Canine expert reveals five reasons why you should let your dog sniff for a healthier, happier pup
The article, published on Yahoo Life and written by Jessica Downey, discusses the benefits of allowing your dog to sniff during walks. Melissa Goodman, a certified dog trainer, shares expert insights on how sniffing can significantly benefit your dog's overall well-being, explaining five key advantages. Readers can view the full article here.
Five key benefits of letting your dog indulge in their olfactory senses:
- Tiring Mental Exercise: Sniffing provides your dog with a mental workout, which can be as tiring as physical exercise. Goodman explains that 20 minutes of sniffing can equate to roughly an hour of physical exercise for your dog.
- Lowers Heart Rate: Allowing your dog to sniff helps lower their heart rate, promoting calmness and reducing anxiety in dogs.
- Reduces Stress: Sniffing has a calming effect on dogs, helping them unwind and alleviate stress, making it a beneficial activity for anxious pups.
- Dogs See the World Through Their Nose: Dogs primarily explore, learn, and understand their surroundings through their sense of smell. Restricting their ability to sniff limits a significant part of their sensory experience.
- Releases Dopamine to Their Brain: Sniffing releases dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, in your dog's brain. This makes them happy and reinforces their desire to explore and engage with their environment.
