Pet School
Scent School· Pet SchoolScent School· Pet School

Tire your dog 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 breed, 16+ weeksAny breed, 16+ weeks
  • 6 wks - 1 hr/wk6 wks - 1 hr/wk
  • Max 5 dogs per classMax 5 dogs per class
  • $230$230
Book your spot See class details
Tire your dog 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 your puppy will actually learn.

Same day and time each week, indoors at our Beaumont Hills training room. Every week builds on the last.

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
At a glance

The essentials.

Everything you need to know before you book - cost, duration, class size and who it's for.

  • Cost $230
  • Duration 6 weeks
  • Per session 1 hour
  • Class size Max 5 dogs
  • Suitability Any breed, 16+ weeks
See start dates & book
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
  • 30+ Years Training Experience30+ Years Training Experience
  • Australian Accredited Canine Good Citizen InstructorAustralian Accredited Canine Good Citizen Instructor
  • Force-free methodsForce-free methods
  • Qualified Vet Nurse & Nutrition AdvisorQualified Vet Nurse & Nutrition Advisor
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

Vaccination record

C5 (or C7) dated within the last 12 months. Sighted at Week 1.

Leave at home

Choke chains, prongs, retractables

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

Upcoming Scent School classes

Pick a date that works for you.

Pay in full at booking · non-refundable, transferable.

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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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 participate. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult and stay seated during exercises. Maximum two people per dog inside the training room. Training works best when one person leads and the rest observe - too many handlers and the dogs looks at all of you, instead of one of you. 

  • 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 or more, it's better to roll over to the next cohort - the lessons build and skipping the middle bits doesn't work well.


  • 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, emailhello@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. If your class starts outside opening hours - ie after 6pm, please enter via the back door near the loading dock. 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. Classes are held upstairs and are only accessible via stairs.
  3. If your class is held between 9 am and 5.45 pm, please enter via the main store entrance and head to the back of the store. If your class is held from 6 pm onwards, please head to the loading dock area and enter via the back access door. There is a doorbell if the door is closed.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. All dogs must be currently wormed and vaccinated (C5 minimum). Vaccination certificates must be sighted at Week 1.
  7. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Maximum two people per dog inside the training room.
  8. The trainer reserves the right to refuse any dog showing severe aggression or distress, and will recommend appropriate next steps.
  9. Owners are responsible for any injury, illness, or property damage their dog may cause during class.
  10. 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.

Click the links below to learn more about our other classes, including the week-by-week curriculum, what to bring, and a calendar of upcoming start dates.

Puppy Preschool8–16 weeks

Puppy Preschool

The foundations: socialisation, sit, drop, recall, lead manners, and the calm dog you want at the cafe.

$1894 wks · 1 hr/wk
See class details
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.

$1994 wks · 1 hr/wk
See class details
Adolescent Dog Training18 weeks +

Adolescent Dog Training

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

$2004 wks · 1 hr/wk
See class details
Trick SchoolAll ages

Trick School

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

$2406 wks · 1 hr/wk
See class details
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
See class details

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