So what do veterinarians have to say about this daily ritual that seems to consumes so much of our canine’s time when ‘going for a walk?’ Is it important? It sure seems to be. What is the purpose?
Sniff…… Sniff!
Veterinarians such as Dr Whitney Miller of Petco and Dr Danielle Bernal of Wellness Pet Company reveal that this behavior is essential for a dog’s well-being.
Research shows that important to let your dog sniff for their own wellbeing. People have even suggested that sniffing is essentially a dog’s form of social media — meaning it provides them with entertainment and enrichment. Sniffing is similar to social media in that it’s how dogs get updated on their environment. It’s how they recognize other dogs, learn and make decisions about their surroundings.
Every time a dog sniffs, they take in data about their animal neighbors and their neighborhood.
Sniffing is a necessary part of a dog’s existence, while social media is not a necessary part of ours. But both are ways that we learn about the world around us.
Sniffing is good for your dog’s health.
Sniffing has many benefits for our dogs. Not only can it be a key method of communication to help them make sense of the world, but it doubles as a great form of mental enrichment to engage the body and mind, which is key to a dog’s overall well-being.
Older Dogs
While many dogs get stimulation from running around or playing with other pups, this isn’t always the case for dogs higher in age, making sniffing an even more important activity.
According to Dr Bernal, “For older dogs, especially, where physical activity may be reducing, taking a moment to stop and sniff delivers so much mental stimulation. She noted that “sniffing can help older dogs stay healthy and active.”
Mental Health Benefits
Sniffing can even have benefits for a dog’s mental health. It can make them feel more optimistic and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can reduce anxiety, too, Dr Bernal said.
Dr Miller stressed the importance of sniffing on a dog’s wellbeing, saying, “Dogs may feel stressed when they are not allowed to stop and sniff while on a walk because sniffing is how they assess their surroundings.”
Sensory Receptors for Smell
Humans largely depend on vision, but for dogs, smell is used to communicate and assess their surroundings. Science tells us that dogs have upward of 100 million sensory receptor sites in their noses, while humans have just 6 million. Plus, the part of our dog’s brain that analyses odor is roughly 40 times larger than the comparable part in our human brain. So it is estimated that depending on the breed, a dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 [to] 100,000 times better than a human’s.
Take Home Message
So, while it’s tempting to rush dogs along as we go on our routine walks, “don’t forget to sometimes let your dog take the lead, explore the world we cannot see and enjoy,” Dr Bernal said. “That will go a long way in keeping the two of you healthy and happy and promote a shared life of well-being.”