It's Your Choice

This a spin-off of the popular impulse control game in which we allow the dog to engage with a closed fist of food until she gives up, then click and give the food as soon as she disengages. In the scent detection version, we hold food in one hand and the odor container in the other, holding our arms at least slightly out to the side to separate the two choices. The dog will most likely engage with the food hand, but instead of clicking when she disengages, we will wait for her to investigate the odor hand. As soon as she does, use your verbal marker and immediately bring your food hand to feed directly in front of the odor.