Why Do Dogs Sniff and What Are the Benefits?
Why Do Dogs Sniff and What Are the Benefits?
Everyone who has a dog knows they love to sniff! But why?
Scent is their Main Sense
Humans’ main sense is sight- it is what we use most. However, for dogs, their main sense is scent. Humans have around 5 million scent receptors, while some dogs can have over 100 million!
As dog owners, we often forget this and assume dogs are just like us. Scent is a crucial way for our dogs to investigate their world.
Doggy Communication
Sniffing is how dogs communicate with each other. Dogs sniff other dogs bums and pee because that is how they find out information about the other dog. Without that information, dogs would struggle to communicate with each other.
Reduces Stress
Sniffing can relieve stress by reducing heart rate and reducing the release of Cortisol, a stress hormone. By allowing our dogs to stop and sniff, we can improve their mental health and their overall mood.
Mental Stimulation
Sniffing is a great way to get our dog’s brain working. By letting our dogs sniff on walks we are physically and mentally exercising them at the same time!
So next time your dog wants to stop and have a sniff on their walk, let them! It will benefit them as well as you.
Look out for my next blog post with easy games you can play with your dog to encourage them to sniff!
Links and References
American Kennel Club: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/why-does-my-dog-sniff-everything/
Dogs For Good: https://www.dogsforgood.org/2020/03/good-idea-sniff/#:~:text=Intense%20sniffing%20in%20dogs’%20has,to%20forage%20for%20their%20food.
Duranton, C. and Horowitz, A., 2019. Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgment bias in pet dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 211, pp.61-66. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159118304325
