Why you and your dog will love nose work with Bonnie Hartney Artwork

The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology

The show about how to have a better relationship with your dog or cat. Get tips on dog training, dog behaviour, cat behaviour and training, learn about the science on dogs and cats, and find out which books we're reading (animal-related and more generally). Kind, humane, reward-based training methods only. Hosted by Zazie Todd PhD and Kristi Benson CTC of Companion Animal Psychology blog. Made in Canada.

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The Pawsitive Post in Conversation by Companion Animal Psychology

Why you and your dog will love nose work with Bonnie Hartney

November 25, 2025 • Zazie Todd & Kristi Benson • Episode 46

We learn what canine scent work is, why it's so good for dogs, and how to get started--and progress--in this activity with Certified Nose Work Instructor Bonnie Hartney of Ocean Park Dog Training.

We talk about:

How Bonnie got started in scent work and how the activity first came about
Why scent work is fun for dogs and for their humans
What to expect at a beginner class
Whether scent work is for all dogs
The kinds of scent that are used, how dogs progress to searching for a target odour, and the kinds of searches they do
What Bonnie has learned about her dogs from doing scent work
How Kristi's dog Archer is likely to do at scent work if she tries it
Differences between scent work classes and professional scent work

If you'd like to try nose work, Bonnie recommends:

National Association of Canine Scent Work: https://www.nacsw.net/

Find an Instructor https://education.k9nosework.com/instructor_extsearch

Online Scent Training with Scent Work University:

https://www.scentworku.com/collections/foundation-sniffing-program

For shy and fearful dogs with Kelly Lee; https://www.dogkindtraining.com/sniff

The book Bonnie chose is Finding Flora by Elinor Florence.

Bonnie Hartney is the owner and head instructor/trainer of Ocean Park Dog Training in Surrey, BC, which is AnimalKind accredited. Bonnie is a force-free, reward-based dog training professional, who brings knowledge and experience working with shelter dogs and pet dogs to advance other’s understanding of pet dog behaviour. Bonnie earned her CTC (Certificate in Training and Counselling) from a distinguished, international leader, Jean Donaldson at the Academy for Dog Trainers. To further her understanding of scent detection for pet dogs, Bonnie studied with NACSW (National Association of Canine Scent Work) founders and is a certified CNWI (Certified NoseWork Instructor) with 9 years experience teaching Nose Work. For over 25 years, Bonnie has volunteered and worked with the BC SPCA, helping shelter dogs to be adopted. Currently they have Nose Work classes every day of the week

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About the co-hosts:

Kristi Benson is an honours graduate of, and now on staff with, the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers and has her PCBC-A from the Pet Professional Accreditation Board. She lives in beautiful northern British Columbia, where she helps dog guardians through online classes. She is also a northern anthropologist.

Kristi Benson's website Facebook

Zazie Todd, PhD, is the award-winning author of Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy and Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy. She is the creator of the popular blog, Companion Animal Psychology, and has a column at Psychology Today. She lives in Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, a dog and a cat.

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