All dogs love to smell on walks. As a dog owner, there are some days that I cannot go just a few steps without my Shiba Inu Cleo stopping to take a protracted sniff at a tree or rock.
All dogs receive a unprecedented amount of data from their environment through scent. In truth, dogs have such a keen sense of smell that it’s estimated that they will smell a tablespoon of sugar in enough water to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
While this explains why dogs absolutely like to smell things, some questions still remain.
Do you have to all the time let your dog sniff when on walks, or is getting some exercise more necessary? What can occur for those who never let your dog sniff when on walks?
Let’s dive into answering these questions.
Why do Dogs Love Sniffing on Walks?
Scent hound dog breeds like Beagles and Bloodhounds have the most effective sense of smell within the canine world. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that different kinds of dogs do not have an incredible sense of smell as well. All dogs technically have the power to smell out rather more than we humans could ever comprehend.
When a dog sniffs the grass along a sidewalk, they’ll have the ability to smell loads of various things and gather some potentially useful information.
For instance, in a single sniff your dog can tell what number of dogs have gone the identical walking route and the way way back they were there.
Your dog also can likely discover these other dogs’ ages, genders, and in the event that they have been spayed or neutered or not. They might even have the ability to inform if one other dog is sick or experiencing a medical condition.
Dogs is not going to only learn details about other dogs from sniffing though.
They can even have the ability to smell the squirrels that ran through the grass at night and the cat that goes stalking there within the morning. Dogs will smell the plants and soil as well. That is how they find tasty snacks that we didn’t see.
For a dog smelling is akin to an individual a stupendous painting or listening to their favorite music. They like to do it simply because it’s fun and mentally stimulating for them.
Why You Should Let Your Dog Sniff on Walks
Since a dog’s sense of smell is some of the necessary tools that they’ve, it is just natural for them to wish to use it. This is very true if you end up outside.
In any case, there are rather more interesting scents outdoors than inside more often than not, especially when in a brand new environment.
Letting your dog sniff when out on walks will allow them to benefit from the activity more. It’s because sniffing will allow your dog to explore their environment and fulfill this mental enrichment need.
Whilst you don’t necessarily have to let your dog sniff every tree or spend five minutes sniffing one spot, it’s a superb idea to allow them to smell not less than now and again.
It will prevent your dog from becoming frustrated and viewing walks as a stressful event. Additionally it is a pleasant thing to do for our canine companions.
What Could Occur if You Don’t Let Your Dog Sniff on Walks?
While your dog shouldn’t be more likely to have a severe hostile response to not having the ability to sniff one spot, they’ll definitely turn into frustrated by not being allowed to smell over time.
This is very true in the event that they are never allowed to smell and are consistently being tugged on the leash.
Some behavioral issues can occur consequently of this type of frustration or stress. These behavioral problems often include tugging on the leash and refusing to walk.
Taking the time to let your dog smell when on walks can often help prevent these sorts of issues and make the walking experience more enjoyable for each you and your dog.
Fun Enrichment Activities to do on Walks
Since smelling their environment is incredibly mentally stimulating for dogs, there are some ways that you would be able to turn your walk into an enrichment activity.
While you don’t want to make walks extra fun each time, engaging your dog in the next activities could be an ideal technique to get their mind moving.
Listed here are some fun and simple enrichment activities to do together with your dog when on walks!
Bring Some Treats and Let Your Dog Forage
You may provide your dog with some extra mental stimulation through the use of nature’s snuffle mat!
That is right, just sprinkling some dry kibble or treats within the grass is incredibly entertaining to your dog.
Doing this simulates foraging in your dog, which also gets them to begin considering. When allowing your dog to forage it’s best to decide on clean and clear areas. This fashion you don’t want to fret about your dog eating any trash or potentially harmful plants.
You may also do that activity in your backyard in addition to on walks. In truth, that is an ideal option for days once we are sick or simply don’t feel like spending loads of time exercising our dog. It’s because the mental stimulation that comes with this activity will help tire out your dog with none intense exercise.
Go on a Sniffing Walk
A sniffing walk doesn’t necessarily have a destination in mind. Quite, a sniffing walk allows your dog to smell whatever they need for so long as they would love to. This activity will likely be incredibly mentally stimulating in your dog, and doing this every infrequently will help balance out normal walks where sniffing is a little more limited.
That is inside reason after all. No trash sniffing, please! Additionally it is a superb idea to learn what local plants could potentially harm your dog and keep them away from these items.
Happening a sniffing walk could be extremely helpful for each people and dogs who’ve a difficult time walking quickly or over long distances. It’s because a brief sniffing walk remains to be enjoyable for the dog. It’ll also tire them out a bit because of the mental enrichment that it provides, even if you end up not walking a great distance.
Featured Image via Australian Shepherds/Flickr
Next Read: Train Your Dog To not Bark at Passers-by?
