen while you lay the hide.
Let them in and use a search cue (e.g. ‘Find It!’). As they didn’t see you hide the treat, you may need to help them out at first until they get the hang of it.
Once they’ve found the hide, you could just throw a treat in the opposite direction while you set up their next search!
Gradually spread your items out so your dog has to move between objects to search. This makes your dog’s mind, body and nose work harder, increasing their search stamina and leaving them tired and relaxed.🤩

PS. I’ve got something extra special for those of you who attend live tonight 🤩