Why Does My Dog Keep Sniffing Everything on Walks?
If you own a dog, you know that they love to smell EVERYTHING. From bushes and trees to a recent pee or poo left behind by another dog. Gross. 💩
As you begin to educate yourself on why dogs do what they do, you’ve probably asked yourself: why do dogs like to sniff everything?
Read on to learn the science behind it and how to train your dog to start and stop sniffing on walks.
Why do dogs sniff everything?
When dogs follow their nose, mark an area, and check out novel objects, they are fulfilling a need for mental enrichment.
Just as we use vision as our primary sense for understanding our environment, dogs use their noses. Smelling something gives dogs more information than by simply looking at it.
Think about how dogs greet each other: they always go for a sniff, right?
That’s because they transmit and interpret information in their surroundings best through scents and their sense of smell rather than going in for a paw shake or striking up a conversation.
Should I let my dog stop and sniff on walks?
Yes, let your dog sniff!
Unless you are walking a service dog, your dog should be encouraged to sniff and check out their surroundings.
Studies have found that sniffing on walks lowers pulse rates, with pulse rates lowering the more intensely the dogs sniff.
So allowing them this short time to sniff their surroundings is excellent for their health!
How to Stop Your Dog From Sniffing Everything While Walking
We get why you want to learn this.
You have to walk your dog multiple times a day, and every single time you go out, they must spend multiple minutes sniffing that one bush along your route.
But let us ask you this: What's the point of taking a dog for a walk if they aren't allowed to sniff?
Trick question - there is no point.
Letting your dog out to go pee or poo is not the same as a walk. The moment you’re going on a walk, it’s to enrich their life, get them to enjoy their day, and perhaps even greet some other people.
Sniffing is vital to making this an enjoyable experience for your dog!
What to do if your dog isn’t sniffing on walks
If your dog does not sniff regularly during your walk, they might be overwhelmed by the environment. Intense pulling can be related to feeling stressed!
So when you take your dog out for a walk, forget the forced march.
Slow down and encourage your dog to sniff along the way to make your walk together more enjoyable for your dog.
FUN FACT:
Dogs walked on longer leashes spend more time sniffing on walks 🦮
Another common reason dogs don’t sniff as much is that they don’t have the freedom to roam around. Try walking them on a longer leash and see how their behavior changes.
IMPORTANT: Before using a longer leash, just ensure you’re confident, in a place where it’s safe for your dog to be further away from you, and have done the proper leash training with your dog.
How to Train Your Dog to Walk on a Longer Leash
If your dog has not yet been trained to walk on a leash, it’s important that you tackle that first.
Our Certified Dog Trainers recommend you start using a longer leash with them in less populated areas, such as a less busy neighborhood or a backyard.
Then, once you’re comfortable together, add some distractions in a controlled environment (like in a dog training class).
Once you have good recall and feel confident, take your dog on walks with a long leash to give them the best walks!
Advanced reading: 4 Off Leash & Recall Training Tips
Interested in training your dog to walk on a long leash?
Urban Pawsibilities is a dog training facility based in Portland, OR. We offer group classes on various topics, including basic manners, socialization, leash reactivity, separation anxiety, and more.
If you’re local to the PDX area, check out our Walkin’ Dog group class.
If you’re outside of this area, our blog has lots of additional resources about training your dog. Check them out here.
We’re so excited for you and your pup to have more enjoyable walks together!
