Scent Articles: Addressing Slow Returns

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One of the most common problems obedience handlers encounter is a slow return on the Scent Discrimination exercise. Your dog trots to the pile, finds the correct article… and then seems to deflate - pausing in the pile before the return or walking hesitantly back to front. It’s not only point-deducting, but its not the engaged, energetic performance we’re striving for.

If this is something you’ve seen from your dog, the first step is to consider what might be causing the problem.

There are generally two root causes. 

1. Lack of Confidence

Your dog is unsure if he has the right article and is hesitant about returning. This is considered an effort error stemming from confusion or uncertainty.

2. Lack of Effort

Your dog appears confident in his selection but shows a lazy or unmotivated return. This is a lack of effort error, stemming from being distracted or disinterested. 

Which Scenario Describes Your Dog?

1. If you suspect a Confidence issue

When your dog is uncertain about his choice, your responses during training can either build his confidence—or chip away at it. Here’s how to avoid accidentally creating hesitation:

What to Avoid

• Letting him return all the way back with a wrong article
  Allowing your dog to come all the way back to you with a wrong article, and then telling him he's wrong and to go search again. This creates uncertainty, as he wonders the entire way back if he is correct or not.
• Telling him to drop a wrong article when he picks it up or starts returning with the incorrect article.
  This will slow him down as he's looking for your confirmation he's right before coming to you. 

What to Do Instead

• As soon as your dog leaves the pile with the wrong article, gently say, “no, no.”
• Calmly walk out to him, take the article from his mouth, and lead him back to the starting position.
• ‼️Important: Do not place the incorrect article back into the pile.
• Try again

Don’t Cheerlead the Wrong Behavior

It’s tempting to encourage a slow dog with lots of praise and excitement to “get him moving.” But if you’re offering encouragement while he’s being slow, you’re actually reinforcing his slow behavior.

Instead:

• Instead, use your Reward Marker when your dog makes a decision to come in quickly or as soon as he sits in front of you with the correct article.
• Follow your Reward Marker with a powerful reward! 

Modify the Setup to Build Momentum

Simplifying the task helps your dog be more successful, which often leads to faster, more confident returns.

Try this:

• Reduce the article pile to 4–6 articles.
• Put the articles in an obvious pattern to simplify the search such as a straight line or large arc. 

A greater distance encourages more drive both on the send and on the return. 

• Move the pile to 30–40 feet away from you.

If you get even slightly faster returns, that’s a behavior you can genuinely reward and reinforce.

2. If you suspect a lack of Effort

Some dogs aren’t confused—they’re just not trying very hard. If your dog seems to understand the exercise but still returns slowly, it's time to address the effort directly.

Increase Speed on the Send

Dogs usually increase the speed of the return when we increase their speed on the way out.

How are his returns on the dumbbell and the glove? We want to work on speed in a simpler exercise before applying it to articles.

Here’s how to inject some urgency:

1. Start with a dumbbell or (single) glove retrieve
2. As you send your dog, reach out and goose him in the rear
3. Most dogs will instinctively speed up when "chased" from behind
4. The moment he grabs the dumbbell, give an enthusiastic "Come" command
5. Mark/Reward while he is returning more quickly if you are pleased with his effort

How Effective is Your Reward Marker?

Your Reward Marker is a key communication tool. Used correctly, it helps your dog understand precisely when he’s doing something right. If you’re working on speed, give your Reward Marker while your dog is in motion as opposed to waiting for the front.

A Quick Note on Fronts

When I’m actively training for speed on the return, I often mark and reward in route, rather than insisting on a front. This ensures I don’t fuss at the dog for being crooked after he just gave me a fast return.

However, when I do want to include a front, I use guides to help him be straight. This allows me to reinforce speed without sacrificing precision—and without introducing correction for something that’s unrelated to the behavior I’m trying to improve.

Connie