Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgment bias in pet dogs
A study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, a renowned journal that focuses on the application of animal behavior science to improve the welfare and management of various species, digs into the effect of nosework on emotional states of pet dogs. The results? A resounding call to let your dog sniff as much as possible to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
The research was conducted by C. Duranton from Ethodog, Laboratory of Research in Canine Ethology, Paris, France, and A. Horowitz from the Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College, New York City, NY, USA. The following is a summary of the study but you can read it in full here.
The study investigates the effect of nosework, an olfaction-based activity, on the emotional states of pet dogs. The research aims to assess whether engaging in nosework can improve dogs' welfare by fostering more positive emotional states.
Cognitive bias tests, often used to evaluate the welfare of captive animals, were employed in this study. They assess an individual's interpretation of ambiguous stimuli, with a more positive judgment indicating optimism and a more negative judgment indicating pessimism.
The study involved 20 dogs of various breeds, balanced by sex ratio, and free of health issues that could affect their performance. The dogs were divided into an experimental group that practiced nosework and a control group that practiced heelwork, a food-reward-based activity without an olfactory search component.
Both groups underwent a cognitive bias test before the treatment to establish a baseline for their emotional state. Then, the experimental group practiced nosework for two weeks, searching for hidden treats using their sense of smell. The control group practiced heelwork for the same duration.
After the treatment, the cognitive bias test was administered again. The results showed that dogs in the experimental group demonstrated a significant decrease in latency to approach an ambiguous bowl, indicating a more optimistic state compared to their initial test. Meanwhile, the control group did not exhibit significant changes.
The study suggests that engaging in nosework can lead to increased optimism in dogs, as they interpret ambiguous situations more positively after participating in the activity. This improvement in emotional state indicates that allowing dogs to use their sense of smell in regular nosework can contribute to their overall welfare.
The research emphasizes the importance of incorporating olfactory enrichment in pet dogs' daily routines to enhance their emotional well-being. Given the restrictions on pet dogs' natural behaviors, such as foraging and exploring using their sense of smell, this study suggests nosework as a potential method for improving pet dogs' quality of life.
