Scientists discover new type of training that makes dogs better behaved... here is how YOU can do it at home

Dog training can be a daunting process that doesn’t always produce positive results, but a new study has revealed there is another way to train your furry friend.

Researchers at Aberystwyth University in the UK found that by using ‘scent training,’ they could break dogs’ bad behavior and improve and control their impulses.

Previous studies only included highly trained working dogs compared to untrained dogs, but this is the first time researchers have tested scent training on two test groups of untrained dogs.

The training required dogs to focus on one smell to the exclusion of all else and found that those who received scent training could complete tasks more efficiently and had better cognitive functions.

Dogs bad behavior can be curbed by scent training, according to a new study

Dogs were lined up and had to find where the treat was placed under a pot - if they picked the wrong pot, they were shown the treat but not given the reward

Our furry friends can misbehave for a wide range of reasons including receiving inconsistent training, their owner using negative learning experiences, or rewarding bad behavior.

But by using the steps laid out in the study, pet owners might finally be able to get their rambunctious pooch under control once and for all.

Through their study, the researchers found that experiences can overcome these differences and showed that ‘training and experience may be just as important as genetics in determining the cognitive performance of dogs.’ 

The team recruited 40 dogs of varying degrees of training and owners were asked to fill out a questionnaire with information about their pet’s sex, neuter status, breed, and age group.

Researchers then separated the dogs into two groups to determine whether their ability to detect smells would improve their cognitive ability.

The first group was given the ‘detour task’ which required them to navigate around a transparent barrier to get a treat.

In the second group, the researchers said ‘Look’ to the dog to get its attention and showed it a treat before placing it under a pot.

The scent training was separated into three different phases with a maximum of 20 trials each: familiarization, training, and the test phase.

Owners can use scent training, agility training, and puzzles to train their dogs

The ability for dogs to take on a certain role was historically based on their breed, level of training and human dependence 

In the first phase, only one pot was used but the researchers changed its location, in the training phase it advanced to two pots and moved up to three pots for the test phase.

All pots were rubbed with a pâté scent so the dogs couldn’t discriminate by sniffing out where the treat was.

If the dog failed to respond within 20 seconds of being released to find the treat or if it interacted with the wrong pot, the dog was shown the treat but was not given the reward.

READ MORE: LA dog trainer reveals the one breed he would NEVER own after being 'surrounded by untrained ones 24/7' 

His no-go dogs include Goldendoodle, 'literally any doodle,' Sheepadoodle and Bernedoodle. 

Their findings revealed that the second group that was trained to sniff out the treats was better behaved than those that had to circumnavigate a clear obstacle.

Dogs take on a variety of roles from seeing-eye dogs to herding livestock, assisting with rescue efforts, and simply being a companion to their human – but their ability to take on each role largely depends on their breed, the level of training, motivation, problem-solving skills, and human dependence, among others.

‘We are a nation of dog and animal lovers, and for good reason,’ said Sarah Dalesman, who co-supervised the study.

‘They are very important for our lives and play a variety of roles – from offering vital companionship to working in the emergency services.

‘For those and many other reasons, understanding their behavior and what influences it is important.’

This training method can be easily applied at home, co-author Sarah Dalesman told Newsweek, adding: ‘Scent work is a fantastic activity for dogs to do with their owners.

‘It is suitable for all ages from young puppies to elderly dogs, and a really easy activity to practice at home as you don't need lots of equipment.’

She continued: ‘Even hiding some of the dog's normal food so they have to sniff it out can provide them with important mental stimulation.’

There are other steps owners can take if scent training isn’t compatible with the way their dog learns, including puzzle-solving and agility training.

Puzzle training can be employed through a toy that holds food or treats and forces the dog to work for its reward.

The types of toys include hollow bones or rubber toys that can be filled with peanut butter and hard plastic toys that have mazes or compartments for treats.

The idea is to provide a mental and physical stimulant that can come in handy when a dog needs to be left alone or confined.

Another option is agility training – where a dog is sent through a pre-set obstacle course that includes tunnels, jump tables, and poles – giving them opportunities to learn problem-solving skills.

‘It's … worth exploring different training activities with your dog and finding out what you and your dog really enjoy doing together,’ Dalesman told Newsweek.

‘My own dog enjoys scent work, but he really loves doing dog agility, so at the moment, we are doing more agility training.

‘It's fantastic to also have the scent training though, as he'll still be able to do this when he gets too old for dog agility which is a physically demanding sport,’ she said.

The researchers said more studies need to be conducted to test the theory that scent training can be beneficial to training our four-legged friends, and they’re aiming to test it in future studies.