For the love of dog...Let 'em sniff!
Sniffing is no longer considered a problem or a distraction. Sniffing is truly a welfare issue for dogs. They need to be provided with opportunities to do this. Change your outlook. Being able to sniff is an absolute necessity for dogs. Let 'em sniff!
Donna Ashley, CPDT-KA, CBATI-KA (source: Jean Donaldson)
3/26/2025
Restoring the balance between your dog's "emotional brain, and his "thinking" brain, is an important step in reducing your dog's trauma, or fears or reactivity. It provides the dog with a way to self-regulate, when both parts of his brain world together. 'Sniffing' is like the dog's internal computer processing information and allowing him to evaluate and make behaviorial decisions. Therefor, we can impact behaviorial and emotional change through sniffing by either creating new associations with those smells, or simply allowing the dog time to sniff and evaluate his world (and those triggers) more effectively.
Don't underestimate the power of sniffing! Along with other socialization and behavioral modification or training, sniffing can help to raise a confident, resilient dog.
