Annoyed with your dog's habit of sniffing? Here's why it's actually important for them

Have you ever wondered why your dog seems utterly fascinated by the grass, nose glued to the ground, sniffing like they are decoding some secret message? What looks like an ordinary patch of green grass is a treasure trove of scents and stories for your furry friends. That repetitive sniffing isn’t random; it’s your fluff ball's way of knowing the neighborhood. Needless to say, dogs possess an extraordinary sense of smell that puts humans far behind them. While we make do with a mere six million scent receptors, dogs boast up to 300 million—an incredible fifty times more, as reported by My Modern Met. 

Interestingly, canines can sniff an impressive five to 10 times per second, compared to humans, who manage just once every 1.5 seconds. This rapid sniffing helps dogs navigate, explore, and understand their surroundings since they rely heavily on their sense of smell. Talking to the American Kennel Club, certified dog trainer and veterinary technician Staci Lemke said, "If we can find a safe place where these dogs can let their guard down and explore using their noses, it can greatly reduce the amount of stress in their lives."

The outlet claimed that according to research, letting your dogs sniff makes them feel happier and more optimistic. As dog parents, it's extremely crucial to note that making smell the main element of walking rather than exercise has several benefits. Notably, sniffing can put dogs' brains to work as they spend time processing the information they have gathered. Interstingly, sniffing can exhaust the dogs more than walking. Meanwhile, Penny Leigh, a certified dog trainer explained, "'Sniff walks' are more important for the dogs who live amidst the hustle-bustle of urban dwellings since they do not have many opportunities to be loose in a safe.”

Further, Lemke shared her unique approach to walking her dogs. She revealed that she lets her pets decide where to go and how long to linger at each place. This method results in covering short distances at a leisurely pace. Moreover, Lemke shared that while humans often focus on the destination, dogs are more about enjoying the journey. Instead of aiming to reach a specific location within a set time during a sniff walk, choosing a safe, tranquil spot and letting your dog take the lead helps them in many ways. When walking your dogs, ideal locations are those with plenty of grass, trees, bushes, and natural terrain. Equipping them with a well-fitting harness and a long line (preferably 10 to 15 feet, rather than a retractable leash) is definitely a great idea.

Leigh said, “Putting your dog in a harness and on a long line will enable your dog to not feel pressure on their neck and also get ahead of you and set the pace—just take care to keep your dog out of harm’s way and be ready to reel in the long line.” Leigh shared that since dogs spend their entire lives under the care and control of their owners, they can develop growing anxiety if their walks are limited to quick outings solely for relieving themselves. “Dogs’ lives are nearly completely dictated by their owners—when they eat, when they go out, whether or not they are inside a crate. Then they are taken on a quick walk to eliminate and hustled back inside. This can lead to growing anxiety,” she added. So the next time you take your dogs out for a walk, you know what to do to make them feel at ease.