Anyone who works with dogs knows this very well: smell is the most important sense for them, the first with which they explore the surrounding world; while for us the eyes are indispensable, in short, for them the main organ is the nose. And you don’t need to be an expert dog lover to understand this: you just need to have taken one for a walk. Often, however, we tend to underestimate the importance of sniffing things for dogs, considering it “their hobby”, but this is not the case.
The research. A study by the University of Adelaide published in Applied Animal Behavior Science tried to better explore the relationship between dogs, smell and owners; the title of the research, which cites several dog trainers, is indicative in this sense: “Olfactory work is present in practically all our activities“.
But how does this need translate into practice? In other words, how do we make sure our dogs smell enough? The study’s first author, Jade Fountain, published on The Conversation a small collection of activities that can be practiced at practically no cost, and which serve to enrich the life of every dog.
Treasure hunt. The first piece of advice is what is increasingly being given to dog owners: if you want to keep them entertained, and not only that, involve them in the so-called “scent work”, olfactory work, which consists of teaching animals to recognize a smell and identify the objects that emit it – a sort of treasure hunt done with the nose.
“Smell lessons” are offered more and more frequently by educators and trainers, and it is not difficult to organize these games even at home: it is an excellent way, among other things, to make dogs more optimistic.
Daily safari. There is also the “traveling” version of these activities: in English they call them “sniffari”, a portmanteau of “sniff”, to smell, and “safari”. What does one consist of sniffers? Simple: when you take your dog for a walk, don’t go where you want but let him smell it, follow him and indulge him.
Maybe he will take you on seemingly absurd tours: he is following scent trails that are impossible for you to perceive, but which for him are essential for, as the experts say, “reading the local news”.
Sensory gardens. However, olfactory enrichment must not be limited to when the dog is away from home: even in a domestic environment you can provide him with odors of all kinds to intrigue him, keep him busy and, why not, tire him.
Among the recommended essences there are those of vegetal origin (oregano, lavender, thyme…) but also animal ones (the piece mentions sheep poop and rabbit urine, you decide if you feel like putting them in your home!).
The same effect can be achieved by taking the dog to a so-called “sensory garden“, a garden in which plants with odors that dogs love have been planted; they are not very common in Italy, but if you have a piece of land of your own you can create one at a very low cost.
Odorous mats. The last two tips are more “active”, and it could be useful to get help from an educator to organize these activities. One of these consists of hiding food or smelly toys around the house, or in the dog area where you bring it every day.
The other, however, involves using objects such as “mat snuffle“, intricate fabric mats in which you can hide the kibble and let the dog find them using his nose. They are now found in every pet shop, and could transform even a simple meal into a game. In short, as Gandalf the Gray suggested in Lord of the Rings, “when in doubt, use your nose”.
