The Importance of Sniffing
As foster parents, we all want to set our dogs up for success. We’ve all heard of the importance of mastering the ‘structured walk’. A structured walk is a loose leash walk where your dog stays directly by your side, looking to you for their next move or set of directions. Structured walks are a great time to practice leash manners and basic training, but they leave no time for a very important part of your dog’s biology: sniffing!
Although it is important to implement structure, practice training commands, and make sure your dog is getting enough exercise, sniffing is actually just as necessary for a happy and healthy pup. A dog can smell somewhere between 10,000-100,000 times better than a human can, and with their eyesight not being as sharp as ours, many experts believe that dogs truly “see” the world through their noses! Sniffing provides mental stimulation, can lower stress and anxiety, and creates an all-around happier and more self-assured pup.
Adoptable pup Big Foot (right) on a walk.
It’s great for your dog’s brain to be able to slow down and make their own choices about what they want to investigate and for how long, but how much is too much time spent sniffing when we have our busy schedules to tend to? Some experts recommend a 70/30 rule, where you keep moving for 70% of the walk and let your dog sniff and explore for the other 30%. Others recommend allowing at least one full walk per day where your dog can lead the way and go on a “sniffari.”
There are also tons of other ways to ensure your dog gets some time to use their nose within your home. Some easy ways to do this are:
Adoptable pup Matty working on a snuffle mat.
letting your dog open packages with you and investigate what was delivered
allowing your dog to sniff your grocery/shopping bags as you unpack them
playing hide and seek with their favorite toys or high value treats
setting up a cardboard box filled with loose papers or other bits of cardboard with treats mixed in
looking up free “tracking” or “nose work” classes online
using a snuffle mat during feeding time
Overall, sniffing is one of the easiest, yet oftentimes overlooked, forms of mental enrichment for your dog. It is a biologically appropriate behavior that so many dogs don’t get enough opportunity to explore on a day-to-day basis. Next time you are on a walk with your pup, remember how important it is to stop and smell the roses!
Jenna is the foster program coordinator at Muddy Paws Rescue, a dog owner, and foster. Having worked previously at a shelter, Jenna is a strong advocate for how mental enrichment can improve any dog’s quality of life. You can meet Jenna at upcoming transport arrivals and adoption events, and get in touch with her at fosters@muddypawsrescue.org.
