Are You Using Your Dog's Nose Enough? How to Encourage Your Dog's Sense of Smell | Pupford
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Filed under behavior+ pup parenting+ training
Sorry to come at you like that, but I'm nearly certain you aren't using your dog's nose to its full advantage. It is likely your dog's strongest scent, yet as humans, we rarely use it to its full advantage and even sometimes discourage sniffing...
Our dogs understand the world around them through their nose. They can't speak to us and they sure can't read, so instead, they use their noses.
A dog's nose is said to be over 1,000 times stronger than the human nose. That's why there are drug-sniffing dogs and not drug-sniffing humans.
So instead of being bothered by your dog sniffing on a walk, here is what you can do.
There are so many different enrichment games to play with your dog. With most of these toys, a lot of the enrichment comes from smelling and searching out treats, etc.
Here are a few different games:
Foraging Boxes
With this game, you can get a few different boxes you have laying around your house, and put a few treats in them. Then place smaller boxes in the larger ones, and give to your dog to let them sniff out!
Hide and Seek
Put your dog in a separate room and go hide treats (or toys) in a few different places. Then let your dog in the room and have them explore!
Get a snuffle mat and place some treats (or their food) in the mat. Then let your dog go at it! If needed, make it easier at the start and leave some of the treats visible so your dog knows what to do!
The main thing to remember is your dog's sense of smell should be encouraged! Let them explore, let them find new smells, let them explore on walks, let them be a dog!!
We play hide and seek with our Lab Archie, even the grand kids get in on the fun. We take a favorite toy plaY tug for a few minutes so he sniffs this particular toy. Ask him to sit and stay. Go in the other room hide it then say find it. He comes barreling thru the house and finds it then we ask him to drop and reward with a treat! Loves loves it.
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Debbie01/26/2025
My dog is a coonhound mix! Just about all our walks are based on his nose! Boxes with treats inside work great for him. Boxes within boxes – even better!
J
Judy01/26/2025
Get involved in a canine scent detection sport! It can help shy dogs gain confidence, help dogs focus that are distractible, build your bond with your dog and provide your dog with a very enjoyable outlet for their energy. Dogs love to sniff!
M
Michelle01/26/2025
I don’t take mine on walks but we do a lot of enrichment. We do boxes bottles hide and seek with treats puzzle snuffle mat muffin tin and cup games
G
Grace01/26/2025
I just started Walk Ng tucker I first have him on the short leash till we get to the park then I switched it to long leash and just let him sniff to his hearts content. It’s helping with the pulling that’s for sure. Thankyou.
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20 comments
Leave a CommentWe play hide and seek with our Lab Archie, even the grand kids get in on the fun. We take a favorite toy plaY tug for a few minutes so he sniffs this particular toy. Ask him to sit and stay. Go in the other room hide it then say find it. He comes barreling thru the house and finds it then we ask him to drop and reward with a treat! Loves loves it.
My dog is a coonhound mix! Just about all our walks are based on his nose! Boxes with treats inside work great for him. Boxes within boxes – even better!
Get involved in a canine scent detection sport! It can help shy dogs gain confidence, help dogs focus that are distractible, build your bond with your dog and provide your dog with a very enjoyable outlet for their energy. Dogs love to sniff!
I don’t take mine on walks but we do a lot of enrichment. We do boxes bottles hide and seek with treats puzzle snuffle mat muffin tin and cup games
I just started Walk Ng tucker I first have him on the short leash till we get to the park then I switched it to long leash and just let him sniff to his hearts content. It’s helping with the pulling that’s for sure. Thankyou.