Sniffing on Walks

Letting dogs sniff on walks is so important. 
 
Most of us have pet dogs. That means these dogs are hanging out in the house, often alone, expected to be okay with a lot of lounging and learning to entertain themselves. They get few opportunities to engage in species-specific and species-appropriate behavior. Some of those behaviors include sniffing, digging, hunting for critters, foraging for gross stuff to eat, and even just making their own decisions. Many pet dogs don’t even really get to feel grass under their feet, as many are living in apartments or other urban areas, and we expect the dogs to stay on the sidewalk when we walk them These are adult animals and they’ve had their autonomy almost completely stripped away by loving, well-intentioned owners.  
 
So what can we do about this?  
 
In general, using a longer leash and allowing your dog to stop and sniff and do what they want to do (as long as it’s safe) on the walk is going to be my recommendation.  
 
This is easier said than done, of course! Humans have time limits, and we can’t spend all day standing and watching our dogs sniff things. So what humans usually do is let the dog sniff for an amount of time, and then we asked the dog to come with us, or we pull on the leash to get them to come with us. Most dogs will comply, but what can happen here is we can actually train our dogs to spend more time sniffing by using this method.  

I like to think of pulling on the leash or calling your dog away from their sniffing as acting like an alarm clock. The dog “sets the timer” when they start sniffing, and they just keep sniffing until the alarm – you - goes off.  

If you want to allow your dog to sniff, but shorten the amount of time spent sniffing, read on!  
 
In the beginning, only take these walks when you have basically unlimited time. Allow your dog to stop and sniff whenever they like. Simply wait until the dog stops sniffing, then click or praise and throw a bunch of treats on the ground (or hand them to your dog, whatever works for you).  
 
Over time, this turns into a habit loop of “oooh there is a smell I want to investigate“> go sniff the smell > go back to owner or handler > get treats. This reduces the amount of time they spend sniffing because the start of the loop triggers the dog to go back to their handler. 

I love that we can find ways to meet the needs of our dogs and our own. Both ends of the leash matter. We both deserve to have an enjoyable walk. Using a longer leash and learning how to let your dog sniff and keep it moving can make a big impact.  
 
If you’d like personalized help, we’d love to hear from you!