11/29/2024
How neat!
Did you know that training scentwork can have multiple benefits for your dog? 👃
Scent is such a HUGE part of your dog's life, with their 300 million olfactory receptors to our mere 6 million, and the part of their brain dedicated to scent being 40 times larger than our own. So it isn't surprising that scentwork can have a impact on our dogs behaviour.
It has previously been stated scentwork is calming for dogs, and helps create a positive bias (boosting confidence), but this latest study done at Aberystwyth University has shown it can also increase inhibitory control (self-control) and persistance in repeating rewarded behaviour!
So how can you put a little extra scentwork into your dogs life? Here are a few ideas...
🔸 Let your dog sniff whilst out on walks! This is your dog's equivalent to reading the newspaper, or even going on social media, and the only way they can find out what is going on in the outside world. Although sniffing every two steps may be a bit excessive, do make sure you aren't dragging them along past their favourite sniffing spots and maybe even point out some sniffing spots you think could be particularly good.
🔸 Use a snuffle mat or scatter feed their food! Sniffing is an inherently calming activity for most dogs AND dogs are natural foragers, so sniffing-out their food amongst long grass, or in a snuffle mat, is a great outlet for this behaviour that can even help calm more excitable dogs. You can also add a cue to this behaviour, like with any, so that they are only looking for food on the ground when you say it will be there.
🔸 Play 'Find it' games! You can hide treats, toys and even people for your dog to sniff out, which could come in handy later down-the-line when your keys go missing!
🔸 Create a 'scent-box'! If you go out somewhere, either with or without your dog, try and pick-up different objects from your time out. You can then offer up these objects to your dog later to sniff, so they can either re-live their adventure, or learn about your day.
Let us know what fun ways you incorporate scent into your dog's life!
You can check out the study mentioned in the graphic for yourself here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/428