Stopping to sniff while walking

[JodiWeigelt]

Hi,

My 11 month old standard poodle has been allowed to stop and sniff while on walks.  I thought that this was part of enjoying a walk for my dog.  However, it has become difficult to get anywhere as he chooses to stop and sniff seemingly every few steps.  His sniffing time is taking up a lot of time.  How to I find a happy medium of letting him take sniffs, but also keep going?

 

[Adrienne]

Hi Jodi,

Welcome to he forums!

 

There is a recent trend of dog owners and trainers suggesting that walks now should be mostly dedicated to the dog's pleasure allowing them to sniff and explore. While this is a good thing, it needs to have some rules otherwise dogs will take over and pull in all directions. As opportunists, "give them a finger and they'll take the whole hand!"

 

First, let's take a look at the perks of sniffing. To us humans, sniffing may appear like an activity that doesn't make sense; indeed, we may think that dogs are obsessed about smells and stubborn when they stop on a walk to sniff. 

 

Yet, sniffing is a form of enrichment. When dogs sniff, they are receiving excellent mental stimulation. Sniffing therefore provides dogs the opportunity to exercise their brain power and the biggest perk is that this activity tires them out! Indeed, a good amount of sniffing on walks can cause dogs to tire themselves out even if they aren't walking as far.

 

Sniffing in particular is known for activating what is known as the "Seeking System" part of the brain. This brain part, first described by neuroscientist Jaak Panskepp, is also known for releasing a neurotransmitter known as dopamine. Dopamine is known for triggering feel-good sensations, increasing enhanced memory and learning.

 

On top of this, sniffing acts as an important source of information. Indeed, it is through sniffing that dogs get to gather information about their surroundings, sort of how we get information through our eyes looking around. It can be said that dogs sort of "visualize" the world around them with their powerful nose and incredible olfactory receptors.

 

This explains why anxious or fearful dogs are particularly eager to sniff, especially when they are in new surroundings. Research has also discovered that sniffing lowers a dogs’ pulse and the more intense the sniffing, the more the pulse lowers. 

 

So you really do not want to discourage sniffing completely because by doing so, you are depriving your dog from an enrichment opportunity and, on top of that, sniffing is a tiring activity for dogs so it can help your dog mellow down. It sounds like you are already aware of the benefits of sniffing, but it's nice to point this out for other readers. 

 

While sniffing is a great activity, however, it is also true that sometimes you just want to get somewhere quickly and don't have the time nor will to stop at every lamppost for an investigation! In these cases, it helps to find a compromise and meet somewhere in between. 

 

Following are several approaches to find a compromise:

 

-Put Your Dog's Sniffing On Cue  This is one the easiest cues you will teach your dog since sniffing comes so naturally! Simply,  say "go sniff" and then toss a couple pieces of your dog's kibble into the grass so that your dog sniffs around to find them. This should cause your dog's natural interest in sniffing to take over.

 

Then, once your dog has found all the treats and you dog doesn't seem interested anymore in sniffing around say "let's go!"  or "heel" and resume your walk. Praise and reward your dog for walking nicely next to you every few steps using high-value treats. 

 

Do this several times on walks, so that your dog understands when you expect him to sniff and when you expect him to walk with you. The use of high-value treats should help your dog make the choice of sticking next to you more and more. 

 

-Organize Training Walks and "Sniffaris" Training walks are structured walks where dogs are expected to stay by our side or at least not pull, "sniffaris," are sniffing adventures where dogs get to sniff at their hearts' content. Of course, when going on these latter, good manners still count!

 

Many dog owners are concerned about this strategy because they are afraid that their dogs may confuse one and the other. The type equipment used though can help dogs learn all about the difference.  

 

Just as service dogs learn that when they are walked on a harness they are working and when they are walked on a leash, they are going on a stroll, your dog can learn that our regular 6-foot leash is for training walks and our long line (long 10 to 30 foot leash often sold in horse tack stores or online for training dogs)  is for sniffing walks. 

 

Also where you  clip the leash can make a difference. For instance, if your dog is wearing a harness, like say the Perfect Fit harness, you can snap your 6 foot leash to the front ring for training walks, and then for "sniffaris," you can snap your long line to the back of the harness.

 

Your pace and contexts can further help your dog set them apart. When going on training walks, you may walk at a brisk pace around your neighborhood and away from the grassy areas and road sides. Your dog may therefore stay on the roadside while you stay on the inside.

 

When going on sniffing walks, you may walk slower and walk adjacent to grassy areas or other specific places where smells abound. Your dog may therefore be on the inside while you are on the roadside, so that your dog can stop and sniff the edge. 

 

-Reinforce Polite Walking With Sniffing

 

As seen, sniffing is something that dogs love to do. It's a form of mental enrichment, it's information and it satiates the dog's seeking center part of the brain. Just like we like to read the news and catch on social media, dogs enjoy "catching up on their pee-mails."

With such a powerful tool on our hands, why not use sniffing to reinforce desired behaviors?

 

So next time your dog walks nicely on leash, reinforce that behavior by loosening the leash and telling your dog to "go sniff!" If your dog loves to sniff, there no need to toss kibble anymore. The sniffing behavior is already rewarding on its own. 

 

Just make sure to adhere to this simple rule: make forward movement and sniffing contingent upon walking nicely on the leash, while pulling makes you stop, otherwise you'll be stuck with a dog who will keep on dragging you left and right! Mixi in your rewards, using sniffing to reward, but also every now and then praise and reward your dog for walking nicely next to you every few steps using high-value treats.

 

-Make Sure to Allow Off Leash Sniffs!  Finally, if the area where you live permits, and you have access to a safely fenced area, take your dog there, unsnap the leash and tell your dog to "go play!" As your dog wanders off, make sure you have treats in your pocket so to reward any "voluntary check-ins." 

 

In other words, give your dog a treat to reward him when he voluntarily comes near you just to check on you despite the distractions of all the smells. This will grow a strong bond between you are your dog and with time you'll notice he'll be checking in with you more and more!

 

I hope this helps,

Happy training!

 

 

[SandeDodsley]

My dog pulls when I walk her.  I bought her a no pull leash as well as a MartinGale collar.  Does not matter she pulls anyways.  I walk using a cane and I'm so afraid she's going to pull me down.  What can I do?  

[Adrienne]

Hello and welcome to the forums,

Can you please describe what type of no-pull leash you have been using?

What age is your dog?

What breed?

What method have you been using so far to train her?

What do you do when she pulls?

Thanks