Unleash the Fun with Scurry Dog: A New Force Free Gun Dog Skill Based Sport for Owners Of Active Pet Dogs.

Dogs thrive on activity that challenges their minds and bodies while deepening their bond with their owners. Scurry Dog, a fresh and exciting dog sport developed by Aleks and Clare founders of Scurry Dog, offers just that. The games are designed for dogs with busy noses, ears that don't work and way too much energy. Sound familiar? Scurry Dog is based on traditional gun dog skills and turns them into five engaging games, each with five levels of challenge, designed to keep your dog motivated and connected to you. Lets explores how Scurry Dog works, why it’s a great fit for any active pet dog-owner team, and how you can get started.

What Makes Scurry Dog Sport Different?

Scurry Dog is built on the foundation of force free training, which means no pressure, no punishment, and no fear. Instead, it focuses on positive reinforcement, a reward first approach and lots of fun. The sport takes core skills used by working gun dogs—such as scenting, retrieving, responding to whistle cues, taking directions—and turns them into playful games that encourage your dog to think, move nd most importantly, engage with you.

Unlike traditional dog sports that may require specialised equipment or intense physical demands, Scurry Dog is accessible to dogs of all ages and abilities. The games are designed to be enjoyable for both you and your dog, making training feel like playtime.

The Five Games of Scurry Dog

Each game in Scurry Dog reflects a particular aspect of the working gun dog skill set required for different scenarios during a shoot, without harming a bird in the process.

The Scurry Dog games, Sniffit Trail and Nose Quest provide purpose for dogs with 'Busy Noses' and ears that don't work. Yes, they can put their nose to the ground but only when directed by you. I'm certain a whistle cue will get those ears working too.

Sniffit trail, this Scurry Dog game represents the role of the retriever who may be sent out to collect an injured bird, they locate the area that the bird was seen to drop and then follow the scent trail of the injured bird to pick it up and return to their handler to ensure the injured bird is quickly dispatched. This game taps into your dog’s natural scenting ability, it requires your dog to respond to whistle cue to start searching and to retrieve the small 'sniffit' dummy back to you which represents the bird,. You hide scented objects around a designated area, and your dog races to find them. As your dog advances through the levels, the hiding spots become more challenging, and distractions increase.

Benefits:

• Enhances your dog’s nose work skills whilst locating and following the scent trail.

• Reinforces the dogs response to whistle cues.

• Develops focus and engagement with you

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Nose Quest represents the role of the spaniel and handler as part of the beating team. Together, and that is KEY. Working together the dog is directed to search and flush out birds from undergrowth, pushing them forwards towards the line of guns. In this game birds are replaced by balls which are located by your dog as you move together in a quartering pattern ensuring a methodical and thorough search is carried out. Be very careful that you don't miss a ball as you cant go backwards in this game, once you get to the end of the 'beat' you must have found the required number of balls or lose points.

Benefits:

• Improves team work, moving together in a pattern with your dog in front of you.

• Teaches your dog to watch your body language and movement of your shoulders which indicate when to turn and can also be aided by a whistle cue.

• Helpful in teaching your dog to stay near you, this skill translates to improving your walks together.

  
  

Retrieve, this skill set is essential for picking up and returning shot birds, usually the role of the Labrador Retriever but HPRs also get to play this role. Whilst spaniels main role is on the beating line they occasionally have chance to retrieve a bird.

The 5 levels of the Scurry Dog game 'retrieve' offer the opportunity to build up these skills progressively. This game tests your dog’s ability to perform a behaviour chain which is both complex and long, from sitting steadily and waiting for the cue to go be sent out for the retrieve, to picking up and holding onto the item, reorienting back to you, the handler, returning to the handler and then handing over their prize.

Benefits:

• Builds trust when retrieved items are handled sympathetically and with understanding.

• Enhances communication between you and your dog

• Builds confidence in your dog.

  
  

Scramble Grid. This Scurry Dog game represents the role of the Labrador Retriever who may be sent out to retrieve a bird which they didn't see fall (mark) when shot. When sending out a dog on a 'blind' retrieve, the dog takes a line towards the spot where their handler saw the bird fall, if the line is not as accurate as intended or the dog veers off the line, the dog will be asked to respond to a stop whistle. Having stooped the dog, the handler can then use hand signals to redirect the dog towards the spot where the bird fell, as the dog nears the spot, a 'hunt ' whistle tells them to put their nose to the ground to locate the scent trail and ultimately retrieve the bird. Don't panic! Level 1 requires the dog to take sideways directions only, there is progression of skills through to level 5 which equates to the the real life scenario on q shoot where a dog can respond to a stop whistle and take redirection from a distance too.

Benefits:

• Builds connection with your dog and focus on you.

• Builds confidence in working at a distance.

• Provides mental and physical stimulation.

• Improves physical fitness as retrieves become longer.

• Develops responsiveness to whistle cues.

• Builds trust as your dog develops the skill of presenting retrieved items to hand.

  
  

Every Day Dog. Well I must say that this is one BIG game. There are lots of elements to this Scurry Dog game, each of them have direct positive impact on aspects of daily life with your dog which as they are mastered will definitely make life easier.

This Scurry Dog game requires you and your dog to show a 'settle' behaviour lasting 2 minutes without any distractions added. Next up is the stay and stop, learn the fundamentals of these behaviours with support and then challenge yourselves to demonstrate your skills through attempting level 1 games. Included in every day dog is the ability to heel with your dog on a lead, of course this builds up to off lead heeling skills but lets go one step at a time. Can your dog recall? Do they have a solid recall which allows you to recall past or from distractions? Can you send you dog out to a 'get it bowl' then recall them from it? Come along to Scurry Dog and find out, build those skills together.

Benefits:

• Increases your dog’s freedom when recall is robust.

• Improves your walks together, end lead pulling forever!

• Builds your bond through spending FUN time together and strengthens your relationship..

  
  

How Scurry Dog Strengthens Your Relationship

Scurry Dog. one of the most valuable aspects of Scurry Dog is how it brings you and your dog closer. Each game requires your active participation, making you the centre of your dog’s attention. This shared focus builds trust and communication. Having fun releases happy hormones and being physically close to your dog releases oxytocin making your emotional bond stronger.

Scurry Dog. Dogs generally want to please their owners, and when training is fun and rewarding, they become more eager to engage. Scurry Dog’s progressive levels keep you and your dog challenged without overwhelming them, which helps maintain enthusiasm and reduces frustration.

Getting Started with Scurry Dog.

Starting Scurry Dog is simple and requires minimal equipment, your dogs flat collar or well fitted harness and a suitable lead (No retractable leads please).

HOW? You and your dog are cordially invited to attend Scurry Dog Taster Session, hosted by Pups and Pooches Dog Training.

When?

Saturday 10th March 10.00 ~ 13.00, yes, that's 3 hours of fun!

Where?

Equiti Equestrian Centre, St Asaph LL17 0AA.

Cost?

£55.00 for 3 hours of fun and games.

https://bookwhen.com/pupsandpoochesdogtraiining.

Why Force Free Training Matters.

Force free training respects your dog’s physical well-being and emotional state. It avoids fear or pain, which can damage trust and slow learning. Scurry Dog’s approach ensures that both you and your dog enjoys every moment, making training a positive experience that strengthens your partnership.

Final Thoughts.

Scurry Dog offers a fresh way to engage your dog’s natural skills while having fun together. Its focus on force free methods and progressive challenges makes it suitable for dogs of all ages and abilities. By putting you in the middle of the action, it deepens your connection and keeps your dog eager to learn.