Why Sniffing is Essential for Dogs
Dogs have a much better sense of smell than humans. Their noses are filled with hundreds of millions of scent receptors, compared to our measly 6 million. This means that dogs can smell things that we can't even imagine. They smell the world the way we see it.
Sniffing is a natural behavior for dogs. It's how they explore their environment, learn about other animals, and even find food. But did you know that sniffing is also good for their health?
Here are some of the benefits of sniffing for dogs:
Mental stimulation: Sniffing is a great way to mentally enrich and stimulate your dog and encourage natural species specific behavior. It requires them to use their brains to process all the different smells they're encountering. This can help to keep them engaged and one study indicated that these positive emotional state of sniffing lead to a more optimistic outlook.
Reduces stress: Sniffing can help to reduce stress in dogs by releasing endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects. If your dog is feeling anxious or stressed, taking them for a walk in a quiet area where they can sniff freely can help to calm them down. Another study linked walking and sniffing freely [on long leashes and off leash] to lowered heart rate and blood pressure in dogs
Improves cognitive function: Sniffing can help to improve cognitive function in dogs by keeping their brains active. Just like humans, dogs need mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. Sniffing is a great way to provide that stimulation.
Increases bonding: Sniffing is a natural way for dogs to interact with their environment and with each other. When you encourage your dog to sniff on walks, you are giving them the opportunity to explore their surroundings and to learn about the world around them. This can help to strengthen the bond between you and your dog.
If you want to improve the overall welfare of your dog it is important to allow them plenty of time to sniff on walks when they desire.
Here are some tips for encouraging your dog to sniff on walks if it doesn’t come naturally or is something they have been prevented from doing in the past:
Choose quiet areas: If you are in a busy area with lots of people and other dogs, your dog may be too distracted to sniff. Find a quiet area where your dog can explore without feeling overwhelmed.
Use a long leash and back clip harness: A long leash (10+ ft) will give your dog more freedom to sniff without getting too far away from you if recall is a concern and a harness (preferably back clip) will ensure that your dog is comfortable.
Be patient: It may take some time for your (or you) dog to get used to sniffing on walks. Be patient and let them explore at their own pace.
Reward sniffing behavior: When your dog sniffs, praise them and reinforce by dropping a treat onto the ground, this can encourage more sniffing to find the treat.
Melissa Dallier is a multi certified positive reinforcement based dog trainer living in Roswell, GA with her husband and 2 senior dogs. Melissa specializes in helping dogs overcome separation anxiety. When she isn’t helping dogs she enjoys growing tropical houseplants and gardening, seeing live theater and spending time with family and friends and lots of TV.