Does it seem your dog is sniffing every blade of grass when he or she goes on a walk? Have patience! He or she is practicing self-care.
Letting your dog sniff during walks is crucial for mental stimulation, lowering stress and emotional well-being. I always liken their sniffing – poles and fire hydrants especially — to reading the Doggie Daily, but for the technically inclined I’ve heard it called “pee mail.” Sniffing serves as a mental workout that burns energy and provides essential environmental information. It functions as a calming, enriching, and rewarding behavior that should generally be encouraged.
It provides mental stimulation, reducing boredom, lowering heart rate and releasing endorphins. A sniffing walk can tire out a dog more effectively than a walk-only walk.
Sniffing allows dogs to understand their environment and who has visited the area, behaving like a “social media” check for them.
There’s even research that shows sniffing can make dogs feel more optimistic and confident.
You can use a longer leash to provide more freedom to explore without pulling. Use sniffing as a reward for walking nicely or obeying commands, rather than constant, unrestrained pulling.
Of course, you can’t allow sniffing willy-nilly. Don’t allow them to sniff in areas with broken glass, toxic substances, or excessive litter, or in crowded places. And some hunting-type dogs may become over-excited rather than calm.
When in doubt, sniff out the situation. Your pup will be glad you did.
