The Benefits Of Letting Your Dog Use Their Nose.

All dog owners are guilty of the “hurried” walk. There are times you are running late, and you simply need your pup to do their business as fast as possible. When they take too long sniffing in one spot, we might frustratingly pull them away, making them ignore interesting smells.

​On the other hand, some of us are too focused on the “perfect” walk. A lovely heel, paying attention to you while ignoring their surroundings. Of course, we want our furry friends to be well-trained, but these walks don’t necessarily let your dog be a dog.

​While these kinds of walks have a purpose and their place in the world, many dog owners have a misunderstanding of sniffing. Sniffing is essential to dogs’ well-being. It’s how they investigate the world, it’s a natural stress-reliever, and it encourages mental stimulation and decompression. In this article, we will explore the benefits of sniffing, why you should allow your pup to sniff, and  how to best take advantage of it as an enrichment activity for your dog.

Why Dogs Sniff

According to Psychology Today, the dog’s nose is up to 1 million times more powerful than a human’s nose (for some breeds, like bloodhounds, it could be up to 10 million times more powerful). The part of the dog’s brain that processes sniffing is about 7 times bigger than that part of the human brain. Basically, this means that sniffing is how dogs engage and explore the world. They use their nose the same way humans use their eyes, processing what is going on around them, but it is more powerful. Smell is the most important sense a dog has!

Sniffing As A Skill

The canine nose does far more than detect a dead bird you don’t want them to eat or leftovers in the trash can. It can recognize temperature changes, hormonal shifts, and it can be trained to identify specific scents ranging from mushrooms to cancer to explosives.

Service dogs are even taught to detect blood sugar changes in diabetic patients, as well as impending panic attacks or seizures. Conservationists, police, and the military all take advantage of this extraordinary ability, training dogs to locate invasive plants, drugs, and much more.

Scent detection and nosework are rapidly becoming very popular for dog sport people! There are several competitive leagues like the National Association of Canine Scent Work and AKC Scent Work, as well as scent elements in higher-level obedience competitions. A good trainer will help point you in the right direction of fun scent-related games and sports for you and your dog to explore together.

​Personally, I have been training my puppy to go shed hunting, or sniffing out antlers! We live right near an elk migration route, so I am hoping Hamish will find me lots of antlers.

Mental Benefits

Besides the benefits of strengthening your bond and having fun with your dog, how else is sniffing good for your dog?

​Every dog has a nose and uses it to sniff out the world,  from small toy breeds to the giants of the dog world, and you don’t need a high-drive sport dog to take advantage of their nose! Because it is such a crucial part of how they explore the world, sniffing is a natural enrichment activity and destresser for every dog. Allowing your dog to sniff encourages them to relax, distracts from stressors, and is mentally stimulating.

For naturally anxious or reactive dogs, allowing them to sniff is a great way to help them build confidence and decompress. It engages a skill that every pooch naturally knows how to do, and allowing them to sniff when stressed can be extremely beneficial behaviorally. Later, we will talk about ways that pet parents can help dogs turn on their “sniffer” for mental health enrichment!

Physical Benefits

Sniffing not only helps your dog use their brain, but also has physical advantages. Allowing your dog to sniff on walks or sending them out for searches offers low-impact exercise. For seniors, injured dogs, or young puppies, high-impact activity like fetch or long walks can be really hard on their joints. Playing sniffing and nosework games allows dogs to move at their own comfort level, tiring out their brains and their bodies!

How To Harness Sniffing To Reduce Boredom

You don’t have to train your pet dog to be an award-winning nose-work competitor or drug detection dog to experience mental enrichment or de-stressing benefits from sniffing. Let’s take a look at some fun games a regular pet-owner can play with their canine companion to engage their brain and allow them some physical exercise.

• Nosework classes: Nosework classes tend to focus on building a strong relationship between pet and parent by teaching a cool new activity, proper socialization, and not pressuring owners into competitions. Many dog training facilities offer advanced nosework classes just for fun! Teach your dog to detect scents like anise or birch, plus learn how to transfer it to other scents like mushrooms and antlers for other sniffing adventures!
• Treat Scattering: Treat scattering combines two of many dogs’ favorite things: treats and sniffing! Throwing treats in areas like grass allows your dog to relax while engaging in sniffing and searching for cookies. This is a great tool for reactive or anxious dogs. It helps replace a potentially unwanted behavior by conditioning a new behavior… putting their head down and sniffing!
• Snuffle Mat: A snuffle mat is a fun dog training tool that, like treat scattering, allows your dog to get a cookie while promoting sniffing, foraging, and relaxation. It is a kind of puzzle toy made of fabric scraps. Snuffle mats have become popular recently, and most pet stores sell them, but you can also go the DIY route and make your own. Other similar scent and foraging games include wrapping treats in a blanket or hiding them in cardboard boxes!  
• Sniffari:  A sniffari is a walk where you let your dog take the lead based on their nose! Let them choose where to turn, how long the walk is, and how long to stop and sniff! Sniffaris are great for mental enrichment, low-impact exercise, and strengthening your bond with your pup. Loose-leash walking and a good “leave-it” command are essential to a healthy sniffari, but otherwise it is a dog-led adventure!

Final Thoughts

While people tend to rush our dogs from place to place, allowing them time to sniff is a simple yet powerful way to improve their quality of life. Sniffing supports mental stimulation, emotional balance, and physical well-being, and improves confidence, all while letting dogs engage with the world in the way they were designed to. Whether through sniffaris, nosework games, or simply slowing down on daily walks, embracing your dog’s nose strengthens your bond and reduces stress. So next time your dog stops to sniff, pause, breathe, and let them enjoy being a dog!