Pup’s Choice: Seeing Walks Through A Dog’s Nose

Walks are an important part of our dog’s daily routine. For us, walks can sometimes feel like a task on a list, a quick chance for our dog to stretch their legs and use the bathroom before we rush off to work for the day. But for dogs, walks are so much more!

A dog’s strongest sense is their sense of smell – think of it as smelling the world in color. For dogs, walks are extremely mentally stimulating and enriching, and to get the most out of them, they need regular opportunities to engage in outlets for normal dog behavior: sniffing, following a scent, marking, and taking time to absorb the sights, sounds, and smells around them! By listening to how they are feeling and enabling them to make choices, we encourage our dogs to actively participate in what kind of walk we take and increase their enjoyment.

Each dog is different, and has their own walk style. Examples of types of choices could include: which direction? On grass or the sidewalk? Close to your side or a little ahead? Casual stroll or brisk pace? Short and sweet or a full neighborhood exploration? Regular check ins or quiet time?

One way to do this is to ask them! I love to give my dogs a “ready?” cue. Throughout our walk, we stop frequently when they find a spot they want to explore. We stay in that spot for about 10-15 seconds and then I ask them, “ready?” If they check in with me and go straight back to sniffing, I give them more time. If they look up enthusiastically, we keep going! This gives them the ability to communicate to us what they need.

Walks are an incredible way to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. When we listen to their cues and body language, they can feel it. Walking together as a team and being engaged and present in their experience will help them communicate with you, and you with them, increasing their confidence, improving their behavior, and making everyone happy. Take your dog for a sniff walk and see what they choose!

Whether it’s sniffing the grass or sniffing the air, marking, tracking a scent, bird watching, darting from spot to spot, or just stopping to take in the view around them, walks are ultimately their time – let them enjoy it, and let’s let dogs be dogs!