Let’s talk about fulfilment, baby.

Alongside training, finding ways to fulfil your dog is paramount in helping with their behaviour and general wellbeing. By fulfilling natural drives and instincts in ways that promote confidence and enjoyment, your relationship with your dog will massively improve.

Every dog was bred for a purpose.

Think of Border Collies herding sheep; Spaniels hunting and retrieving game; Shepherds in the police force.

But sometimes we get dogs who don’t quite fit in to a specific box and it can be hard to know what they enjoy doing or what will fulfil them best.

What if I told you there is an activity that EVERY dog is able to do?

This is where scentwork and detection come in…

My journey to become a scentwork instructor started with my dog, Lila — of course. As someone with a mixed breed that lacks drive for a lot of things and isn’t suited to high intensity sports, I understand the feeling of isolation in a world where we often get dogs who aren’t what we expected. It wasn’t until I was introduced to Ches from Phoenix K9 USA and tried scentwork that I discovered a way to fulfil Lila’s instinctual need to hunt and track scents safely as well as improve her self-confidence, independent problem solving and general wellbeing.

I previously ran a scentwork programme when I worked for a different training company. It was a real passion project, born from a genuine love and interest in the activity that brought myself and my dog closer together. Lila’s ability to hunt, locate and isolate an odour inspired me to want to teach other owners and their dogs be able to do the same, and reap the same benefits as us.

Over the course of 2025, I introduced scentwork to over 30 dogs of all different breeds, from French Bulldogs to Labradors, Beagles to German Shepherds, and Spaniels to Mixed Breeds like Lila. Despite all of them being so different, each dog was very capable and showed a natural affinity to be able to learn the same skills, just in different ways.

The community I built from the programme in my previous place of work was so special and something I was so incredibly proud of.

Going into setting up Sunflower K9, I knew I wanted to continue with what I’d already built, but this time things look a little different…

Introducing…

The Wild Instincts Scentwork Unit

Wild Instincts is more than just a scentwork programme.

It’s a collaboration between myself and Lily from Rooted Dog Training; a project grown from a mutual love for scentwork and having dogs that are different but share the same instinct and love for detection.

For Lila, scentwork builds her confidence and empowers her by tapping into her natural hunting abilities.

For Logan - Lily’s adorable little Staffordshire Bull Terrier - it’s about channelling his energy, creating independence, and learning to slow his mind down.

We created Wild Instincts to help other dogs and their humans enjoy spending time learning together whilst building on communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. It also provides an inclusive space where you don’t have to have a specific breed to fit in.

Our goal is to create a community where we celebrate each and every dog, and helping them discover the amazing things they can do and what they’re capable of in their own unique ways.

Every scent tells a different story, as do the dogs that follow them.

What does the programme look like?

Our levelled scentwork programme guides dogs and handlers through a progressive journey of learning, from beginner foundations to advanced search skills. Whether your dog is young, energetic, nervous, reactive, or simply loves to work, scentwork provides a mentally enriching outlet that builds focus, resilience, and partnership.

We believe every dog possesses natural instincts worth nurturing. Our courses develop clear communication, problem-solving skills, and real-world search confidence in a supportive and welcoming environment.

Through carefully designed exercises, practical search scenarios, and achievable milestones, handlers gain the knowledge and skills to progress at their own pace while strengthening the bond with their dog every step of the way.

Foundation scent introduction
Progressive levelled training pathways
Search patterns and indication skills
Indoor and outdoor searches varying from equipment to open areas
Confidence-building for all dog types
Small group learning and individual support
Fun, enriching challenges for both dog and handler

Our courses include:

Whether you are looking for a new hobby, confidence-building activities, enrichment for working breeds, or a pathway into advanced scent detection, the Wild Instincts Scentwork Unit offers an engaging and rewarding experience for every team.