Pet School
Scent School · Pet SchoolScent School · Pet School

Tire your dog out with their nose, not their legs.

Six weeks of nose work for any dog over 16 weeks. Brilliant for the bored, the anxious, the reactive, the senior, and the dog who's read every blade of grass in your suburb. Mental tired beats physical tired — every time.

  • Any dog, any breed, 16+ weeksAny dog, any breed, 16+ weeks
  • 6 weeks · 1hr/wk6 weeks · 1hr/wk
  • Max 5 dogsMax 5 dogs
  • $230$230
Book a class See class details
Tire your dog out with their nose,

Scent School

Indoors · max 5 dogs

Sounds like your dog?

Scent School works for the dogs other classes can't always reach.

Nose work isn't about obedience or precision - it's about giving your dog a job their brain was built for. That makes it the rare class that suits almost every dog who walks (or hops, or limps) through the door.

  • The dog who's bored - and is letting you know via the couch cushions.

  • The reactive dog who can't cope with a group obedience class yet.

  • The anxious dog who needs confidence, not commands.

  • The senior dog whose body's slowed down but whose brain hasn't.

  • The high-drive working breed who's "too much" by 4pm every day.

  • The dog who already knows sit, drop, and stay - and now needs something fun.

Why it works

Your dog's nose is a supercomputer.
We just give it something to compute.

Sniff. Search. Succeed.

220M

scent-detecting cells in a dog's nose. Humans have around 5 million.

4x

the brain power devoted to processing scent compared to humans.

30 min

of focused sniffing can tire a dog out more than an hour at the park.

Dogs can wiggle each nostril independently, breathe in through the front and exhale through the side, and pull individual odours out of a complex mix the way you might pick out one instrument in an orchestra. Scent School puts all of that to work - and the side effects (calmer dog, better focus, stronger bond with you) are what bring people back for round two.

Class details

Week-by-week: what you and your dog will learn.

Each session is 45 minutes.

Foundations, levelled up

  • Introduction to scent detection
  • Developing a search pattern
  • Building drive (yes, even in the mellow ones)
  • The "scent plume" — what your dog is actually following
  • Reading body language and "the sniff"

Adding the cue

  • Naming the search
  • Varying the finds
  • Varying the locations

Reinforcement craft

  • Feeding at source
  • Food placement and timing
  • Repetition that builds, not bores
  • Reward value and how to keep it high

Pairing & the find-it game

  • Pairing
  • Obedience to source / scent
  • Unknown locations

Real-world variety

  • Find-location variations: cupboards, chairs, walls, even people
  • Adding distractions
  • Working live

Graduation

  • Bigger distractions, harder finds
  • Increasing difficulty
  • Take-home games
Upcoming classes

Pick a date that works for you.

Same day and time for 6 weeks

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Donna Edmonds - vet nurse, trainer, scent-work obsessive.
Meet your trainer

Donna Edmonds - vet nurse, trainer, scent-work obsessive.

Donna teaches every Pet School class herself, and Scent School is the one she'll talk your ear off about. Her dual background - Australian Accredited Canine Good Citizen Instructor and Qualified Vet Nurse + Nutrition Advisor - means she reads behaviour and body language at a level most trainers don't, which matters a lot when the "task" is invisible to you and obvious to your dog.

  • 25+ Years at Kellyville Pets25+ Years at Kellyville Pets
  • Qualified Vet Nurse & Nutrition AdvisorQualified Vet Nurse & Nutrition Advisor
  • Force-free methodsForce-free methods
  • 30+ Years Training Experience30+ Years Training Experience
  • Australian Accredited Canine Good Citizen InstructorAustralian Accredited Canine Good Citizen Instructor
Before week 1

What to bring (and what to leave at home).

Scent School is light on gear. The work happens in your dog's nose - your job is mostly to bring the rewards and stay out of the way.

Bring

A treat pouch

Optional but useful - your hands will be busy. We sell them in store from $14.99.

Bring

A hungry dog

A well-fitted flat collar, front-clip harness, or head halter. Need help fitting one? Ask any staff member.

Leave at home

Choke chains, prongs, retractables

Choke chains, prong collars, slip leads on a tight setting, and retractable leads aren't permitted.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Scent School FAQ.

  • What kind of dog is Scent School for?

