What the Sniff?

Some of our clients ask, “How do I get my dog to stop sniffing so much?”

Our answer? We can teach a dog to sniff less but why would you want to? Not letting your dog sniff would be a bit like putting a blindfold on you during a beautiful sunset or bringing a child to an amusement park and not letting him on any rides or play any games.

Our canine companions experience the world through their noses. Dogs have about 300 million olfactory receptors, while we have only 6 million. While we may smell a stew, dogs can detect each individual ingredient. Pretty amazing.

Sniffing is one of the reasons dogs enjoy walks so much. It’s not a distraction from the walk it is part of the walk. In fact, one study found that sniffing may even help reduce a dog’s heart rate.

Want to learn more about that incredible sniffer? Dr. Alexander Horowitz’s TED Talk, How Do Dogs See with Their Noses? is fascinating and may change the way you think about your dog’s walks. You may even find yourself “sniffing” your world a little more.

We wish you and your Canine Companion lots of amazing sniffs!