A popular topic on social media suggests that when you let your dogs sniff on their walks, it’s like they’re checking their social media updates! While they may not be scrolling through posts to get the scoop, it’s true that dogs use sniffing to gather updates about their territory and their “neighbors”—much like we do when we scroll social media to see what’s going on.
We often think of physical exercise, like walks or games of fetch, as the main way to keep dogs healthy, but exercising the mind is also exercise, and will burn calories and tire out your dog. Mental stimulation for dogs plays an important role in keeping them happy, sharp and well-behaved. By engaging your dog’s mind, you help them create new neural pathways and stay mentally active.
One of the best mental stimulation activities for dogs is allowing them to use their extraordinary sense of smell. Dogs have up to 300 million scent receptors, depending on the breed, which makes sniffing an essential activity. By encouraging sniffing walks for dogs, you’re providing them with mental enrichment that helps them process the world. This form of stimulation activates their brain’s "seeking system," similar to how we seek updates on social media and news sites.
Yes! Sniffing is a great way to provide mental stimulation for dogs. When you let your dog pause and sniff, you’re actually improving their mental health. With all those scent receptors, dogs take in so much more information than we do. While we can pick up on general scents, like a loaf of freshly baked bread, a dog can detect separate individual elements that make up that general scent of bread! This scent-sational ability allows dogs to detect who has recently passed through an area and figure out who or what might be around the corner. Has your dog ever started barking about a rival dog long before you can see them? That's the power of the sniff!
A scent walk shifts the focus from the distance traveled or a fast pace to the scents your dog discovers. Instead of trying to pack in the miles, let your dog dictate the route as they explore and process the different smells along the way. As soon as your dog stops for a sniff, let them! This gives you the opportunity to make observations along your route that you may not usually notice.
Besides sniffing walks, you can keep your dog mentally engaged with indoor sniffing activities. Scent games, such as hiding treats around the house for your dog to find, are a fun way to challenge their brain.
Learn how exercising the mind is still exercise for our pets! >>