    Almost any dog over 16 weeks old. We've had border collies, beagles, bulldogs, retrievers, kelpies, poodles, terriers, mixes, and one very serious dachshund. Reactive, anxious, senior, and high-drive dogs do especially well - but it's also great as enrichment for a "normal" dog who just loves a good problem to solve.



  • My dog isn't food-motivated. Will it work?

    Probably yes - the work itself is intrinsically rewarding for most dogs. We can also use toys, play, or whatever your dog finds genuinely worth working for. Donna will help you find your dog's currency in Week 1.

  • What vaccinations does my dog need?

    Your dog needs to be currently vaccinated (C5 minimum, C7 preferred), wormed, and on heartworm prevention. Bring your vet certificate to Week 1.

  • Can I bring my kids?

    Children 16+ can attend. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult and stay seated during exercises. Maximum two people per dog inside the training room.

  • What if I miss a week?

    We'll try to catch you up the following week before class starts. If you'll miss two weeks, please talk to Donna.

  • My dog is reactive on lead. Can they still come?

    Often yes - Scent School is one of the best classes for reactive dogs because each dog works individually and the focus is on the search, not on the other dogs. Please call us first on (02) 9629 3282 so Donna can place your dog appropriately in the room.

  • Do I need any equipment?

    No — we provide all the search containers and target odours. You just need treats, a lead, and a collar or harness.

  • What's your refund policy?

    Bookings are non-refundable but may be transferable. To roll over to the next class or transfer your spot to a friend, email hello@kellyvillepets.com.au at least 48 hours before Week 1.

  • Where exactly is the class held?

    Inside our Beaumont Hills store at 1-15 Millcroft Way - about 15 minutes from Castle Hill. Free parking on site. Look for the Pet School signage at the back of the store.

  • What happens after Week 6?

    A surprising number of our graduates set up DIY scent games at home - you don't need fancy gear, just hidden treats and a bit of imagination. We're also happy to chat about progressing to titrated scent-detection training (proper essential-oil work) for dogs who really take to it.

the fineprint

Terms & conditions.

  1. Class must be paid in full at time of booking.
  2. Classes are held inside Kellyville Pets, 1-15 Millcroft Way, Beaumont Hills NSW 2155. Please arrive 10 minutes before start time - classes start on time and won't be delayed.
  3. Scent School is suitable for dogs aged 16 weeks and up (and at least 2 weeks past their final C5 vaccination) through to adult and senior dogs.
  4. Owners must provide a flat collar, front-clip harness, or head halter, plus a 1.2–1.8m fixed lead. Choke chains, prong collars, and retractable leads are not permitted in the training room.
  5. All dogs must be currently wormed and vaccinated (C5 minimum). Vaccination certificates must be sighted at Week 1.
  6. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Maximum two people per dog inside the training room.
  7. The trainer reserves the right to refuse any dog showing severe aggression or distress, and will recommend appropriate next steps.
  8. Owners are responsible for any injury, illness, or property damage their dog may cause during class.
  9. Bookings are non-refundable but transferable. Roll-overs and spot transfers must be requested at least 48 hours before Week 1 by emailing hello@kellyvillepets.com.au.
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In-store classes

Six classes, one trainer, every life stage.

Every tile below opens a full landing page with the week-by-week curriculum, what to bring, and a calendar of upcoming start dates.

Puppy Preschool8–16 weeks

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Junior Dog Training4–6 months

Junior Dog Training

The natural next step after Puppy Preschool. Build on the basics with stays, distractions, and real-world manners.

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Adolescent Dog Training18 weeks +

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Missed Puppy Preschool? Or hit the teenage stage and everything's gone sideways? Start here.

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Trick SchoolAll ages

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Spin, weave, bow, paw, roll over — and the focus that comes with them. Free clicker included.

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Scent SchoolAll ages · all breeds

Scent School

Tire your dog out with their nose, not their legs. Brilliant for anxious, reactive, or just bored dogs.

$2306 wks · 1 hr/wk
See class details
Heeling School6 months +

Heeling School

For the dog that pulls. End the arm-wrestle on every walk and learn the cues that actually stick.

$1503 wks · 45min/wk
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Give your dog a job. Get a calmer dog back.

Six weeks of nose work, indoors, in a class small enough to give your dog real attention - and big enough to keep things interesting.

Book now (02) 9629 3282