For many of our dogs, a walk is the most exciting part of the day. When it’s time to head outside, you might find that your dog is pretty overstimulated or hyperactive, and this is understandable. However, it can be a lot to handle if you’d rather a relaxing walk.
One thing you might decide to try is to put in place a sniffing routine before you leave for your walk, with plenty of the best dog treats involved, of course! Dogs like to sniff – it calms them and helps them make sense of their world – so a sniffing routine before a walk can help make them more relaxed for the walk itself.
But how do you get started? Well, Ella Camps-Linney and Alistair Mackenzie, professional trainers and the owners of Kirby Dog Training, have explained all we need to know in a new Instagram post. Let’s take a look.
“A sniffing routine pre-walk can ground them in the moment, creating a more balanced transition from rest to activity,” explain Camps-Linney and Mackenzie.
“Sniffing stimulates your dog’s brain, releases feel-good dopamine, and lowers stress hormones like cortisol,” they add in their caption. “It helps them focus, self-soothe, and transition smoothly from rest to activity.”
So, here’s how to easily add some pre-walk sniffing to you and your pup’s routine, according to the experts:
- Set up a sniffing station: Simply scatter treats or hide a toy in a small area, either inside the house or outside, maybe in the yard. Let your dog explore at a pace they’re comfortable with – perhaps while you get yourself ready for the walk!
- Try scentwork: Hide treats in a towel or use one of the best puzzle toys for dogs to engage their nose and give them plenty of mental stimulation too. In a pinch, you can even get an old cardboard tube, put treats in it, close both ends, and puncture some treat-size holes in there.
- Give your dog free sniffing time: Just let them sniff around the yard before you leave for the walk. Be mindful not to rush them if time allows.
If you’d like to know more about how sniffing can help, you might find this article interesting: I tried a 45-minute 'sniffari', and it tired out my border collie more than a two-hour hike! And, for more great games to engage in with your pup, why not try these eight fun games to play with dogs?
