When I was young, I was told that dogs went on walks to get exercise and that every dog needed X time of walks every single day.
I found walks boring, and as much as I loved my dog, Chester, taking him on a walk was a chore for me. That’s probably why I got given that ‘chore’, as a child: Because none of my family enjoyed walks either.
The only time I enjoyed walking Chester, was when we went exploring on the weekend! My dog was usually off lead, and we went splashing through muddy puddles and exploring through woods! Not only did I enjoy this morning, but I’m pretty sure Chester did too! He wanted to be sniffing around, running and playing and jumping, and just having fun!
Even now, as a trainer, I get told “My dog had X minutes lead walking daily,” so people are still doing this!
To me, that’s so crazy!
Imagine, you spend 23 hours in four walls, excited for that one hour you are allowed out. But in that one hour, you’re not allowed to do anthing except march in a straight line looking straight ahead, and also, you’re expected to wear a lead and not pull!
This might be easier for you to imagine since COVID, right? If you’re anything like me, staying in the house drive you absolutely crazy! That one hour exercise per day was the best time ever, and I could do whatever I wanted.
Your dog, on lead, can’t.
And that’s why I love to do a ‘Sniffari’ for my dogs.
What is a Sniffari?
Instead of walking the same circle on a too-tight lead, a Sniffari involves exploring the world together with your dog, using scent, hence the word combination of ‘sniff’ and ‘safari’
So, how do you do a Sniffari?
Take your time! Stop and start as your dog pleases, which may be quite often as your dog fills their imagination with all the different smells in her world!
Explore! You don’t have to travel far, but do try new places. Often grassy or wooded areas work best.
Relax! Have your dog on a longer lead, such as a long line or (if away from roads and other dogs) a flexi-lead.
But what if my dog….?
Pulls on lead?
If your dog gets overexcited and begins to pull, focus on just walking in one area (around in a circle) or backwards and forwards each time your dog gets to the end of the lead. Alternatively, you can just stand still whilst your dog explores the area around you.
Doesn’t want to sniff?
Try scattering some treats around when they aren’t looking to encourage them to get their nose to the ground!
What’s the point?
Dogs have a MUCH better sense of smell than us humans (around 100x better, in fact!) This means that dogs ‘see’ the world through their nose. They learn about who has passed through the area before them, whether it be human, other dogs, or wildlife. They learn about scent trails and urine marks and so much more! From a single scent, a dog can know what animal it was, the size, the sex, health, hormonal status, and even what they have last eaten!
Your dog will relax and calm, as well as bond with you, particularly if you go at their pace and interact with them. Put your phone away, head phones out, and try to truly ‘be there’ with your dog.
Your dog may be more tired from this! Sniffing not only lowers the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate (naturally calming them down), but it is also both mentally and physically tiring! My dogs are much more sleepy after a shorter sniffy walk than after a long fast hike!
NOTE: For the safety of your dog as well as the safety and welfare of the wildlife, ensure you stick to public footpaths and do not disturb wildlife.
For more tips and tricks;
✅ Keep an eye on my blog
✅ Visit my Facebook page: @muckypupsdogtraining
✅ Book a FREE discovery call: https://calendly.com/muckypupsdogtraining/free-discovery-call
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