Don’t Underestimate the Power of Your Dog’s Nose
It is important to remember just how powerful our dogs noses are. They could be up to 100,000 times more sensitive than our own. A common quote is that a dog would be able to sniff out a single drop of blood from an area as large as an Olympic-sized swimming pool!
Their sense of smell is crucial for communicating, exploring, and evaluating.
Slow Dog Walks Down and Give Your Dog Choices
Owners often make the mistake of assuming that a faster, long walk is the best option for tiring a dog out. Commonly, the dog is on a short, traffic-leash, being power walked along roads and pavements closely by their owners side. Maybe they then go to the dog park where they careen around for a while with lots of other dogs.
The walk may not be particularly interesting, and dog parks can be over-stimulating or stressful if interactions are not managed carefully.
By picking a more peaceful walking route, with grass and other non-road surfaces, and allowing your dog to be off leash (or at least on a longer leash) and following their noses, you can be offering a much more beneficial experience.
Your dog is given few choices of their own, and by making time to allow them to decide what they want to investigate and how long they spend doing this on a walk, or in another appropriate environment, you are positively empowering them.
It can tire them out
Walks are great for tiring out your pup! So what kinds of walks are the best? Slow ones! Slow down your walk to include grassy areas and non-paved surfaces. Let your dogs powerful nose find new scents. Doing this will be much more stimulating than a quick walk with no sniff time. Giving your dog the opportunity to investigate new scents is not only a great way to tire your pup out but it also gives them a sense of freedom!
Why do Dogs Sniff your Private Parts or your Crotch? Discover the reason WHY? || Monkoodog
Most dog owners know the importance of mental and physical stimulation for their dogs. Treat puzzles, interesting toys and frequent walks can lessen the chances for behavioral issues. They all keep your dog motivated, interested, and stimulated. But have you stopped to think about the significance of allowing your dog to exercise their sense of smell? It is an often-overlooked way to pique your dog’s interest.
A 2019 report published in the Applied Animal Behavior Science Journal says that providing plentiful sniffing opportunities can make your dog more optimistic. If you give your dog a chance to explore its surroundings through smell, they will enjoy going on walks more. Rover will be more mentally stimulated, gain confidence, and in the end be more tired and relaxed.