NW225: Rise Above: Resilience in Scentwork Environments

The Role of Dopamine, Concept Training and Partnership

I took my first Nosework class in January 2013 and started introducing the sport to new teams in 2014. Looking back over 11 years of teaching, I’ve seen just how different each dog is, each bringing their own level of confidence, motivation, and natural tendencies to the game.

We all follow similar training steps and play a sport that allows our dogs to sniff and get rewarded in the “ring.” So why do some dogs seem less motivated, even when they clearly value their reward? A lot of this comes down to genetics, breed predisposition, and environmental factors that shape behavior.

The Role of Dopamine in Training

One piece of this puzzle lies in dopamine, one of many neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters act as chemical messengers, helping communication between cells, muscles, and glands. Dopamine plays a key role in voluntary movement, memory, and reward-seeking behavior. It’s released when we anticipate or experience something pleasurable and is central to how dogs (and people) make associations between behavior and reward.

Dr. Robert Sapolsky, professor of Biology and Neurology at Stanford University, explains it like this:

“Dopamine is not about pleasure; it’s about the anticipation of pleasure. It’s about the pursuit of happiness rather than happiness itself. What’s most remarkable is that experimentally, if you block that rise in dopamine, you don’t get the work, you don’t get the behavior. This is not only the anticipation, but this is what is capable of eliciting goal-directed behavior.”

In training, this means that dopamine isn’t just about getting the reward, it’s about driving the desire to work for the reward. If a dog doesn’t make that connection, their motivation can suffer.

Boosting Dopamine and Motivation

We can increase dopamine levels in dogs through:

• Positive reinforcement (treats, praise, or play)
• Mental stimulation (problem-solving and training)
• Physical exercise (movement and engagement)
• Enrichment activities (exploring, shredding, digging)

There are also dietary factors that can support dopamine production, such as reducing fat and incorporating probiotics, fish oil, vitamin D, and magnesium.

The SEEKING System and Enrichment

When dogs use their noses to explore the world, they engage the SEEKING system in their brain. This system, fueled by dopamine, motivates them to seek out new experiences, information, and challenges. It’s what drives them to look forward to something good and directs them toward a reward—but it’s not about the reward itself.

Dr. Jaak Panksepp, a neuroscientist studying emotions in animals, labelled this system the SEEKING system to reflect that the neural pathways are more associated with appetite than consumption.

This means that motivation comes not just from getting the treat or toy but from the anticipation of it. Our goal is to strengthen that drive so that dogs stay engaged in their searches, even in challenging environments.

Building Cognitive Development Through Concept Training

For some dogs, scentwork is their only training focus, and they aren’t cross-trained in other learning experiences. But building cognitive development is essential for helping dogs feel safe, comfortable, and motivated in new surroundings. One way we do this is through Concept Training, teaching rules and ideas that help dogs understand how their actions influence outcomes.

Concepts we’ll cover in class include:

• Reward-Specific Markers (helping dogs understand what they’re earning)
• Impulse Control (building patience and focus)
• Duration Behaviors (strengthening sustained engagement)
• Offered Behaviors (teaching dogs to take initiative in training)

Learning new concepts and skills will build and strengthen neural pathways - helping your dog choose better solutions when faced with adversity.

Partnership: The Key to Success

At the core of all of this is partnership, the ability to communicate effectively with our dogs. Having clear communication and reliable coping strategies makes all the difference when navigating new or difficult situations. We need to be able to check in with our dogs, read their responses, and adjust to keep them engaged and ready to work.

What to Expect in This Course

In this course, we’ll explore these concepts to bring awareness of the value in cross training. By building a stronger partnership, we can develop a more confident, motivated and focused NW partner. Tapping into what drives them, reinforcing their confidence, and strengthening their problem-solving skills, we can help them rise above environmental challenges and thrive in their searches.